The Tanner Trudge was started in 1954 by Peter Greaves an Avon tyres employee who had come to Melksham from the North, and John Swanborough, a road racer at that time.
It originally ran on John Giddings land at Whitley, over a three mile circuit and was the first Time Trial run by West Wilts Motor Club, and ran on Boxing Day.
The name derived from the entrance fee which was a tanner ( for the benefit of our younger readers this was the slang name for the sixpence or, two and a half pence in modern parlance. Though a tanner would be worth considerably more now!)
The event ran on this land for some 6 - 8 years before moving to Neston and then on to Naish Hill, where the course was much longer than it is today, utilising the quarry as well as the woods. It ran here quite successfully for some time before we lost the use of the land.
The event then moved around for a few years being held variously at Norton St. Phillip, on the Bath scramble course, at Bratton and then on the Farleigh Hungerford scramble course for a couple of years.
It then moved back to Naish Hill which is its current home, however the date has had to be changed from Boxing Day to its current date in March because the land is now used for pheasant breeding. The nature of the course has changed over the years and is now shorter as the quarry is no longer accessible, though the mud is still just as deep in places.
As is the way of all events these days the numbers participating has fallen, from over 100 solo entrants and 24 sidecar outfits, to numbers that just allow the event to survive, though last year we saw an up turn in entrants and interest and we hope that this is a sign of a resurgence of interest. It is also a great spectator event, so I would urge anybody reading this that has not witnessed it, to come along on the day. Bring wellies, waterproofs, camera and wear old clothes, I promise you a muddy mornings sport. Hot dog van will be in attendance.
This event is followed by a youth trial over much of the same course and is the Dave Townhill Trophy. You've seen the adults do it, now see the youngsters show you how it should be done.