AND rains came, but winter did not turn into spring at rain lashed Bishopdale on Sunday where, against all odds, the Noel Peacock trial did take place.

A major rethink by Clerk of Course Will Reynolds after consulations with Paul Terry and gamekeeper Stuart Dent, at the eleventh hour, rescued the old established trial.

With heavy rain falling many of the planned sections were just raging torrents of water that would have swept man and machine down the valley below towering Kidstones Pass.

Barry Watson was out sunbathing, or was it snow boarding, at section five where Phil Alderson's uncanny skills posted a dab on each of the three laps. Jack Stones stuck in a three zero one ride on his new Beta while cousin James parked up on his first two visits.

Alderson was riding well and could topple the Stones boy but a stop in the sixth on lap one negated his hopes especially when James popped in two cleans after a first lap dab.

Matt Maynard and Russell Cannell were locked together at the top of the four inters until the Carlton six footer got a serious grip in section five where Russell stopped on all three laps.

And whither the Green course riders. That wily dodger Roger Williams, home from the high seas, headed the class by a clear margin of ten penalties from Tom Hudson and Adrian Harrison. How does Mr Williams step of his gas rig and onto his 4RT with little or no practice and win?

Jack Harker did the travelling marshal job on Saturday at the Ilkley Grand National with Sam Johnson and then won the Green Youth class on Sunday from Scott Aitken.

Paul Sadler is back on full strength in the Clubman class. The West Witton builder was fourteen clear of Guy Chapman and Joe Forrest.

There was also national S3 Parts trials on in the county plus a Guisborough East Yorks Centre trial but Richmond persisted, and won the day.

FOLLOWING up their national trial results Dan and Jack Peace dominated the expert category, on Sunday, Dan adding the Guisborough club's Bob Atkinson Trophy, donated by Bob's wife Anne, to his collection while Jack took the Youth Class A.

Held around that spectacular piece of rugged moorland on Westerdale side where Bob spent many hours practising, along with Paul and Stuart Tate Stuart turned out for one a off ride and won the Clubman A class from Colin Chapman, due to a better ride of four lost on the angled rock exit of Keith Ellis's section where Chapman failed second lap, while Ian Hopley remained the only Inter good enough to clean every lap.

Architect Clerk of Course for the four lap ten section course was the experienced Barry Overy and although the elder Peace was annoyed with a 'slack un over a tuft of grass' on Harold Wilson's 'Rock of Ages.' section..

A biting wind and showers meant a cold session for observers, but they stuck it well. Sam Haywood and Shane Monkman fought hard for Inter honours, Haywood edging it on most cleans, with Collinson just one off the pace.

Guisborough duo, Chris Banks, Clubman B victor, and Steve Cornforth were split by Richmond visitor Will Alderson. Cornforth blowing it on the gnarly rocks of the third first lap with a five, but he never put a foot down after that to gain third.George McGee's conducted Class D and Beginners ran well, which he will be doing for the remainder of this season at Guisborough

events. The winner on Sunday was John Hunter-Jackson.

A TOTAL of 78 riders headed for Thrunton Woods last Sunday for the inaugural meeting at this venue, south of Wooler in Northumberland. This is yet another new piece of land unearthed by the vibrant Bedlington Club, a popular area which is already used by cyclists and walkers and therefore very sensitive.

The Forest Commission land featured two laps of 15 sections each covering seven and a half miles and was voted a unanimous success by all who turned out.

On an extremely tight Expert Course, Glen Quinn took the honours after a most cleans tie decider with Joe McMeekin, with Andrew Battensby just a further mark behind. Sections eight and nine proved to be most difficult, featuring a series of of steps and tight turns between the trees on the hillside. Only the winner along with Anthony Stephen and Philip Battensby of the Expert runners managed to clean the first of these two, while Ian and Anthony Stephen were best on the ninth with single dab rides to their names. It was also a close thing on the Clubman Route, where three riders tied on four marks.

KILLHOPE in the Wear Valley was the venue for the first round of this year's Weardale Motor Club Saturday Afternoon Series, which caters for all but Expert riders over the next few months. On the Clubman Route Colin Ward came out on top with a faultless ride, closely followed by Mark Collinson and Dale Whittaker who were both forced into a single dab in section five. Colin Lee left his enduro bike in the garage and took the Easy Course win on six, all dropped on section six, just one less than Steve Vitty, while Alan Winter beat Steve Holmes into third place on nine.

