Richmond attracts big entry after winter releases icy grip (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Richmond attracts big entry after winter releases icy grip

3:00pm Friday 22nd February 2013 in Sport

MOTORCYCLE trials returned to Wensleydale and Agglethorpe after a break of seven-andhalf weeks since Richmond Motor Club’s results computer rolled in earnest.

The weather has more or less wrecked Yorkshire trials and the revival signalled an impressive 151 entries for the Dick Horner Memorial Trial on Sunday.

S3 Parts champion Richard Sadler was up against Mark Sunter on a twin shock Montesa, while Braidley’s Will Reynolds kept station on a Bultaco.

In all, 13 classes rode the three-lap 12 section course, including non-competitive Olivia Pearson, who got her Beta home on 81 marks.

Lothersdale youth Nathan Parker just eclipsed Pateley Bridge youngster Tom Geldart and Richmond’s Thomas Coates in the youth class. They rode the full green course.

Kirkby Stephen clubman David Braithwaite planted his new Ossa in front of West Witton’s Paul Sadler in the 44 clubman class contenders.

There was some real heavy metal circulating and scores were tight and the same terms applied to the Over-40s class.

British Class B champion Hannah Richardson dispatched Harry Wills in Class A Youth and Hurworth’s Beth Waite inflicted the same treatment on Harry’s brother, Freddie. The three younger classes were won by Thomas Constantine, Elliott Laws and Kian Dawson, while Conrad Andrew and Henry Stephenson lit up Class E.

WHITBY’S Andy Chilton proved in impressive form at Guisborough DMC’s East Coast Tyres Trial at Charltons on a glorious sunny Sunday with a nine-mark advantage gaining him the win over MRS Sherco mounted Tom Affleck from Yarm.

The trial included the second round of the East Yorks Championship and reigning champion, Simon Kershaw, from Scarborough, suffered a bad day, clipping a couple of flags, a score that dropped him to fifth.

Clerk of course Barry Overy and Andy Wheatley plotted many new, innovative sections around the old shale tips and were rewarded with a good entry of 80 riders that included the cream of East Yorkshire riders plus talented Wallsend youth Billy Bolt and Hurworth’s Rob Waite.

Stockton’s Rob Carter grabbed Intermediate win and Wombleton’s Shane Monk-man, now putting some solid rides together, clinched a strong A class win from Stephen Cross, of Middlesbrough and Richard Simpson, from Stokesley.

Youth class winners were Kirkbymoorside lads Dan and Jack Peace, while Luke Jackson topped C’s and Scarborough’s Claire Collinson beat Great Ayton’s Seth Mayfield to the D class win.

SOUTH Shields and District Motor Club were given the use of Consett Club’s Oxenlaw venue for their Harland Cup trial on Sunday, as their Rookhope course remains in the balance. It certainly didn’t deter riders, as nearly 100 turned out to ride four laps of ten sections, which included a god mix of streams, climbs and rock outcrops.

On the expert course, Skeeby’s Jonathon Richardson made the trip up the A68 for his first competitive ride after signing for Ossa, and after dropping just three marks, he duly took the win by 15 marks from Crook’s Michael Phillipson, with Richmond’s Gavin Lowther, third on 27. Stephen Bennett took the Clubman route win on nine, three ahead of Ian Stephen, who was two ahead of Richard Hawes.

On the easy course, just one mark separated winner Rob Lowery from Colin Ward, as they finished on two and three respectively, with Andrew Black claiming third place.