N G Road Racing Club ended a 21-year absence by returning to Castle Combe on Saturday for the penultimate round of their 2012 championship.

Three local competitors, who raced at the circuit on the club’s last visit, were back on the grid at this meeting and in the top three of their championship classes.

They were watched by British Superbikes Championship rider Tommy Bridewell, of Etchilhampton and Trowbridge’s National Superstock 1000cc Championship ace Victor Cox.

Broughton Gifford’s Darrell Higgins was competing in the 250ccGP ACU National Championship while Aldbourne duo Roy Keen (250cc GP NG Cup class) and Paul Willis (Sound of Thunder Championship) also rode.

Higgins, with 28 Combe victories the circuit’s most successful rider, finished second on his Dennis Trollope backed TZ 250cc Yamaha, behind reigning champion Daniel Jackson, with Keen third.

Sidecar crew Andy King (Broughton Gifford) and Kenny Cole (Bath) finished second in the morning qualifying race on their F2 Honda-powered 600cc Ireson outfit behind French driver Frank Lelias and British passenger Mike Aylott.

Ralph Remnant and passenger Paul Skinner, from Westbury, were sixth.

King and Cole were forced out of the afternoon final on the penultimate of eight laps with clutch problems.

The Sound of Thunder races saw former multiple champion Willis second in morning qualifying and second again in the afternoon, behind Coventry’s Lee Reveley to move second overall.

Hullavington’s Russell Hynes finished in sixth and ninth on his Triumph 675cc machine.

The ten-lap Phoenix Open, backed by Phoenix Motorcycles of Trowbridge, saw former British 125cc champion Daniel Cooper on his Centurion-backed 1000cc Honda on pole.

After top-10 finishes at the Isle of Man TT and the Ulster Grand Prix and in November is off to race on the street circuit at Macu.

Cooper raced away to victory, with Chris Pope, on his A F B motorcycles-backed R1 Yamaha, second and and Thomas Garness (BMW S1000cc RR).

Multiple champion Phil Bevanwas fourth and took over the championship lead.

Marcus Bridewell, of Wayside Garage Etchilhampton, sponsored the man of the meeting award, which went to Scott Pitchers, on his Yamaha R6 600cc machine.