BEN Rhydding heating engineer Andy Tales set the standards at Richmond and District Motor Club's annual Blue Bar Trophy Trial at Horsehouse last weekend, riding his Fantic machine to overall victory ahead of 131 competitors from across the country.

After two days of trialling in scenic, sun-blessed Coverdale, Tales incurred just three penalties in the 72 sections.

The Blue Bar Trophy was won by pre-65 rider Colin Bailey on a pristine British Ariel machine, taking the class ahead of Huddersfield Velocette rider Chris Haigh.

Skeeby's Alan Richardson dived in at the deep end by purchasing a 1963 Greeves and competing for the first time in a pre-65 event on a strange machine with doubtful handling and suspension. Despite the handicap, he got the machine into seventh place in class. "I was just coming to terms with no suspension and not a lot in the brakes department" were Richardson's final words on his days in Coverdale.

Askrigg's Robyn Alderson excelled in the ladies' class, winning by a country mile from Lincoln's Cas Alford.

SURPRISINGLY, on one of the few glorious summer nights of the year so far, there was a disappointing entry for the third round of Guisborough and District MC's summer series, but MRS Sherco rider Tom Affleck didn't complain, riding the three-lap, 10-section course at Aislaby for just seven marks lost.

Affleck only really slipped up on the first, a drop down and tight turns to exit over tree roots, losing five here. His other two went astray on the fifth.

The seventh proved difficult, a nasty little up and downer, but there were good cleans from Andrew Gibson, Barry Chapman and Paul Nelson on the first lap.

Inter winner Chris Brown and clubman A winner Mike Noble had sound rides, Brown edging the win from Jonathon Frost by staying clean on the eighth, only Carl Kirkbride matching him here.

Noble finished well clear due to his better ride on the first hazard, where only one lost – best of the night – pulled him clear of Alan Carr.

Experience headed the clubman B class, Paul Nelson, Ron Chapman, Roger Winspear and Andrew Dale finishing in that order. Nelson is on a roll at present and eased clear with a great ride of just one lost on the awkward seventh, only Winspear bettering it to remain clean on his Montesa.

There were good efforts in the conducted youth classes and Matilda Arbon continued to impress as Harrison Skelton stepped up to challenge in his first trial, with Pateley Bridge's Jack Firth unpenalised on the night to win the easy route from Louie McGee and Eliza Arbon.

HULL AC did a fantastic job last Sunday, pulling an entry of 90 riders to Hill Houses, Farndale, on a busy bank holiday.

Local lad Ian Austermuhle was bang on form to win the Jack Howden Trophy, holding off a trio of determined challengers in Danny Gamble, Simon Kershaw and Adam Milner.

Most of Austermuhle's marks went astray on the stream sections, where Gamble and Milner were best, losing just four marks.

The awkward rock step and turn on the second hazard caused bother for clubmen. Clubman B winner John Bullen dabbed, but then produced a lovely clean on the rocky gully, as did clubman A winner Richard Simpson.

Peter Sharp and John Benton had a real battle for inter honours, Sharp taking it by two marks after Benton, who did all the hard work to be the only rider unpenalised on sections seven, nine, 10 and 12, then blew it with a meltdown in the first to lose a maximum.

Simpson kept his head and consistency to keep Andres Cook and Alan Williams at bay for clubman A honours.

HECK Gill Farm was under attack from hordes of midges last Saturday evening when the Wetherby Motor Club staged the second Norman Crooks Trophy championship trial on Robin Harker's land high above Darley village.

The airborne attack was supplemented by Mr Harker's rather damp and soggy woodland, complete with its trickling beck and angled rockery.

Only 45 riders enjoyed the first seven sections, which were below the start field. The other three further down the track featured the traditional hill climb.

Unfortunately, the shortage of observers resulted in a DIY arrangement as competitors honestly entered their own scores. Joel Sadler planted his Beta at the top of the hard course results ahead of Joe Jennings and Danny Cockshott.

Robert Hardisty won the 50/50, while Rob Bratley won the novices class.

Results

Richmond & District MC Blue Bar Trophy Trial, Horsehouse. – Twin shock: 1 Andrew Tales (Fantic) 3; 2 Gavin Lowther (Yamaha) 6; 3 Toby Eyre (Yamaha) 8.

Over-50s: 1 Paul Sadler (Beta) 7; 2 William Wood (Beta) 7; 3 Kevin Edmundson (Beta) 11.

Over-60s: 1 Mike Rapley (Beta) 126; 2 Paul Lowther (Yamaha) 60; 3 Graham Powell (Montesa) 63.

Over-70s: 1 Brian Dennis (Montesa) 124.

Pre-unit: 1 Colin Bailey (Ariel) 8; 2 Chris Haigh (Velocette) 25.

