Sadler takes top spot in the Albert Shaw Memorial Trial

West Witton joiner Richard Sadler won the event from Dan Thorpe and Adam Milner. Sixteen classes attacked the Nigel Cummins plotted course who was out on the hillside as the trial started.

Nigel had not gone walkabout and was final checking the 15 sections and fine tuning after rain and then overnight frost hit the Swaledale regions.

A four-and-a-half hour time allowance ensured the observers spent minimum time on the exposed hillside which ranged right up to the white cottage high up on Fremingtion Edge, where the 13th and 14th sections were more or less on a former Scott Trial route.

Almost tracking the women’s championship course, the first two sections almost in Arkle Beck. They actually were in the shallows the summer months.

The hard course contenders started at section one and the Greens and Clubmen slotted in at the fourth up in the shrubbery.

From four to 12 were under the trees and partly sheltered from the cool wind.

At the 13th, Nathan Stones was performing a bit of a cabaret for visiting riders. The spectators joined in the banter and the central subject was not who to ride the section but who got what for Christmas.

During the discussion a group of young riders arrived to discuss lines and tactics but it would seem that gamekeeper Will Reynolds was respected leader cum advisor to the legions and he was elected to ride first and cleaned the section.

He had very carefully checked his lines and was one of only four to clean it on the first lap.

Will’s bravery spurred his mates to get cracking. Dan Thorpe who cleaned amid the sounds of moans, groans and barracking. Richard Sadler followed with a silent quick clean.

Katy Sunter arrived disguised as a news cameraman but removed the electronic gadgetry from her sparkly new helmet.

The Clubman route was mild and one brave sole actually rode and cleaned it without even inspecting the rocks. The festive season ruled supreme on the day. In general the woodland section decided the final results in all classes.

THE Guisborough club’s Boxing Day Fancy Dress trial tested the entry of 90 riders a frosty three-lap, ten-section course around the shale tips at Charltons.

A glorious sunny day, but hard overnight frost polished the surface Fifteen year old Dan Peace, from Kirkbymoorside, kept his string of recent good results intact mastering the treacherous conditions better than his rivals with a loss of just ten marks lost to win Youth Class A and also post best score of the day.

His unpenalised rides over the huge, icy rocks of section ten were simply outstanding.

Yarm’s Tom Affleck and Port Mulgrave’s Jack Howell battled it out for the expert class win, Affleck’s better rides on sections five and ten earning him victory. Middlesbrough’s Jak Holtby proved top man in the Intermediate class.

Stockton’s Mark Shearer nailed the Clubman A win over Colin Bailey and Middlesbrough’s Alan Williams.

Experience shone through at the top of Clubman B as a huddle of ‘elder statesmen’ of the sport grabbed the top four places, Guisborough’s Rick Jackson, Lealholm’s Alistair Jackson,(no relation) Carlton’s Ian Atkinson and Guisborough’s Paul Waugh.

SEVERE weather just before the start of Northallerton club’s trial at Chopgate on Sunday gave Clerk of Course Bill Pye no option but to cut to two laps of 12 sections for the 100 competitors.

Kirkbymoorside teenager Dan Peace again posted best score of the day amongst a field of top class experts.

Peace’s only losses came at the expert only gully and the rocky climb of section six, three and five lost respectively.

West Witton’s Richard Sadler, the expert class winner, lost one penalty on the first section. Ian Austermuhle was back in action after wrist injury.

Stockton’s Roger Williams lifted the Intermediate award ahead of Scarborough’s Mark Taylor and Colin Bailey edged home in a close fought Clubman A class from Paul Dennis.

Carlton’s Alan Maynard would regret two marks lost handing Clubman B glory to Paul Clough by one mark. Yarm’s Henry Suddes finished third on most cleans rule.

SEATON DELEVAL Motor Club held their annual Boxing Day trial at Butsfield Quarry in County Durham this year, with the proceeds heading the way of the Great North Air Ambulance, with the total amount raised including some generous donations from spectators, riders and Tweed Valley Motor Club.

Eddie Aitkin wasn’t in a benevolent mood as he cleaned everything in front of him to take the Clubman Course win aboard his Gas Gas, with young Colin Ward and Wayne Hindmarsh (both Beta’s) pushing him all the way to finish second and third respectively on just two marks, and only one mark ahead of Gary Hall (Gas Gas) on three.

Steven Johnson almost made it round the Easy Course without loss, but his one mark lost put him well clear of Gary Daykin (Ossa) and Fantic mounted John Grey.

Another to almost get round clean was John Crinson (MRS Sherco), who took a single dab on section six on his last lap on his way to the Expert Route win, finishing six ahead of on form Stephen Bennett (Gas Gas), who finished three less than Colin Ward (Beta).

THE annual Bottle Trial at Greenhow maintained its season appeal on Sunday at the Wetherby Motor Clubs post Christmas event.

Exactly 80 competitors entered the trial of which 11 failed to complete the three-lap 12-section course. A bitter West wind ensured that the riders did not loiter and the observers certainly appreciated their haste.

Best first time rider in the recent Scott Trial, James Stones, stole the results. The Arkengarthdale six-footer stopped in the swirling stream at section five and that handed over the trial lead to Denby Dale’s Jack Price, but he squandered penalties in the first and seventh sections.

Keith Blythe observed the seventh section where the water rushed over the rocks.

Price was the top expert ahead of Askrigg motor engineer Philip Alderson.

Famed sausage maker Paul Dennis won his class for the second time in two days. Pudsey rider Mark Chippendale excelled in Clubman B ahead of Ian Myers.