THE final day of this year's Three Counties Show on Sunday saw the excitement of a large crowd cheering on top class grass track riders at the showground for the first time since 1989.

Officially listed as the Three Counties Show 'spectacular show finale', the event certainly lived up to its name. A crowd estimated to be well in excess of 3,500 roared on their respective favourites in a 36 race programme which ran spot on to schedule.

Superbly organised by the highly experienced members of the Malvern & District Motor Cycle & Light Car Club (based in Howsell Road) the event kicked off at 4pm with an hour practice followed by the first race leaving the start line promptly at 5pm. The final race of the day lining up at 8pm exactly as the race plan said it would.

Undoubtedly the most popular riders of the day were Malvern's own Tony Starke and Darren Wood (see story on page 76) who entertained the crowds with some scintillating sidecar action.

Unlucky to draw the inside gate in the starting line up for the 500cc sidecar final, Tony and Darren nevertheless produced the biggest crowd reaction of the day as they stormed through to third place at the end of the four lap race.

Most popular winner of the day was veteran Gerald Short from Ashchurch in Tewkesbury who headed home multi-world champion Malcolm Simmons from Kent in the final of the pre-1975 event.

Winner of the main event for unlimited cc solos was the super quick Jason Handley (from Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria) who was well ahead of his rivals in the race that brought the event to a close.

Regrettably one of his main rivals, Paul Fry from Hereford, was a last minute withdrawal from the meeting after breaking a leg at a speedway meeting the night before. His other chief rival Tony Atkin was held up in an accident on the motorway and eventually arrived barely an hour before he was due to line up for his first race.

John Banner, secretary of the meeting and grass track competition secretary for the Malvern Club, said "Jason is one of the quickest riders around at present and would probably have still won but it would have been interesting to see a fit and fresh Fry and Atkin lining up alongside him at the start".

Well pleased with the turnout John said: "Couldn't have gone better. Obviously we'd have preferred some sunshine but all in all more than pleased with the nostalgic and welcome return."

Chrissie Woodcock, the show's marketing manager, was ecstatic saying: "Very successful, brilliant, the huge turnout was much more than we anticipated."

Neither John nor Chrissie were prepared to commit themselves when asked if the return was permanent. John said: "This was a one-off return to test the water, obviously the Motorcycle Club and the Three Counties Agricultural Society will be in touch to discuss the pros and cons in due course. In the meantime I shall be concentrating on our next meeting which will be at Earls Croome on Sunday, August 25 (Bank Holiday) and with the Ledbury club holding a meeting at Withington Show the next day we'll both be looking forward to good weather."

RESULTS:

Event one - Pre-75 solos - 1 Gerald Short (Ashchurch, Tewkesbury), 2 Malcolm Simmons (Kent), 3 Dave Norris (Manchester), 4 Maurice Jones (Holmer, Hereford), 5 Edie Rouse (Blackpool).

Event two - 500cc sidecars - 1 Chris Salisbury/Gary Hughes (Lower Broadheath/Tewkesbury), 2 Tony Cook/Dan Crawford (Andover/ Daventry), 3 Tony Starke/Darren Wood (both Malvern), 4 Clive Willis/Michael Sampson (Herts/ Norfolk), 5 Andy Kerrison/Steve Ashby (both Luton).

Event three - unlimited cc solos - 1 Jason Handley (Cumbria), 2 Tony Atkin (Deeside), 3 Scott Wilson (Yorkshire), 4 Dave Rumsey (Kent), 5 Scott Broad (Hereford).