slowly at Dob Park on Easter Saturday with some irony as championship leader Ricky Wiggins slid down the Novogar championship standings, and Dan Thorpe and Ben Morphett bounded up the scoresheet with a mighty leap.

Double victories at the Colmore and Carter put JST Gas Gas national star Thorpe right into the series after missing the Wallace Cup. Morphett was in his element in the Washburn Valley and detached from thirdplaced Ben Hemingway and Danny Gamble.

The big guns, just four, were headed by James Dabill, who cheered just three observers on the 40-section course with a two penalties under the giant evergreens at the top of Sword Point where six sections certainly sorted out the major results.

The other penalty came at Dibbs Farm.

James punched his weight through nine sections in Dob Park, Thorpe took a single mark while Dabill did the job in style.

The 36th section in Browns Wood, named Crosser’s Rocks, was where Dabill demonstrated the abilities that have taken him to world stardom via Eurosport television. The day ended with Dabill receiving the Chris Carter Trophy from Margaret Carter and clerk of course Mike Hinch.

DAN Thorpe followed up his Richmond and Novogar victories with the Jack Leslie Ellis trial premier on Sunday at Winksley. The long-established trial was a scoring round of the Yorkshire Centre trials championship.

The numbers were up in both expert and clubman classes with 22 hard course contenders and 47 clubmen riding the two-lap 20-section course.

EBORACUM MC used a great piece of trials land for their second club championship trial at Deepdale Quarry, just outside the village of Hutton le Hole and were rewarded with more than 100 competitors.

Weather proved good with just a heavy shower to make things interesting. Scarborough’s Simon Kershaw, returning to something like form, dominated from the word go, floating the AM Beta through the rocks and climbs with unhurried ease.

Section Clubman A winner Mark Cameron, always strong on gutsy climbs made the Sherco dig in and grip to lose only three in total, best by far, while Mark Buckworth proved outstanding.

It was tight in Clubman B, but Guisborough’s Richard Jackson wiped the cobwebs off the old Montesa to beat fellow Guisborian Jon McKinney on most cleans rule, with Mick Watson third just one mark adrift. McKinney blew it on the relatively easy climb over the rocks.

Dan Peace proved too strong for Ollie Kendra in Youth B and Zac Collinson topped the D class by three marks from Joe Faunthorpe and credit must go to all youngsters.

THERE is nothing like low mist, rain, and threatening low clouds to really fire up a clerk of course in Scott Trial country, but Simon Williamson kept his head and laid out 12 sections for the Sid Morton Memorial Trial on the lofty rugged slopes of Fremington Edge.

The limestone pinnacles high above Reeth, right bang on Scott Trial routing, did eventually appear as 107 competitors headed for the action.

Despite the competing numbers over three laps the scores were sensible. Dan Thorpe, riding his first trial in four days in his Easter game plan – the Chris Carter, Jack Leslie Ellis and Lomax Cup event were on the agenda – won the expert class from John Sunter and Phil Alderson.Thorpe and Katy Sunter rode all four trials and for Thorpe it was four victories.

NORTHALLERTON DMC overcame wet conditions to stage the fifth round of the hugely popular Normandale Traditional Trials Championship.

And what better stage for the 90-odd riders to showcase their talents than a one-lap, 38-section course around the stunningly beautiful dale of Bilsdale in glorious sunshine, give or take the odd shower?

Glaisdale’s Alistair Jackson led the field away and made most of an early number as some sections cut up due to heavy rain.

After a couple of easy openers, riders knew they were in a British Championship at Low Cow Helm. Neil Gaunt, on the pristine Ariel, ground to a halt in the first two, as did Whitby’s Colin Bailey, on the big Triumph, and Carl Batty on the beautiful little James. Norman Shepherd and Mick Grant proved best here with one mark rides, with the old Sheffield maestro Dave Thorpe steady on a two and three.

PAT Galway, Dave Chilton and Dave Wilkinson will be hoping for a trouble-free weekend of youth trialling at Low North Park on Saturday and Sunday, when Scarborough Motor Club assemble their members to stage round two of the Class C and D championship and round three of the Class A and B series.

On each day, the format will be three laps and 12 sections.

The intent was a 15-section course, but observer shortage could present a problem for the two-day event. On Saturday, the running time is set at 5½ hours. The time for Sunday will be six hours.