COGDEN HALL was buzzing on Sunday morning as 163 trials riders converged on the popular Grinton trials venue. Even with a snow forecast on the airwaves the competitors travelled from far and wide.

Guy Kendrew and Ian Austermuhle arrived from the East Yorkshire Centre while John Crinson journeyed down from Whickham. The snow duly arrived at lunchtime changing some of the exposed sections into skating rinks especially the launching points.

The main groups, a dozen in total, including five small wheelers were segregated with hard and greens starting in Cogden Beck where section one was observed for a Land Rover parked overlooking the deep cleft where the stream runs. Four sections tracked Grinton Ghyll and then it was the fearsome section five hillclimb, all 40 yards of snow covered wet grass.

Only winner Guy Kendrew cleared the first nine sections on lap one before dropping five on the scree and rock climb at the ninth on lap one and then again second time round. James Stones was fired up until the hill where he had a boot down on laps one and two. Ian Austermuhle faulted in Grinton Ghyll in sections two and three as did Richard Sadler.

Section six on the skyline above Grinton Wood was where the easy classes started and where the observer took off his spectacles as they were coated with snow and the stray dabs could not been seen. Green winner Tom Hudson fived the section first time round but Peter Brown cleared and Les Richardson managed a fleeting penalty. At least Grinton Wood afforded some shelter from the elements where four section climbed a combination of rock steps and a pine needle surface under which the grip was non existent.

Somehow James Stones found the key to the ninth and was unpenalised on all three laps. Those rides negated Kendrew's narrow advantage into a tie-break decider. Andy Kearton got the Clubman class by cleaning the eighth in Grinton Wood on all laps whereas Joe Alderson took a three-clean and two.

Robyn Alderson shone in third place to take third place.

Jim Hudson just edged out Andy Waugh in the Over 40's from Mark Simpson, Mark Proudlock and North East Centre scribe Ray Crinson. Ted Harston's small wheelers were out in force, all 25 of them. The usual joust between Callum Fowler and Conrad and Monte Andrew was centre stage in Class DE. Both Andrews boy now mounted on I/C engine machines. The Richmond Motor Club thank all involved with the running of the trial and for the competitors for their support.

EBORACUM staged their annual Kay Trophy Trial at scenic Moor Farm, near Ouseburn on Sunday for 69 competitors. The course of about a mile in length featured four laps of ten sections, set out by Mark Collinson, and assisted by Mike Kendra and junior members.

Run in an anti clockwise direction the first two hazards were on the rocks by the road side leading up the farm. These historic switch back sections never fail to punish. If the grass does not grab wheels the rocks will.

On its own up in the far west wood was the third section. The land up in the distant copse is usually on the soft side. The remaining section, seven in all, were situated in the wooded ravine utilising the narrow stream and bankside rocks with the concrete drain pipes thrown in for good measure. The hillsides were surprisingly dry and therefore quite grippy which enabled the section builders to put some steep climbs out of the stream.

With four different courses it kept both riders and observers on their toes. The trial was run under TSR 22a so stopping and realigning the front and rear wheels was an option. It did start to rain later but many of the entry were close to finishing before it became too slippery. At least Bill Haw who was on section eight and section ten guardian Harold Wilson were glad to get out of the ravine which turns into a wind tunnel when it is cold. It became rather cold in the ravine but no doubt was worse out of the shelter.

NEWTON ABBOTT starlet Bill Green won the opening round of the new look British Class B trials championship on Saturday in West Yorkshire.

It was on the cards that Billy would feature at the sharp end of the 20 contestants but Yorkies Kieran Child and Will Tolson would be more of a match for the 2014 Class C champion. How wrong.

A Devon teenager, a County Armagh member of the Banbridge Motor Cycle Club and Blaydon contender really stamped on the home runners while Lochaber club member Duncan MacColl just added insult to injury by snatching fourth place ahead of Falcon front runner and Yorkshire's 2014 Class B trials champion Will Tolson.

