DAVID Paton Junior was the big winner at the opening event of Croft's motorsport season.

The East Lothian rider went away with both the Laird of Croft title and the Ken Redfern Trophy at the end of the The North East Motorcycle Racing Club event last weekend.

Paton, sponsored by Texan-based oil industrialist Mark Middleton, won all four F600 races over the two days and the two-part Redfern Trophy Race on Sunday riding his R6 Yamaha.

The Double M Racing rider was lying second to Newcastle's Joe Burns when the trophy race was red-flagged, but he dominated the rerun, leading from start to finish.

Luke Ledger and Callan Cooper shared the spoils in the GP 125 event, with Harry Hartley second on Saturday. Hartley went one better on Sunday and won both GP125 races.

Gateshead GP 125 rider Chrissie Rouse took a third place in Sunday's first race.

Burns won three of the Unlimited races, but fell at the hairpin on the last race on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Bell family from Bedlington had a good weekend in the sidecar events. Father and son, Ian and Carl, had two seconds on Saturday and a second and third on Sunday. Nephew, Phill Bell, and Ashley Hawes won both races on Sunday.

Local Riders who had success included Newcastles Chris Richardson (mini twins), Chester-le-Streets David Bell (modified twins), Hexham's Mark Herbertson (500 Classics), Blyth's Sean Robinson (pre-injection 600) and Hexhams Andrew Mason who took the newcomers race on Saturday.

The next meeting for the NEMCRC is at East Fortune in the borders on May 28 and 29. For further information go to nemcrc.co.uk