WAS Hags Gill the windiest and coldest trials venue last Sunday? A total of 81 competitors and 20 tough observers certainly found out that the Darlington club’s trial was a severe test of warm clothing.

Clerk of Course Neil McCarthy marked a testing 20-section ranging from the almost sheltered double coppice above the farm buildings. At least there was a vestige of shelter for the icy west wind blowing down from Grinton and Reeth. The course ranged up onto the moors taking in some rocky quarry outcrops, the shallow and slippery stream plus the more testing short steep hillclimb.

The conditions further up towards the open moorland deteriorated rapidly as the later numbers commenced their second lap and they faced driving sleet and hail which made riding the sections even more demanding.

The weather conditions probably accounted for a total of 18 retirements. In terms of numbers the green course attracted the most with 29 riders contesting the class.

North East Centre visitor Colin Ward topped the class from Pateley Bridge Sherco competitor Andrew Harker and Mark Doughty. Stewart Walker took the easy class from Andy Kearton and Askrigg’s Robyn Alderson who left 19 rivals with a stylish ride. Mick Grant made the long haul from his Lincolnshire home to ride his BSA Bantam to a class victory in the two stroke class.

SCARBOROUGH’S Carr James jumped onto a brand new 300cc Scorpa and immediately won Scarborough club’s March trial on Sunday at Low North Park by a comfortable margin from York's Tom Hick with fellow Scarborian Michael Todd third. Clerk of Course Dave Wilkinson had laid 12 initially testing sections on for the 105 competitors.

In Intermediate class Stockton’s Rob Carter from saw off all opposition, his ride of four lost on the difficult sixth eased him to the win over Gary Collinson, with young Ben Myers putting a good ride together for third place. There was also a stronger entry than usual in the beginner’s class as more and more riders make the breakthrough into the sport with these easier sections.

NOT quite ready for an Expert Course as yet, Clubman and Easy Route riders headed for the new offering which was just outside Longframlington in Northumberland, where Joe McMeekin posted a final score of just three, one each in sections one, six and ten to pip Darren Palmer, who lost out after casting four in section nine, which cost him any chance of the win.

James Battensby finished in third place ahead of Glen Quinn, after they had dropped seven and eight respectively.On the Easy Course Eric McMeekin made it a family double by going clean aboard his BSA Bantam, giving him a comfortable win ahead of Bruce Metcalfe on nine and Roddy Baker a further mark down.

STANLEY Motor Club were at Bedburn last Saturday, when the club attracted 42 riders to the Wear Valley venue, who were offered a choice of four courses.

Carl Shaw took the Expert win but Class B rider, Jack Biggins was a fine second, just one mark behind the winner, and one less than Colin Ward. Scott Aitkin, was another B class rider on form, taking second place on the Green Course, the win on this route going to his dad Eddie, who will no doubt be caught soon by Scott, the third generation of the Fishburn trials riding family. Jason Scott couldn't do more than go clean on the Clubman course, which gave him a two mark win over Gary Clement, who took second place ahead of Derek McBeth. Garry Bloodworth was well clear of the rest of the Easy Course runners, his ten mark advantage over Josh Fenton largely due to consistency in nine of the ten sections.

RICHMOND Motor Club hosted their landowners' dinner on Saturday evening at the Garden Rooms Tennants of Leyburn.

More than 100 landowners, farmers and gamekeepers enjoyed a social evening. Richmond Motor Club President and Master of Ceremonies David Peacock welcomed the guests thanking all present for their continued support of Richmond Motor Club events. “Without your permissions and cooperation there would be no motorcycle trials, and probably no Richmond Motor Club.”

Low Row farmer Norman Sunter responded on behalf of the guests thanking the club for a fabulous meal and wished the club every success for 2015. The club also thanked Rodney Tennant for his efforts catering for the guests and club members. Special thanks also went to outgoing Scott Trial Secretary Chris Wallis for her outstanding efforts organising the Centenary Scott Trial, the Centenary Calendar and the Telford Classic Motor Cycle show Richmond Motor Club display stand. The Scott Trial start field marquee was another major effort for Chris and Ken Wallis. The raffle on the evening that was masterminded by Rhona Peacock and Sandra Fowler yielded a total of £351 which will be donated to the Rutson Rehabilitation Unit at the Friarage Hospital Northallerton.

