FRAMPTON Village Hall was the venue for the annual awards presentation for Woolbridge Motor Club.

Competitors who take part in rallies, trials, and speed hill climbs celebrated the success of their fellow members, and none more so than Sherborne resident Mark Hoppé who – at the wheel of his Citroen Saxo – won the club’s car trials championship and the prestigious Victor Ludorum Award for the best performance across a number of disciplines.

The Tetra Pak operations manager has not only dominated the local trials scene but has claimed the Association of South Western Motor Clubs Trials Champion-ship, the British Trials & Rally Drivers Association Gold Star award, and the Royal Automobile Club/Motor Sports Association Trials Championship.

The club’s trials championship for four-wheel-drive machinery was won by Gary Arnold with Garry Morris taking the honours and the 50th Anniversary Trophy.

In the RTV category, class winners included Stan Johnston, John Tite and Paul Johnston.

Bridport’s Bob Blackstock claimed first place in the drivers’ division of the navgitional challenge series, with Rob Rhodes receiving a similar accolade in the navigators’ competition.

The Rod Purkiss Memorial Trophy was awarded to Chris Jones as the best beginner navigator.

Weymouth’s Geoff Blake narrowly missed the premier award in the speed championship for those competing in speed hillclimbs and sprints.

He had to give best to fellow Westfield pilot Mike Williams with Yeovil avionics engineer Simon Neve also on the podium.

The Carpenter Shield, an award made to non-competing members for the person who marshalled at most events, was won by Weymouth’s Rory Wea-ver.

During the season the club has also run a photography competition with sponsorship from Wessex Photos, which included three category winners from Weymouth in Andy Webb, Tony Freeman and Steve Challoner.

Members also gathered not only to acknowledge the successes of their fellow competitors but also to witness presentations to two charities which have been very much in the fore- front of the club’s fundraising efforts during the year.

In conjunction with the Clay Pigeon Raceway, the club annually promotes an endurance kart race with proceeds being donated to local charities.

The beneficiaries of the August event were closely related. The St Margaret’s Hospice was chosen for the support and assistance given to the late Ian Cameron, a long-time member of the club.

Julie Poulton, on behalf of the hospice, attended the function to inform of the role they perform and to receive a cheque for £2,000.

Fellow hillclimb competitor Mike Potter has prepared the way for a campaign throughout the region in 2015 to support the South West Children’s Hospice, and the Woolbridge club started the fundraising with a donation of £500, a figure which Potter himself will match.