Class D medium wheels champion Jamie Galloway stepped up the pressure by Winning Class C medium wheels on Saturday. The Kirkcaldy boy was invincible last year and has kick started this season well in command of his new class ahead of Roberttown youngster Henry Stephenson who has got Grandfather John running through sections after him.

Local boys who scored championship points were - Charlie and Harvey Mosley (Shepley), Harvey Taglione and Jacob Smith (Bradford), Freddie Stephenson (Robertown) younger brother of Henry.

A total of 77 youngsters contended the event which took place at the Bumpy Ltd motorcycle training centre at Howden Clough, Birstall.

Weekend Results Check

Richmond Motor Club, Harold Graham Trophy Trial, Cogden Hall, Grinton, Sunday. – Experts: 1 Guy Kendrew (Beta) 24, 2 James Stones (Sherco) 24, 3 Ian Austermuhle (Beta) 24. Inters: 1 Matthew Maynard (Sherco) 70, 2 Russell Cannell (Sherco) 80, 3 Gavin Lowther (Yamaha) 92. Novice: Nathan Cannell (Gas Gas) 85. Youth Class A: Thomas Coates (Sherco) 131. Green course: 1 Tom Hudson 60, 2 Jason Eyre 61, 3 Peter Brown 62. (All Beta).

Youth Green: 1 Jack Harker (Sherco) 102, 2 Tom Needham (Gas Gas) 107. Clubmen: 1 Andy Kearton (Montesa) 18, 2 Joe Alderson (Montesa) 21, 3 Robyn Alderson (Gas Gas) 38. Over 40's: 1 Jim Hudson 24, 2 Andy Waugh 25, 3 Mark Simpson 28. (All Beta). Twin Shock: Derek Bainbridge (Honda) 97. Youth Class A: 1 Matt Napper (Gas Gas) 66, 2 Ben Simpson (Beta) 95, 3 Niamh Richardson (Beta) 110. Youth Class B: 1 Robert Weatherill (Gas Gas) 70, 2 Tom Constantine (Beta) 84, 3 Matthew Allum (Beta) 115. Youth Class C: 1 Luke Constantine 101, 2 Tim Weatherill 102, 3 Andrew Reynolds 108. Youth Class BE: 1 Chris Barnett (Honda) 26, 2 Liam Clement (Beta) 26, 3 Harry Mugridge (Gas Gas) 30. Youth Class DE: 1 Callum Fowler (Gas Gas) 21, 2 Monte Andrew (Beta) 29, 3 Conrad Andrew (Gas Gas) 40. Youth Class ED: 1 Sam Armstrong (Gas Gas) 38, 2 Benjamin Simpson (Gas Gas) 71, 3 Charlie Astwood (Oset) 84. Non-competitive: Richard Moorhouse (Beta) 19.

Eboracum MC Annual Kay Trophy Trial, Moor Farm, Ouseburn, Sunday. – Experts: 1 Olly Kendra (Gas Gas) 21, 2 Tom Hick (Beta) 27, 3 Shane Monkman (Gas Gas) 58. Inters: 1 Gary Collinson (Gas Gas) 59, 2 James Wainwright (Beta) 77, 3 Ben Myers (Gas Gas) 81. Clubman A: 1 Rob Hardisty (Sherco) 11, 2 Philip Hammond (Sherco) 12, 3 Matt Handley (Beta) 24. Clubman B: 1 Paul Pulman (Scorpa) 5, 2 Tom Grant (Ossa) 5, 3 John Stones

(Beta) 9. Clubman Over 50's: 1 Steve Bradley (Beta) 11, 2 John Bullen (Gas Gas) 15, 3 Christopher Dale (Montesa) 17. Youth B Inter: Zac Collinson (Gas Gas) 113. Youth B: 1 Callum Williamson (Ossa) 15. Youth C: 1 Claire Collinson (Beta) 96, 2 Alick Sharp (Beta) 108.

Weekend Fixture List

Sunday.

Darlington DMC Club trial, Hagg Gill, Grinton, 11am.

Thirsk & DMC Open Trial,, Long Plain Farm, Hambleton, 11am

Yeadon-Guiseley MC Third club trial, Addingham Moorside, 11am.