RICHMOND staged the Eric Ridley Trophy Trial at remote Hurst on Sunday and the annual event was well supported as usual.

Richard Sadler borrowed a 125cc Sherco and won the hard course class from Faceby's national Expert champion Guy Kendrew but only after a tiebreak decider.

Sadler rode 29 sections without penalty, one better than Kendrew. Hurworth's Rob Waite just managed third place from Truro visitor and British Class B Youth champion Toby Martyn who just happened to be in Yorkshire last weekend. His father drove a round trip of 780 miles and the end result and comments were very favourable.

The 146 contenders travelled many miles. Two keen Fife residents left home before dawn as did Stuart Alford who was working in Glasgow on Saturday.

ROS and Andrew Brown celebrated five years of successful business at their Low Row showroom on Saturday.

A decision was taken to set up AG Bikes over and above the family building and renovation/conversion organisation at the remote village of Low Row, west of Reeth, and in the heartlands of Scott Trial and Reeth Three Day locations. A considerable number of trials riders and followers live in Swaledale. The venue also hosted British Trials Championship events.

Primarily an MRS Sherco dealer, the business has grown rapidly in recent years. Could it be the location? The nearest dealer west of Low Row is at Kendal and south and east at Harrogate and Sedgfield.

On Saturday the showroom was packed with visitors, and customers. They were all welcomed with refreshments and beverages throughout the day served to order by Charlotte Brown.

With former 80cc national road race champion Mick Jackson on board as permanent staff technician the decision was taken to expand the showroom area and stock up with all the bits and bobs that a trials rider requires to keep his, or her, machine in top class order.

The Putoline lubricant dealership was added to the MRS Sherco franchise. Ros and Andy were awarded MRS Dealer of the Year for their efforts. Thomas Coates, Matt Maynard and James Stones enter under the AG Bikes logo.

Stafford's Tom Minta also dropped in to share the day and meet his trials rivals. Catterick Camp resident Tom Needham, a rising youth contender, went home very happy after Brian aka 'Slim' Rowntree presented Tom with a new Michelin rear tyre as a gift.

The stock list is impressive from new Sherco machines to a chain adjuster and not just down to Sherco either. Handlebars, levers, foot pegs, hydraulic parts, exhaust systems, etc for any machine that goes off road. It does not halt at modern machines, check out the rebuilt renovated Bultaco and TY Yamaha machines that have undergone the AGB treatment.

CARL SHAW got the better of Colin Ward on the Expert Route at the Consett Club's trial at Rogerley Quarry near Frosterly on Sunday.

His six marks, all lost in section ten would be his lot for the day, whereas Ward dropped seven here plus another one in section six. Tim Longstaff won the Green Course, by just the one mark, his 11 marks putting him ahead of Colin Gelston and Dave Humble, both on 12.

The winner got the nod courtesy of his ride in section six, where just a single dab compared favourably with the rides of his nearest rivals who both dropped seven here, although Glen Quinn did well on this hazard with just a couple. Martin Phillipson and Grant Gillender couldn't be split on the Clubman Route after both went clean, with a further three riders, all on one, breathing down their necks.

David Braithwaite was another to keep his feet firmly on the pegs, however the twinshock rider was the only one to manage this on the Easy Course, although again he was closely followed by Peter McIntyre and Paul Martin who dropped one and three respectively. The anticipated duel between Ray Cummings and Garry Salmon failed to live up to expectations. Even without counting the fives, and he doesn't, Salmon's score was never getting anywhere near that of his mentor.

Weekend Results Check

Richmond Motor Club, Eric Ridley Memorial Trial, Hurst, Sunday. – Experts: 1 Richard Sadler (Sherco) 21, 2 Guy Kendrew (Beta) 21, Rob Waite (Beta) 28. Inters: 1 Jack Stones (Gas Gas) 39, 2 Matthew Maynard (Sherco) 41, 3 Mark Willis (Montesa) 67. Novices: 1 James Stones (Sherco) 15, Nathan Cannell (Gas Gas) 69, 3 Mark Sunter (Gas Gas) 72. Youth Class A: Jack Peace (Gas Gas) 60. Green course: Gavin Lowther (Yamaha) 26, Paul Dennis (Beta) 30, 3 Andrew Harker (Sherco) 31. Youths: Thomas Coates 54, Scott Aitken 65, Jack Harker 68. (All Sherco). Clubman: Andy Kearton 28, Brad Allen 32, James Langstaff 38. (All Montesa). Over 40's: Derek White (Gas Gas) 27, Chris Jewell (Gas gas) 29, Simon Sharp (Triumph) 30. Twin Shock: Mark Smith (Fantic) 39, Tim Willis (Bulatco) 44, Mick Orange (Fantic) 55. Youths: Tom Needham (Gas Gas) 60, Louise Alford (Gas Gas) 77, Oliver Rouse (Beta) 79.

Consett D.M.C. Trial, Frosterley, Sunday. – Expert Course: 1 Carl Shaw (Gas Gas) 6, 2 Colin Ward (Beta) 8, 3 Ian Stephen (Gas Gas) 13. Green Course: 1 Tim Longstaff (Ossa) 11, 2 Colin Gelston (Gas Gas) 12fc 3 Dave Humble (Gas Gas) 12. Clubman Course: 1 = Martin Phillipson (Ossa) and Grant Gillender (Sherco) 0, 3 Stephen Dalton (Beta) 1. Easy Course: 1Dave Braithaite (Suzuki) 0, 2 Peter McIntyre (Montesa) 1, 3 Paul Martin (Montesa) 3.

Weekend Fixture List.

Sunday: Thames Valley MCC Final Luscombe Saab Leeds British Sidecar Championship, West Horsley, 9.30 am.

Wetherby DMC Yorkshire Centre Presidents Trial, Fellbeck, 10.30 am.