IT WAS bitterly cold and snow was a possibility, but that didn't stop almost 90 riders turning out for the Consett Club Trial at Oxenlaw on Sunday.

On the Expert Course, Billy Bolt came out on top again with a single mark in section two his lot for the day. It wasn't a hard trial for the top three runners and John Crinson's only problem lay in section three where he parted with two ones and a two, enough for second place ahead of Colin Ward who did well here with just a one, sandwiched between first and last lap cleans against his name. The Green Course went to Trevor Willans after a close battle with Eddie Aitkin, with the latter's two marks on the last section.

Joe Hutchinson is getting to grips with his bigger bike now and moved into third place ahead of Louis Grey. Just one mark in it on the Clubman Route, where Martin Phillipson's eight marks was enough for a one point margin over Richie Hawes. Farmer John's long gully took the majority of both riders marks as David Braithwaite went lost out on the tie decider for second place after he tied with Hawes. Derek Bainbridge had no problems on the Easy Course with the only clean sheet of the day aboard his Honda while three others, Paul Martin, Steve Holmes and Gary Daykin will all be cursing their own single marks..

SIXTEEN-year-old Gas Gas rider Dan Peace certainly came of age on Sunday with an outstanding ride, beating a strong field of experts at Scarborough DMC's trial at a dry, but cold, Harwood Dale.

Peace, reigning British Youth A Trials Champion rode a fantastic first lap of one penalty in the second section. Beta duo Andy Chilton and Ian Austermuhle hit this one spot on to fire without loss, but it stopped the full on attacks of Jack Peace, Michael Todd and Scott Fenton. The climb over roots out of the river of five cut up to cost Peace a five second lap and a dab on the third. Chilton cleaned superbly first two visits before failing the last two laps. Gary Collinson led a troop of Scarborians – Shaughan Galway, Andy Lockwood and Mark Taylor - home in the ever growing Intermediate class.

The two York contenders, Mark Coulson and John Stones, put together consistent rides to win their respective classes of A and B, Stones just holding off a determined Mick Orange aboard the Fantic and Phil Manton to win by the odd mark. Orange lost his chance when one went astray on the relatively easy first section and Hurworth's Beth Waite put a strong ride

together against stiff opposition to finish a creditable eighth.

THE Wetherby Motor Club organisers were tested to the full over the weekend by changing weather conditions in North Yorkshire. The first round of the West Yorkshire Championship trials series, the Filtrate Trophy Trial, was scheduled to take place at Bayliss Gap Farm on Sunday.

Ground conditions were deemed to be too soft for any motor cycle events so Clerk of Course Patrick Darbyshire moved the trial to disused Cockhill Mines high above Pateley Bridge and marked a trials course in the deep valley. Weather conditions on Saturday night caused the stream levels to rise dramatically and by Sunday morning the stream was waist deep in places. The Club took the only option, to cancel the trial. The Filtrate Trophy will run this year but when and where will under discussion at the next Club meeting.

KNOWN affectionately as "Farmer John" – John Graham, from Hexham, celebrated his 85th birthday this week, by doing what he does every weekend – observing at a North East Centre Trial.

And as the picture of him out at Oxenlaw on Sunday shows, a little bit of rain, along with wind and freezing temperatures certainly won't stop him manning his section.

John was looking for something to help fill his time in when he semi-retired at sixty five, and watched a few trials events, but soon got bored with watching and decided to get involved, and twenty years on he has hardly missed an event, most of which are local but he has been known to occasionally stray into Cumbria and Yorkshire as well as taking marks in the Scottish Pre 65 Trial for a number of years now. Farmer John still works at Hexham Cattle Mart a couple of days a week, still an "expert" in his own right of handling cattle, and the North East Centre take this opportunity of wishing him a very happy birthday.

Weekend Results Check.

Consett & DMC Trial, Oxenlaw, Sunday. – Expert Course 1Billy Bolt (Ossa) 1, 2 John Crinson (Sherco) 4, 3 Colin Ward snr (Beta) 4. Green Course: 1 Trevor Willans (Honda) 3, 2 Eddie Aitkin (Montesa) 4, 3 Joe Hutchinson (Gas Gas) 12. Clubman Course: 1 Martin Phillipson (Ossa) 8, 2 Richard Hawes (Yamaha) 9, 3 David Braithwaite (Suzuki) 9 Easy Course: 1 Derek Bainbridge (Honda) 0, 2 Paul Martin (Montesa) 1, 2 Stephen Holmes (Beta) 1.

Scarborough DMC Open January Trial, Low North Park, Harwood Dale, Sunday. – Experts: 1 Dan Peace (Gas Gas) 10, 2 Andy Chilton (Beta) 28, 3 Tom Minta (Sherco) 54. Intermediate: 1 Gary Collinson (Gas Gas) 62, 2 Shaughan Galway (Gas Gas) 72, 3 Andy Lockwood (Montesa) 85. Clubman A: 1 Mark Coulson (Gas Gas) 4, 2 Matt Handley (Beta) 9, 3 Barry Chapman (Montesa) 11. Clubman B: 1 John Stones (Beta) 2, 2 Mick Orange (Fantic) 3, 3 Phil Manton (Gas Gas) 53. Youth C: 1 Jack Scott (Gas Gas) 47, 2 Jonathon Wray (Gas Gas) 111, 3 Claire Collinson (Beta) 112. White route: 1 Nicola Dixon (Beta) 2, 2 Dave Atkinson (Beta) 2, 3 Stewart Dixon (Beta) 12.

Weekend Fixture List

Sunday: Middlesbrough DMC Adult & Youth trial, Pickering DMC First easy trial, Yatt's Farm, Newton on Rawcliffe, 11am. Yeadon-Guiseley M.C. First club championship trial, Addingham Moorside, 11am.