WEST WITTON joiner Richard Sadler won the national Jack Wood Trophy trial at Bradfield on Sunday from Scarborough international Michael Brown and Chris Pearson. Mirfield cobbler Andrew Jackson won the clubman class for Ilkley decorator Graham Tales and Falcon club member Neil Savage.

THE wet weather forced Chloe Richardson and Nick Hunt to cancel the charity trial at Swale Farm on Saturday afternoon. The Children in Need Appeal collection maybe be exercised at either the Sid Morton Memorial Trial on Good Friday or the clubman and youth trial at Ironbanks on Monday.

Weekend Results Check.

Richmond DMC Noel Peacock Trophy Trial, Bishopdale, Sunday. – Experts: James Stones (MRS Sherco) 32, 2 Philip Alderson (Gas Gas) 34, 3 Jack Stones (Beta) 35. Inters: Matt Maynard (Sherco) 45, Russell Cannell (Sherco) 47, Gary Pears (Scorpa) 70. Novices: Nathan Cannell (Gas Gas) 37, Tom Fraser (Sherco) 65, Nathan Parker (Gas Gas) 94. Youth Class A: Thomas Coates (Sherco) 111. Green course: Roger Williams (Montesa) 30, Tom Hudson (Beta) 40, Adrian Harrison (Gas Gas) 41. Youth Green: Jack Harker (Sherco) 75, Scott Aitkin (Sherco) 84, Tom Needham (Gas Gas) 86. Over 40's: Ian Cheetham 54, Derek White 57, David Peacock 63. (All Gas Gas). Clubmen: Paul Sadler 34, Guy Chapman 48, Joe Forrest 50. (All Beta).

Guisborough & DMC Bob Atkinson Trophy Trial, Westerdale Side, Sunday. – Expert: 1 Dan Peace (Gas Gas) 1, Rob Carter (Gas Gas) 46, Andy Lishman (Gas Gas) 60. Intermediate: 1 Sam Haywood (Ossa) 39 m/c's, Shane Monkman (Gas Gas) 39. Clubman A: 1 Stuart Tate (Gas Gas) 6, 2 Colin Chapman (Sherco) 9, 3 Trevor Willans (Montesa) 10. Clubman B: 1 Chris Banks (Sherco) 3, 2 Will Alderson (Beta) 5, 3 Steve Cornforth (Beta) 5. Youth A: Jack Peace (JST Cloburn Gas Gas) 11. Youth C: Claire Collinson (Beta) 85. Youth D: 1 John Hunter-Jackson (Beta) 23, 2 Niamh Watson ( Gas Gas) 26, 3 Olly Carne (Gas Gas) 42,

Bedlington DMC Trial, Thrunton Woods, Wooler, Sunday. – Expert Route: 1Glen Quinn (Gas Gas) 29, 2 Joe McMeekin (Ossa) 29, 3 Andrew Battensby (Beta) 30. Clubman Route: 1 Carl Shaw (Gas Gas) 4, 2 Richard Hawes (Yamaha) 4, 3 Scott Aitkin (Sherco) 4. Easy Course: 1 Eric McMeekin (BSA) 5, 2 Neil Hebdon (Fantic) 8, 3 Tony Pull (Beta) 10.

Weardale & DMC Trial, Round 1 Club Saturday series, Killhope, Saturday. – Clubman Course: 1 Colin Ward 0, 2 Mark Collinson 1, 3 Dale Whittaker 1.

Easy Course: 1 Colin Lee 6, 2 Steve Vitty 7, 3 Alan Winter 9. Very Easy Course: 1 Amelia Mayhew 16, 2 Molly Mayhew 24, 3 Alfie Royle 25.

Weekend Fixture List.

Good Friday: Richmond DMC Sid Morton Memorial Trial, Fremington Edge. 10.30 am.

Sunday: Eboracum M.C. Trial, Deepdale, 10.30 am.

Ripon & DMC Jack Leslie Ellis Memorial Trial, Winksley, 10.30 am.

Tynemouth & DMC Trial, Bowersfield Farm, Elsdon, 11.00 am.

Pickering & DMC Moto-cross, Wrelton. 11.00 am.

Easter Monday: Bedlington & DMC Trial, The Mill, Elsdon, 11.00 am.

Northallerton DMC Traditional Trial, Timberholme Farm, Bilsdale, 10.30 am.

Richmond DMC Trial, Ironbanks, 11.00 am.