SCARBOROUGH and District Motor Club's old Army camp at Low North Park, Harwood Dale, bared its teeth last Sunday for what turned out to be a tougher-than-expected four-lap, 10-section event.

The 100-strong entry – and observers – experienced spring-like sunshine to start and bitterly cold, squally snow showers towards the finish.

Gas Gas rider Dan Peace topped the expert class. But, visiting the venue the day before to set the bike up, he sportingly approached the secretary of the meeting to ask if he could ride on a non-award basis. His younger brother Jack put in the second-best score of the day.

The first two sections caused no bother, although Jack Howell mistimed the double rock step on the first, but the rock climb at Top Rocks appeared impossible, all experts failing on the first lap. Adam Milner, regaining confidence in his comeback, crashed back to earth, but was unscathed and recovered to finish runner-up.

Peace nailed it for a dab and two superb cleans after that.

Clubmen were finding it hard going as the glutinous mud clung to boots and bikes, making them feel twice as heavy. Observer Frank Hildrick had great fun on the fallen trees and treacherously slippery climb at section five, Shane Monkman giving it a fistful to spin out for a five. Tom Wood followed suit, with only the top three in clubman A – Alan Carr, Matt Sharp and Mike Noble – urging their bikes up for a three to escape a maximum. Best in in clubman B was Andy Duiga on just seven lost.

Roy Jarvis picked a peach of a line for a first-lap clean, best of the day, but his memory failed him after that, never finding it again to lose nine. Second and third men Dave Teasdale and Mark Jewell lost it here as Andrew Dale lined it up right after fiving on the first lap.

Credit is due to all new starters and inexperienced riders, who really did dig deep to gain a finish. It will stand them in good stead for the future. Credit also goes to all conducted riders with Mia and George McGee.

BEDLINGTON Motor Club have unearthed a tremendous piece of quality trials land at Thrunton Woods, in Northumberland, and their second visit there last Sunday was highly acclaimed by all riders, from expert to novice.

With huge potential for the future, club members have been hard at work for months, preparing a course with a tremendous variety of sections to go at, enough for three laps of 15 for starters.

One man very pleased with the venue was Dale Robson, who turned in a fantastic ride to beat Wallsend trials and enduro star Billy Bolt by a single mark on the tough expert route. Bolt had the better of the earlier sections, losing 11 on the first half of the course, including two fives, as Robson parted with 19 over the same hazards, but the tables were turned as Bolt suffered in the latter stages with three fives in the last three sections.

The clubman route wasn't nearly as tough, with Stephen Bennett finishing on four to take the win ahead of Jason Scott and Dale Whittaker, who dropped eight and 11 respectively. Section nine virtually sorted the winner out by itself as Bennett had three of only six cleans there all day.

On the easy course, Derek McBeth showed the way with four marks lost, all singles near the end of his first lap. Andy Minns suffered at the hands of sections three and nine, where he lost six of his seven in total. Steven Johnson got off to the worst possible start with a five in the very first section, but recovered well enough to take third on eight.

RICHMOND Motor Club stage their third trial in four weeks when they organise the Andrew Allison Memorial Trial at remote Holgate on Sunday.

Nick Hunt and Stuart Lowther will set out the clubman and youth section, while Andrew Brown marks the hard and green course routes. The club are indebted to John and George Allison at Telfit, Jack Lynas at Kersey Green, David Brown at Lumas House, Barry Braithwaite at Prys House and Barningham Estates.

Many of the 15 sections will be over pure Scott Trial terrain, with two three-mile laps. Braithwaites Gill, Cold Bank and Rolling Rocks are included.

All classes are included, but the moorland route will not really suit newcomer Class C boys and girls. Diane Horner and Greg Porter will be in charge of the entry paperwork, while Lindsay McIntyre will attend to feed the hungry hordes.

Start time is 10.30am and intending observers should contact Nick Hunt or Andrew Brown.

Results

Scarborough & District MC trial, Low North Park, Harwood Dale. – Expert: 1 Dan Peace (Gas Gas) 11; 2 Adam Milner (Beta) 62; 3 Jack Howell (Beta) 81.

Intermediate: 1 Shaughan Galway (Gas Gas) 70; 2 Shane Monkman (Beta) 82; 3 Chris Brown (Scorpa) 108.

Clubman A: 1 Alan Carr (Scorpa) 73; 2 Matt Sharp (Beta) 75; 3 Mike Noble (Montesa) 75.

Clubman B: 1 Andrew Dale (Sherco) 32; 2 Dave Teasdale (Gas Gas) 33; 3 Mark Jewell (Beta) 33.

White route: 1 Kim Waters (Yamaha) 19; 2 Nicola Dixon (Beta) 46; 3 Mick Tanton (Beta) 54.

Conducted: Connor Watson (Oset) 8.

Bedlington & District MC trial, Thrunton Woods, Northumberland. – Expert course: 1 Dale Robson (Ossa) 28; 2 Billy Bolt (Scorpa) 29; 3 John Battensby (Sherco) 56; 4 Colin Ward (Beta) 57.

Clubman course: 1 Stephen Bennett (Montesa) 4; 2 Jason Scott (Gas Gas) 8; 3 Dale Whittaker (Gas Gas) 11; 4 Carl Shaw (Montesa) 14.

Easy course: 1 Derek McBeth (Beta) 4; 2 Andy Minns (Triumph) 7; 3 Steven Johnson (Gas Gas) 8; 4 Garry Bloodworth (Beta) 10.

Fixtures

Sunday: Richmond MC Andrew Allison Memorial Trial, Tellfitt, Marske, 10.30am; Castleside MCC trial.