A BUMPER crowd watched the Barbon motorcycle hill climb on Saturday, when the long-awaited sun shone on the stars of the motorcycle world.

Taking part in the Optoma Loans sponsored event, were 13 times TT winner John McGuinness, Kendal's World Super Bike racer Dean Ellison and former three-times British Supermoto Champion Leighton Haigh.

Added to this were the appearances of top British Superbike racers Michael Rutter and Optoma Loans rider Steve Plater.

The event, in doubt due to the bad weather, enjoyed dry track conditions with only one very brief shower, which did not even wet the tarmac.

Class 3 was where the action was. This class is for bikes not over 500cc, not the biggest but the size of bike that holds the outright solo hill record.

Standing guard and present was the record-holder Paul Bird, Team Principal of the Stobart Honda Racing Team, who were displaying at the event. Due to track temperature, his impressive record - set in 1998 - would be safe for another 12 months.

In this class were TT flyer John McGuinness and Leighton Haigh, together with hill-climb regulars Glynn Poole and Paul Jarrett.

Class 4 was a closely fought affair featuring again Paul Jarrett on his second machine, Dean Ellison on the D3 Racing KTM, also local fliers and supermoto aces Karl Geary and Neil Crayston from Holme also on a D3 Racing KTM.

Add to this multiple hill-limb champion Paul Jeffrey and we were on for a ding-dong battle for the class win.

As the weather got hotter the times dropped and Jarrett's second run was to be best, beating Jeffrey by just one-tenth to post 26-53.

The local grudge match went the way of Crayston, who beat Geary by three-tenths to take the bragging rights!

Local ace Ellison did a best of 28-72, but was carrying an injury that he struggled with all day, and the Westmorland Motor Club were happy that he chose to ride and entertained the spectators.

Class 6 for quads was a seesaw battle between Paul Dickinson and New Hutton quad dealer Pete Ellis.

Ellis, still adjusting to and setting up his new KTM engined Polaris and Dickinson took the class win and new class record with a 28-59.

Jason and Dawn Reeves set the fastest overall time of the day and took with it The Handley Rose Bowl, second went to Simon Blenkin and Paul Nelson.

All this left was the top-six solos and top four threewheelers for the run-off. In the increasing heat the times dropped with each run, resulting in a 26-29 for Paul Jarrett topping the list and Jason and Dawn Reeves posting a 26-13 to take the three-wheelers accolade.

The day finished with a presentation of awards by Club President Percy Duff MBE and Optoma Loans Representatives.

Results: Class 1: 1st Les Wilson 2nd Karl Geary, 3rd Ian Hainsworth.

Class 2: 1st Robin Sim 2nd Chris Byron 3rd Doug Parnell Class 3: 1st Glynn Poole 2nd Leighton Haigh 3rd Paul Jarrett Class 4: 1st Paul Jarrett 2nd Paul Jeffrey 3rd Jon Staden Class 5: 1st Alan Jolly 2nd Doug Parnell 3rd John Golda Class 6: 1st Paul Dickinson 2nd Pete Ellis 3rd Eddie Readfern Class 7: 1st Jason & Dawn Reeve 2nd Simon Blenkin & Paul Nelson 3rd Fred Reeve & James Beesley Class 8: 1st Ian Cramp 2nd Grant Sellars 3rd Michael Harrison Handley Rose Bowl, fastest time of the day (ftd) Jason & Dawn Reeve.

Full Class results are available on www.westmorlandmotorclub.co.uk