MIDDLESBROUGH were desperately unlucky with their Lordstones Two Day Trial at Carlton Bank as Sunday. The title was a misnomer on Sunday morning and it changed to the Lordstones One Day when Sunday's part of the trial was cancelled due to heavy rain blanketing the area, The 60 competitors riders enjoyed a good Saturday contest..

Parking at the popular Lordstones Cafe, riders swooped down to the base of the hillside for three laps of ten sections, including rocky gullies and climbs. Up and coming Tom Wood from Hutton le Hole topped the Intermediate class by a good margin from Mark Doughty and Alan Williams. Although Doughty and Williams had experience on their side, Wood held the advantage with his brand of youthful enthusiasm and skill – or is it just the coaching from Dad Willie – which proved the decider.

Wood proved the master on the difficult sections of two, three and eight, posting by far the best rides.

It proved tight in both Clubman classes, and talking of experience, Middlesbrough`s Phil Manton has more than most – a top rider going back a decade or two – edging the A class win from James Thompson on most cleans rule as Leigh Smith blew it with two lost on the relatively easy first section and also Stephen Dennis with five lost on the very last dropped him to fourth.

Stokesley`s Mark Hardy kept the two new names of Garry Bloodworth and Peter McIntyre at bay by one mark and also held his riding mate Mark Jewell behind him for bragging rights this week. Four old hands enjoyed a good scrap for fourth place, Willie Wood snatching it from Carlton`s Ian Atkinson, Ron Chapman and John Pattinson. These lads must be fitted with Duracell, as they just keep on going.

GUISELEY electrician James Noble won the Pre-65 international trial at Kinlochleven on Saturday afternoon after leading from start to finish. He completed the Friday trials course of 30 sections overlooking Loch Lhinne without incurring any penalties.

The Yeadon-Guiseley Motor Club member started as event favourite on Saturday morning from Melmerby motor engineer Stuart Blythe who was level on penalties with Grassington garage owner John Maxfield and Rochdale's Ben Butterworth. All had four penalties on their score sheets.

Noble added four penalties to his score while Blythe and Butterworth finished on a level six score but the tire break ruling decided the final positions. Maxfield faded on day two to take fourteenth, four places ahead of Fellbeck farmer Norman Shepherd. Sedgefield motorcycle dealer Eddie Aitken was the top North East Centre competitor in eighth place, one ahead of Richmond's David Watson who returned home from Australia to compete on Ken Raw's pristine 1962 250cc Royal Enfield Crusader machine.

The Redditch bike was basically a prototype ridden by Pat Brittain and Peter Fletcher in its formative years. Fellbeck farmer Norman Shepherd got his BSA Bantam home in 18th place ahead of Nick Shield, former winner Tony Calvert and Colin Bailey. Of the 180 starters 26 failed to complete the course.

Weekend Results Check

Middlesbrough & DMC Lordstones Two Day trial, Carlton Bank. – Intermediates: 1 Tom Wood (Gas Gas) 10, 2 Mark Doughty (Sherco) 28. C/man A: 1 Phil Manton (Gas Gas) 18, 2 James Thompson (Beta) 18, 3 Leigh Smith (Sherco) 20. C/man B: 1 Mark Hardy (Beta) 6, 2 Garry Bloodworth (Beta) 7, 3 Peter McIntyre (Honda) 10, Mark Jewell (Beta) 12.

Weekend Fixture List

Saturday: Guisborough & DMC Round 2 summer championship trial, Glaisedale, 5pm.

Sunday: Airedale & Pennine Motor Club, Yorkshire Dales Trial, Pateley Bridge Auction Mart, 8.30 am. Richmond Motor Club, Yorkshire Centre trial, Diamond Pastures, Park Rash, 10.30 am. Darlington & DMC Pre-65/Twin Shock trial, Ironbanks, Richmond, 11am. Hull AC NG Pearson Shield Trial, Lockton, 11am. Whitby Motocross Club, motocross, Skelder Bank, Whitby, 11am.