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© Copyright Humphrey Bolton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

The Brown Cow was situated on Saddleworth Road.

Up until the mid 1990's the Amateur Motorcycle Association (AMCA) held motocross races in the field right next to the pub and my dad and I competed in several such events. My parents and I would travel from Bolton in our van to the Brown Cow a couple of times per season and often camped over in the field and spent the Saturday evening in the pub. The Tameside Motocross Club were the organising club and quite often would hold 2 day events at the track over a bank holiday weekend. This usually meant that the Sunday race was taken seriously by the racers, but following an evening in the Brown Cow, the Monday racing was much more, well, subdued! Due to the exposed nature of the location, I recall the weather conditions playing a significant part in how the racing went, and I remember one event being called off part way through one very wet and windy Sunday, resulting in the riders and team members retreating not so reluctantly to the Brown Cow for some warm food and a beer. I have fond memories of the Brown Cow and the nights spent there, and remember it as a cosy, welcoming place that served good pub food. There was a pool room which would usually be taken over by us motocrossers and we'd all have a great laugh in there. Not sure what the locals thought of us though!

Anthony Chambers

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