The superb and faultless evening was organised by RMC social secretary Anne Stones and enjoyed by all present.

Weekend Results Check

Darlington & DMC Trial, Hags Gill, Grinton, Sunday. – Hard course-Experts: 1 James Stones Sherco) 29, 2 Rob Waite (Beta) 35, 3 Philip Alderson (Gas Gas) 50. Inters: 1 Matthew Maynard (Sherco) 57, 2 Roger H Williams (Jotagas) 58, 3 Mark Willis (Montesa) 63. Youth Class A: Thomas Coates (Sherco) 112. Green course: 1 Colin Ward snr (Beta) 8, 2 Andrew Harker (Sherco) 16, 3 Mark Doughty (Sherco) 18. Easy course –adults: 1 Stewart Walker (Gas Gas) 7, 2 Andy Kearton (Montesa) 8, 3 Robyn Alderson (Gas Gas) 18. Over 40s: 1 Eddie Aitken (Gas Gas) 8, 2 Andrew Kenyon (Beta) 11, 3 Tony Calvert (Montesa) 13. Twin Shocks: 1 Mick Grant (BSA) 30, 2 Andrew Dean (BSA) 50. Youth Class A: Ben Simpson (Sherco) 44. Youth Class B: 1 Scott Aitken (Sherco) 16, 2 Tom Constantine (Beta) 37, 3 James Harrison (Gas Gas) 45.

Scarborough DMC March Trial, Low North Park, Sunday. – Experts: 1 James Carr (Scorpa) 40, 2 Tom Hick (Beta) 62, 3 Michael Todd (Gas

Gas) 97. Intermediates: 1 Rob Carter (Gas Gas) 21, 2 Gary Collinson (Gas Gas) 38, 3 Ben Myers (Gas Gas) 52. Clubman A: 1 Roman Kyrwyckyj (SWM) 6, 2 Richard Suffell (Beta) 7, 3 Barry Chapman (Montesa) 11. Clubman B: 1 Henry Suddes (Beta) 8, 2 John Stones (Beta) 10, 3 Nigel Wallis

(Montesa) 12. Youth B: Zac Collinson (Feet up Beta) 75. Youth C; 1 Claire Collinson (Beta) 80, 2 Alec Sharp (Beta) 92. Youth Novice: 1 Lewis Woodall (Gas Gas) 24, 2 Jake Hutchinson (Beta) 90. Youth White: 1 John Turton (Beta) 85, 2 Martyn Pratt (Beta) 87, 3 Charlie McHale (Beta) 157. Adult White: 1 Martin Pratt (Beta) 5, 2 Nicola Dixon (Beta) 9, 3 Stuart Dixon (Beta) 16.

Bedlington & DMC Trial, Longframlington, Sunday. – Clubman Course: 1 Joe McMeekin (Ossa) 3, 2 Darren Palmer (Montesa) 6, 3 James Battensby (Sherco) 7. Easy Course: 1 Eric McMeekin (BSA) 0, 2 Bruce Metcalf (Montesa) 9, 3 Roddy Baker (Beta) 10.

Stanley MCC Trial, Bedburn, Saturday. – Expert Course: 1 Carl Shaw (Gas Gas) 3, 2 Jack Biggins (Beta) 4, 3 Colin Ward (Beta) 4. Green Course: 1 Eddie Aitkin (Montesa) 5, 2 Scott Aitkin (Sherco) 12, 3 Colin Gelston (Gas Gas) 15. Clubman Course: 1 Jason Scott (Gas Gas) 0, 2 Gary Clement (Montesa) 2, 3 Derek McBeth (Gas Gas) 6. Easy Course: 1 Garry Bloodworth (Gas Gas) 4, 2 Josh Fenton (Sherco) 14, 3 Neil Cowling (Beta) 15.

Weekend Fixture List

Sunday: Middlesbrough & DMC National Cleveland Trial, Castleton, 9.30 am.

North Berks MCC Round one A.C.U. Ladies and Girls trial championship, Aston Tirroid, 10.30 am.

Horsforth & DMC Annual Basic Memorial Trial, Blubberhouses, 11am.

Pickering & DMC Easy trial, Cawthorne Lane, Wrelton, 11am.