Unit: 1 Andrew Scott (Triumph) 39; 2 John Chatto (BSA) 54; 3 Kevin Morley (Triumph) 54.

Two-strokes: 1 Mark Buckworth (James) 13; 2 Nigel Greenwood (BSA) 26; 3 Ian Cheetham (Greeves) 36.

Ladies: 1 Robyn Alderson (Gas Gas) 22; 2 Catherine Alford (Gas Gas) 64; 3 Hannah Richardson (Gas Gas) 74.

Team awards: 1 Congleton Dabbers 372; 2 Team 6T9 non-finish.

Guisborough & District MC third summer series trial, Aislaby. – Expert: 1 Tom Affleck (Sherco) 7; 2 Karl Dodderidge (Gas Gas) 85.

Intermediate: 1 Chris Brown (Scorpa) 41; 2 Jonathon Frost (Beta) 43; 3 Carl Kirkbride (Sherco) 45.

Clubman A: 1 Mike Noble (4RT) 13; 2 Alan Carr (Scorpa) 36; 3 Barry Chapman (Montesa) 39.

Clubman B: 1 Paul Nelson (Beta) 7; 2 Ron Chapman (Scorpa) 13; 3 Roger Winspear (Montesa) 13.

Conducted hard: 1 Matilda Arbon (Oset) 9; 2 Harrison Skelton (Oset) 33.

Conducted easy: 1 Jack Firth (Beta) 0; 2 Louie McGee (Oset) 38; 3 Eliza Arbon (Oset) 45.

Wetherby & District MC second Crooks Trophy Trial, Darley. – Expert: Joe Jennings (Sherco) 25.

Inters: 1 Danny Cockshott (Sherco) 41; 2 Dave Mawer (Montesa) 50.

Novices: 1 Joel Sadler (Beta) 18; 2 Richard Mellon (Beta) 42; 3 Jack Harker (Beta) 46.

Youth Class A: Keiran Child (Beta) 48.

Green course, Novices: 1 Rob Bratley (Sherco) 29; 2 Gavin Houson (Beta) 41; 3 Philip Blacker (Beta) 42.

Over-40: Philip Hammond (Sherco) 31.

Over-50s: 1 Robert Hardisty (Sherco) 24; 2 Michael Platts (Sherco) 35.

Youth Class B: 1 Joe Child (Beta) 37; 2 Harvey Taglione (Beta) 55.

Easy course, Novices: 1 Ben Benson (Sherco) 19; 2 Michael Joyce (Sherco) 22; 3 Leon Witter (Sherco) 33.

Over-40s: 1 Michael Benson (Beta) 4; 2 John Henfrey (Sherco) 23; 3 Nick Midgely (Yamaha) 39.

Over-50s: 1 Ian Brogden (Beta) 4; 2 Mick Bayley (Beta) 6; 3 Ian Bradley (Beta) 11.

Twin shock: Steve Gossop (BSA) 21.

Youth Class C: 1 Callum Benson (Beta) 21; 2 Adam Brown (Gas Gas) 31; 3 Arran Sherwin (Beta) 112.

Hull AC trial, Farndale. – Expert: 1 Ian Austermuhle (Beta) 14; 2 Danny Gamble (Sherco) 20; 3 Simon Kershaw (Beta) 23.

Intermediate: 1 Peter Sharp (Beta) 43; 2 John Benton (Gas Gas) 45; 3 Chris Brown (Scorpa) 79.

Clubman A: 1 Richard Simpson (Beta) 16; 2 Andres Cook (Gas Gas) 21; 3 Alan Williams (Montesa) 21.

Intermediate Youth: Zac Collinson (Gas Gas) 78.

Clubman A Youth: 1 Ben Butler (Gas Gas) 77; 2 Tom Constantine (Beta) 83.

Clubman B: 1 John Bullen (Gas Gas) 8; 2 Mark Summer (Beta) 9; 3 William Wood (Gas Gas) 9.

Youth Clubman B: 1 Jack Darrell (Beta) 44; 2 Luke Constantine (Beta) 55; 3 Claire Collinson (Beta) 79.

Conducted: 1 Matilda Arbon 29; 2 Harrison Skelton 56; 3 Eliza Arbon 62 (all Oset).

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Scarborough & District MC ACU R T Keedwell British Trials Championship, Low North Park, Harwood Dale, 9.30am; Wetherby & District MC third Crook Trophy Championship trial, Longside Farm, Ramsgill, 5.30pm.

Sunday: Scarborough & District MC Super Trial, Low North Park, Harwood Dale; Cumberland County MCC National Alan Trophy Trial, New Biggin, 10am; Bradford DMC Davy Cup Trial, Skyrakes Farm, Skipton, 10am; Richmond MC trial, Larklands Farm, Ravensworth, 10.30am; Huddersfield Falcon MCC fifth club championship, Whitegates Farm, Cartworth Moor, 11am.