Three from four for Menzies in the Channel Islands

Wallace Menzies gets ready to fire his Gould RG59 off the start line at Val des Terres Guernsey – Photo Credit; Tallpictures - Andrew le Poidevin

With three wins from four championship run-offs, Wallace Menzies showed that he is still very much in the fight for this year's British Hillclimb Championship after the annual away trip to the Channel Islands.

At the Bouley Bay hill on Jersey, it was honours shared between current points leader Matthew Ryder and Menzies as they each took a win and a second place.

However, four days later at Val des Terres on Guernsey, it was Menzies who took control to win both run-offs and when Will Hall turned in two strong performances to be second both times, Ryder was edged back to third despite it being his best day so far at the Guernsey hill. After 20 of the season's 32 run-offs, there is little to split the two titled contenders.

The action started at a dusty and slippery Bouley Bay, and Ryder showed just how little grip there was when he slid wide on his first practice run, fortunately without damage.

However, in the afternoon he was able to fire in a 37.55s climb to edge Menzies by four tenths of a second with Hall and Trevor Willis very closely matched in third as Andy Bougourd was the best of the local drivers with a fighting fifth.

Matt Ryder at speed at Val des Terres Guernsey – Photo Credit; Tallpictures - Andrew le Poidevin

At the end of the afternoon, it was Menzies who took command and his 37.85s eclipsed everyone by nearly three quarters of a second as Ryder and Hall took the next places. Dave Uren had a strong run to fourth, ahead of Willis while Darren Gumbley had one of his best results with sixth overall in his Force.

After a hop across to Guernsey, the action continued at Val des Terres and this time Menzies was in control on a hill where Ryder has never enjoyed particularly strong form.

In the opener, Menzies eclipsed everyone by half a second as Hall pushed Ryder back to third, with local star Nick Saunders bagging fourth in his Reynick.

Will Hall speeds through the tunnel at Val des Terres Guernsey – Photo Credit; Tallpictures - Andrew le Poidevin

Later in the day Menzies did it again, but Hall ran him desperately close to be just four hundredths of a second adrift. Ryder again claimed third only a tenth ahead of the impressive Saunders but three quarters of a second away from the leading pair.

The BHC now moves on to the beautiful parkland venue of Wiscombe Park in Devon over the weekend of 26 & 27 July. Matt Ryder stunned everyone with his record breaking form last year to set himself to secure his first BHC Championship. What will be the story this year?

Written by Paul Lawrence and published in partnership with Autosport