Earlston & Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club.

Earlston  and  Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club is the latest organisation to be featured  in our  series on local clubs and societies - past and present. 

 Douglas Forbes  no. 20  - August 2007

INTRODUCTION

The club was formed in 1955 and quickly grew in popularity   with one newspaper citing as many as 800 spectators  to races held on the old golf course at Huntshaw. 

The reports below give a flavour of the club's activities. 

NEW CLUB FOR EARLSTON - Berwickshire News: 4^th January 1955

"In the Masonic Hall, Earlston, a well attended public meeting took place in connection with the formation of a Motor Cycle and Car Club. Mr Jas.Waite introduced Mr Rodger Fish, Kelso, a past grass track and motor cycle enthusiast, who presided. Mr Fish very briefly gave the outline of the formation of such a club and dealt with his own past experiences being a member of other clubs. 

After some discussion the name of the Club was unanimously passed and will be known as “The Earlston and  Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club.” The following officials were elected:- President. Mr Rodger Fish (Kelso); chairman, Mr Jas. Waite (Earlston); hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr Wm. Kerr; committee: Mr Oliver (Denholm), Mr Sanderson (Earlston), Mr D. Waite (Earlston).

At a later date other members will be co-opted to the committee. The annual subscription was fixed at 10s per year. 

The first activity of the Club will be the showing of a motor cycle and car racing film, embracing all the world’s best championship drivers, etc. This will take place in Earlston School on January 4th."

EARLSTON NEWS - Berwickshire News:  1^st March 1955.

"The Earlston and Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club held a film show in Earlston Junior Secondary School. The show was held for the members of the Club and their friends and was well attended. The films depicted various  scenes of Motor Cycle and Car Scramblers on the Yorkshire Moors, the special feature films being the 1950 Grand Prix and the 1950 T.T. Motor Cycle Race."

GARBAGE HUNT AT EARLSTON - Berwickshire News:  31^st May 1955

"Members of the Earlston and Border Counties’ Motor Cycle and Car Club held a Garbage Hunt. All competitors collected the required articles in the specified time. In order to eliminate the ties a test was made for the slowest driver between two points of 100 yards apart. A further tie resulted so a second test took place in the form of parking a car six inches or nearest to that distance from the kerb. The ultimate winner was Mr Alex. Blackie with passenger, Mr John Brotherston. Second were Mr John Blair and passenger F. Brown. The Garbage Hunt was attended by a fair number of competitors and greatly enjoyed."

MOTOR CYCLE RACE AT EARLSTON - Berwickshire News:  6^th September 1955 

"Earlston and Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club held an open Moto-Cross-Motor Cycle Race meeting on the old Earlston Golf course, by kind permission of Mr Jas. Oliver, Huntshaw. The event attracted about 500 spectators. At the close, Mr Jas. Waite introduced Mrs Oliver, who presented the prizes. Thereafter Mr Waite proposed the votes of thanks.

Officials of the meeting were; Judge; Mr Robert Wilson; starter Mr James Waite; hon. medical officer,Mr Hamilton; lap scorer, Mr J. Forrest; commentator, Mr Rodger Fish; clerk of the course, Mr J. Yallop; joint secretary and treasurer, Mr T. Maney and Mr W. A. J. Kerr. 

The result of event No. 1 for motor cycles up to 200 c.c.: W. Landells, Edinburgh; M. Frazer, Edinburgh; D. Gray, Glendale. Event No. 2  for motor cycles up to 350 c.c.; W. Edwards. Dumfries; C. M. Tasker; P. Hendrie, Edinburgh. Event No. 3 for cycles up to 500 c.c; W. Edwards, Dumfries; C. Allan, Midlothian; P. Hendrie, Edinburgh. Event No. 4: W. Landells. Edinburgh; D. Gray, Glendale; W. Edwards, Dumfries. Event No. 5 non-winners up to 200 c.c: G. Williamson, Edinburgh J. Jeffrey; D. B. Smart. Event No. 6 non-winners up to 350 c.c: E. Tasker; J. Gray, Earlston; J. Jeffrey. Event No. 7 was the principal race, an open all-in massed start event of 15 laps. This race caused the greatest excitement of the afternoon. The ultimate result was: W. Edwards, Dumfries; C. Allan, Midlothian; P. Hendrie, Edinburgh."

EXCITING RACES AT EARLSTON - Berwickshire News:  17^th April 1956

There were approximately 800 spectators at an open race meeting organised by Earlston and Border Counties’ Motor Cycle and Car Club on Earlston golf course on Sunday last, by kind permission of Mr Jas. Oliver, Huntshaw. Officials on duty were: S.A.C.U. steward, Mr T. Dobie; judge, Mr Geo. Mack; starter, Mr Jas. Waite; hon. medical officer. Dr Sinclair; lap scorer, Mr R. Wilson; commentator, Mr T. McLeod; clerk of the course, Mr J. Yallop; pit marshal, Mr J. Brotherston; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. W. Kerr.

An accident occurred during practice preceding the race meeting, when F. Murray, Edinburgh Southern, came to grief at one of the corners and broke his leg, which necessitated his removal to Peel Hospital. 

The entry of 66 competitors included R. G. Scott and I. Bell, Scottish champions. The first event, run in two heats, was more or less a procession to the final. The race from a spectator’s point of view was uninteresting and the winner was: J. Hutchings, Edinburgh Southern; L. More, Corstorphine and District; M. Fraser, Edinburgh Southern."

 Drew Taylor and John  Brotherston

 Billy Kerr

PREMISES - Berwickshire News: 17^th December 1956 announced that "Earlston and Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club have acquired premises in Station Road."

SIDE CAR RACING  - Berwick Advertiser, September 12^th 1957

"What is going to be a novel innovation sponsored by Earlston and Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club, is side-car racing. The event will be staged on Sunday, September 22. Riders are coming from Newcastle and district, where side car racing has a big following."


1959 MEMBERSHIP CARD - contributed by a blog reader. 

 

CANCELLATION OF SCRAMBLE AT EARLSTON - West Lothian Courier: August 16^th 1968

"Due to the cancellation of the Earlston Club's Championship Scramble. The Scottish Auto Cycle Union (the governing body of Scottish motorcycle sport) have allocated the final leg of the Scottish Scrambles Championship to the Melville Motor Club for their scramble at Avonbank Farm, Polmont, on 29th September. A fast and exciting course and top scrambles stars from Scotland and England should ensure that the usual high standard of keen racing at Melville Club scrambles will be maintained. Now with the added attraction of the races deciding the 1968 championship, a good crowd is expected. Practicing starts at 12.30 and the racing at 2 p.m."

Since 1968, no mention of the club has been traced in the local press.  However, some 40 years later, in August 2007 a meeting was held at Huntshaw, run by the Scottish Classic Scrambles Club.  

But Earlston  and  Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club,  once such a  feature on the local  sporting scene,  had come to an end. 

Steven Riddell, no. 41 - August 2007

 Jock McCrink no. 56, and Tom Forsyth  no. 73 - August 2007.

Sources: 

• British Newspaper Archive
• Auld Earlston Photograph Collection
  

Contributed by James McQuillin of the Auld Earlston Group. 

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