Weardale & D.M.C. Joe Pattinson Memorial Trial, , East Hardhope, Sunday.

Weardale and District Motor Club held their Joe Pattinson Memorial Trial on Sunday at East Harthope above St. John’s Chapel, with the healthy entry enjoying four long laps of ten sections in very cold and windy conditions.John Crinson made mincemeat of the Expert Course, dropping his one and only mark in section seven on his last lap as he negotiated the tight stream bed. Stephen Bennett lead the rest on eighteen, just one less than Joe Hutchinson who finished after a quick rear wheel change on his last lap. John Bennett was another in fine form, taking the Green Course win on eleven, well clear of Andrew Nicholson and C Seedhouse, and David Braithwaite only had Trevor Willans for competition on the Clubman route, as they finished on five and nine respectively. The Easy Course was spot on too, with the winner Jack Nixon on thirteen, two ahead of Kevin Edmundson, who was closely followed by Paul Hanley.

Wetherby & D.M.C. West Yorkshire Championship Trial. Toftgate, Greenhow, Sunday.

The Wetherby club managed to move the West Yorkshire Trial Championship Blades Trophy trial overnight from a waterlogged Bayliss Gap Farm to Toftgate Farm, near Greenhow on Sunday. The former world trial was bathed in Nidderdale sunshine and the moor actually fairly dry. Patrick Darbyshire plotted a tricky fourteen section three lap event where only problem was recruiting enough observers from just fifty competitors.

Ripon M.C. 6th Acklams Beta Championship, trial, Low Skelding, Grantley, Saturday.

The Ripon club managed to run the sixth Acklams Beta at Low Skelding on Saturday afternoon without too much of an interruption by the rain clouds although there was a heaver shower mid-afternoon that blew over but left a legacy of very slippery grass. The youngsters rode five sections four times with some shallow streams and a highlight of a graded hill climb which went well with all three classes. Cameron Brunskill won the hard route class matched by Miss Imogen Laws. Rory Wilkinson got his automatic Sherco round without a penalty which was remarkable on the wet grassy areas. Ashley Watson excelled in the Electric class winning by a country mile. The eighty eighty starters were champing at the bit at the first section where Nancy Laws observed a grassy hill. The final yards featured a shallow ledge of grass which halted those who were too short on the throttle. Even skilled Rob Bratley incurred a five as did Gavin Houson, Dan Sadler, Paul Kendall and Max Townson. The first three sections were just below the farm buildings then it was right across the valley to five and six up the rocks and grass. The stream came into play at seven and eight where Charlotte Thwaites and John Alderson could have done some lighting to see the dabs in the almost darkness of the undergrowth. The stream bed was very green for the front runners... The final trial in the series will take place at another trial venue gem, Haverah Park, on September 9. The Club will stage the annual Artie Ratcliffe Vase Novice trial at Winksley on August 27.

Guisborough M.C.C. National R.T. Keedwell British Trials Championship, Glaisdale, Sunday.

Norwich Beta rider Jack Sheppard won the sixth event in the British trials championship at Glaisdale on Sunday from Dan Peace and Denby Dale’s Jack Price. Kirkbymoorside teenager Jack Peace and Michael Brown headed a mere ten championship class contenders. Price heads the championship table six point’s ahead of Sheppard and eleven ahead of Brown. Birstall motorcycle instructor Dan Thorpe was placed third in the expert class behind winner Richard Sadler and James Fry. They are ranked in that order with just two events to run. Bradford Keiran Child is ranked fifteenth despite only having contended three trials. Porlock’s Billy Green only won the Youth class after tie breaker with Fort William contender Duncan MacColl who won the Richmond club’s Mintex Trial two months ago.

Weekend Fixture List

Saturday

Scarborough & D.M.C. 5th Club trial, Low North Park, Harwood Dale, 1.00 pm.

Sunday

Darlington & D,M.C. North Yorkshire Air Ambulance Appeal trial, Braidley, 11.000 am.

Hull Auto Club, Alvin Harrison Memorial Trial, East Moors, 11.00 am.

Yeadon-Guiseley M.C.West Yorkshire Championship trial, Brimham Rocks, 11.00 am.