A SPECIAL diamond badge was the reward for competitors at the Diamond Jubilee of the Barbon Speed Hill Climb on Saturday.

Lord Shuttleworth opened the course to commemorate the 60th anniversday of the first event back in 1951 and the medals were awarded to all competitors and officials.

Despite a poor weather forecast, little rain fell at Barbon and records fell consistently through the day, with many entrants involved in the National Hill Climb Championship.

As the class recordswentl, the 12 fastest cars in class were as usual grouped into a run-off at the end of the two permitted runs, which enabled a further run which would count towards the championship.

These cars consisted of pure racing cars with power outputs of between 250-650 horsepower and reaching speeds of over 100mph on the straight before the final hairpin bend.

Reigning champion Scott Moran won both of these, and also took fastest time of the day as his last run was within 0.2 seconds of the outright course record.

Local Driver Darren Richardson made his debut in a Subaru Impreza to take second in class and the Shuttleworth Trophy for the fastest, local Westmorland Motor Club member.

The next car event at Barbon is on Saturday, June 18.

Results: National A permit: Class Ai (Road going series production cars up to 2000cc): Paul Webster 30.32; Class Aii (Road going series production cars over 2000cc): Simon Butterworth 29.04; Class B (road going specialist production cars up to 2000cc): Allan Warburton 26.47; Class Ci (modified limited production cars up to 1400cc): Andrew Russell 28.77; Class Cii (modified limited production saloon cars over 2000cc): Phil Cotton 26.43; Class Di (modified specialist production up to 2000cc): Scott Sheridan 25.84; Class Dii (modified specialist production over 2000cc): Michael Jolly 25.66; Class F (sports libre cars up to 2000cc): Mark Dempster 24.45; Class G (sports libre over 2000cc): Mike Manning 25.39; Class I (racing cards over 600cc up to 1100cc): David Uren 24.30; Class Ji (formula ford racing cars up to 1600cc): Graham Curwen 29.82; Class Jii (racing cars over 1100 up to 1600cc): 1 William Hill 22.05, 2 Lee Adams 22.32; Class L (racing cars over 2000cc): 1 Scott Moran 21.29, 2 Trevor Willis 21.44, 3 Roger Moran 21.57.

Fastest times of the day: 1 Scott Moran 21.29, 2 Trevor Willis 21.44, 3 Roger Moran 21.57, 4 Chris Merrick 21.60 National B Permit: Class 1 (road going series production cars): Steve Murphy 29.00, 2 Darren Richardson 29.73; Class 2 (road going specialist production cars): Tom MacMillan 27.57; Class 3B (modified series production cars up to 2000cc): Bob Wick 32.96; Class 3C (modified series production cars over 2000cc): Richard Hargreaves 26.49; Class 3G (modified kit, replica and spaceframed cars over 1700cc): Mark Purdham 27.28; Class 4 (sports libre cars up to 2000cc and hill climb super sports cars): Ian Medcalf 27.41; Class 5 (rally cars): William Jarman 28.08; Class 6 (racing cars up to 2000cc): Jim Macdiarmid 26.29; Class 7 (historic or sports racing cars manufactured prior to December 31, 1965): Neil Bennett 31.9 8