JONATHAN Richardson hit the headlines last Sunday with a debut victory at Richmond Motor Club's Albert Shaw Memorial Trial in Scott Trial country at Arkengarthdale.

The first shock was that the Scott Trial winner rode an MRS Sherco after agreeing terms with MRS. That deal puts him right up front for another Scott victory and a bid for the Scottish Six Days Trial.

And, despite being involved in enduros, Richardson resumed trialling as if he had been competing every weekend, leaving Adam Milner and Jack and James Stones to pick up the pieces. Apart from a third-lap stop in section eight, a Scott Trial section, he would have cleaned the entire course.

Mr Metcalfe observed eight, where Will Reynolds was the star act with a single dab. James Stones stopped twice in the section, otherwise he would have matched Richardson. Milner also fived on lap three, while Jack Stones was on for cleaning on lap three, but dropped a boot.

All the action, in brilliant sunshine, was courtesy of gamekeeper Richard Coates for gaining permission to stage the trial in the Bridge End regions. The trial attracted more than 100 hundred entries, plus a dozen small wheelers under Ted Harston's command.

On the hard course, Roger Williams kept Sam Johnson at bay after the inter contender stopped twice in section five. Adrian Harrison was on for a green victory, but a stop opened the door for Peter Brown.

Paul Sadler took a dab in the third section, but it was no easy clubman win because Robyn Alderson and David Watson were on his case.

Bruce Storr went down to his Reeth Three Day Trial partner Gary Moorhouse, so there will be some discussions about the result.

THIRSK and District MC hit a glorious day for their Long Plain Farm trial last Sunday and the course plotters are still unearthing new hazards to explore the full potential of this old valley.

Michael Todd and Simon Kershaw were well-matched, but Todd, apart from misreading the rocky climb of three on the first lap for a five, held it together well to win by a margin of seven marks. Kershaw struggled on the tricky quarry rocks of the eighth section.

A couple of new, steady starter sections eased the riders in, although Chris Turner and Darren Dale failed on the first lap. The awkward climb and plunge back down bothered inter winner Pete Sharp and runner-up Gary Collinson, both losing marks here, but Shane Monkman, adapting well to the new Sherco, lost just four.

Clubman B rider Simon Smith hit it spot on to clean every visit, as did the three front-runners in B class, winner Paul Pattinson, Garry Bloodworth and Paul Nelson.

Andrew Keel put together a great ride to win clubman A, his unpenalised ride on the second never matched, and nine lost on the last section proved to be his worst ride of the day. Phil Clough looked to be in control here with a superb clean first lap.

A GOOD entry of 60 riders turned out for the Middlesbrough and District MC trial held high above Carlton last Saturday and it was experience to the fore in all class wins as Colin Ward, making a rare visit to this centre, took the premier award, with Mick Sharp having to settle for the runner-up berth.

Mark Doughty was well clear in clubman A and John Stones, riding for non-award in clubman B, edged the old Ariels of Duncan McDonald and Colin Bailey into second and third place respectively.

Results

Richmond MC, Albert Shaw Trophy Trial, Shaw Farm, Arkengarthdale. – Experts: 1 Jonathan Richardson (MRS Sherco) 5; 2 Adam Milner (Beta) 12; 3 Jack Stones (Beta) 13.

Inters: 1 Roger H Williams (Montesa) 25; 2 Sam Johnson (Beta) 31; 3 Andrew Lishman (Gas Gas) 34.

Novices: 1 Tom Alderson (Beta) 30; 2 Thomas Coates (Beta) 65; 3 Jack Harker (Beta) 74.

Green course: 1 Peter Brown (Beta) 9; 2 Adrian Harrison (Sherco) 12; 3 Eddie Aitken (Gas Gas) 15.

Youth green course: 1 Tom Needham (Gas Gas) 18; 2 Scott Aitken (Sherco) 29; 3 Guy Stones (Beta) 44.

Clubmen course: 1 Paul Sadler (Beta) 1; 2 Robyn Alderson (Gas Gas) 4; 3 David Watson (Royal Enfield) 7.

Over 40s: 1 Garry Moorhouse (Beta) 3; 2 Bruce Storr (Beta) 9; 3 William Wood (Beta) 10.

Twin Shock: 1 Andy Kearton (Bultaco) 6; 2 Alastair Jackson (Matchless) 19; 3 Paul Mugridge (Yamaha) 43.

Youth class B: 1 Oliver Rickaby (Gas Gas) 31; 2 William Handley (Sherco) 33; 3 Tim Weatherill (Sherco) 41.

Youth class C: 1 Martyn Pratt (Beta) 62; 2 Callum Fowler (Gas Gas) 87; 3 Jack Dent (Beta) 89.

Small wheels class DE: Conrad Andrew (Beta) 6.

Class ED: 1 Charlie Astwood (Gas Gas) 16; 2 Jack Vasey (Beta) 31; 3 Lily-Ann Thwaite (Oset) 32.

Class EB: 1 Barnaby Fothergill (Gas Gas) 23; 2 Cameron Brunskill (Beta) 28.

Class BE: 1 Monte Andrew (Beta) 4; 2 Sam Armstrong (Gas Gas) 9.

Thirsk & District MC trial, Long Plain Farm, Hambleton. – Experts: 1 Michael Todd (Sherco) 19; 2 Simon Kershaw (Beta) 26.

Intermediates: 1 Peter Sharp (Beta) 15; 2 Gary Collinson (Gas Gas) 24; 3 Shane Monkman (Cloburn Sherco) 40.

Clubman A: 1 Andrew Keel (Beta) 24; 2 Phil Clough (Cloburn Sherco) 51; 3 Daniel Gamble (Beta) 52.

Clubman B: 1 Paul Pattinson (Beta) 4; 2 Garry Bloodworth (Montesa) 8; 3 Paul Nelson (Beta) 9.

Youth B: Zac Collinson (Gas Gas) 25.

Youth C: Claire Collinson (Beta) 69.

Youth clubman B course: Jack Darrell (Beta) 42.

Middlesbrough & District MC trial, Carlton. – Intermediate: Colin Ward (Yamaha) 32; Mick Sharp (Beta) 54.

Clubman A: Mark Doughty (Sherco) 9; Leigh Smith (Sherco) 41; Paul Strickland (Gas Gas) 43.

Clubman B: John Stones 14; Duncan McDonald (Ariel) 16; Colin Bailey (Ariel) 17; Ron Chapman (Gas Gas) 20; Willie Wood (Gas Gas) 21.

Fixtures

Today: Eboracum MC club trial, Moor Farm, Ouseburn, 6.30pm.

Tomorrow: Lakes MTA British Trials Championship, Fell Green, Bootle, 9.30am; Eboracum MC charity trial, Moor Farm, Ouseburn, 1pm.

Sunday: Lakes MTA British Trials Championship, Fell Green, Bootle, 9.30am; Wetherby & District MC Tetley Trophy Yorkshire Centre Championship, Fellbeck, 10.30am; Eboracum MC charity trial, Moor Farm, Ouseburn, 10.30am.