For the past seven years Guiseley electrician and leading Yeadon and Guiseley Motor Club member James Noble has tried hard to win the Ilkley Grand National cross country trial on Middleton Moors.

He has been foiled by multi winner Andy Cripps, or one of his own Club team colleagues as he tried to add his name to the splendid list of past winners going back into the mid-1920s.

On Saturday afternoon he overcame his Grand National jinx, he was second to Cripps in 1997, and covered three laps of the wild and woolly ten mile lap high above Ilkley without any serious problems.

"Sure, I felt as if I had managed a good ride, my Sandiford Montesa ran without any problems, even when I landed in a waterfilled bog. I lost most of my marks at the How Gill and Kex Beck sections but I kept moving in all 21 sections, no stops and that kept the score down," said Noble.

Noble was under pressure from Cowling builder Nathan Wrigglesworth on time and observation but ploughed his Scorpa Yamaha into the depths of the last section under the eyes of observer Sue Driffield. The engine spluttered as muddy water clogged the air intake. I had to push the bike from the last section, uphill, for about 200 yards, the time was mounting up but I did not receive any time faults," said Noble.

Cousins Jonathon and Martin Rathmell battled in the event. The former, from Otley, overtook father Gerald who won the Clubman class, while Martin, son of former winner, and British and European champion Malcolm Rathmell was having his first trials ride for three years on a new 200cc Sherco which went back home with bent handlebars, shattered brake disc cover and covered in mud.

Richmond teenager Katy Sunter rode the trial in the two lap Clubman class. The 17 year-old was in a hurry and finished fifth without any problem.

"I am working as a waitress at Richmond tonight at 6pm so I have to be back on time. I am waiting to enrol for university so the job pays for my trialling," said the first lady to try the Grand National for many years.

The trial ran in perfect conditions consequently the 60 starters were reduced by only a quarter at the end of the afternoon, but only eight clubmen made the distance despite the drying moorland route.

Winner: James Noble (Montesa) 37. Experts: 1, Nathan Wrigglesworth (Scorpa) 42; 2, Anthony Ayrton (Montesa) 58; 3, Ian Weatherill (Sherco) 71. Inters: 1, Richard Edmundson (Sherco) 78; 2, Neil Gaunt (Beta) 110; 3, Alan Carr (Scorpa) 131.

Novices: 1, Jonathon Rathmell (Sherco) 100; 2, Boyd Webster (Montesa) 103; 3, Ian Myers (Sherco) 107. Fastest time: Andrew Cripps (Gas Gas) - 1h57m42s. Best first timer: Andrew Clayton (Montesa) 150.

Team award: Bradford A - Wrigglesworth/ Ayrton/ Darren Mitchell, total 234. Best Ilkley D.M.C. member: Steven Rowles (Beta) 162. Best over 40 years: Stephen Walker (Gas Gas) 137. Best Bradford or West Leeds M.C. novice: Richard Pearson (Beta) 122.

Clubmen: 1, David Knaggs (Gas Gas) 80; 2, Gerald Rathmell (Honda) 99; 3, Tony

Holmes (Beta) 137. Fastest Clubman time. Rathmell - 1h28m44s