Sadly at the age of 93 John Giles one of the great allrounders of off road sport has passed away earlier this week.
Starting riding trials post war Kent man John rode home brewed BSA initially before switching to Norton and in 1952 works Triumph a manufacturer he would be associated with for the rest of his career, His trials career kicked off with a win in 1950 at the National Bemrose Trial and qualifing for the British Experts Trial. By 1952 he took part in his first International Six Days in Austria finishing with a silver, over the next 18 years John was regular in the British Teams finishing his career with another silver medal in the 1970 Spanish event aboard a Cheney Triumph, over that time he amassed 11 Gold Medals finishing best British performer in the East German event in 1964.
Proving his “Six Days” capabilities John won the Welsh Two Day Trial in 1955 and 1964, he kept is hand in observed trials with fine performances in Nationals and the Scottish usually mounted on one of the Meriden twins. He was no mean performer on the scrambles seen with the high light finishing fifth overall at the 1965 British Grand Prix at Hawkstone Park. Although retiring from motorcycling in 1971 he was soon back in the saddle at pre 65 scrambles showing his class as ever mounted on a Triumph Twin. Our sympathy to John's family and Friends