THE sun came out on New Year's Day over Deer Park at Bingley where Bradford Motor Club staged their first trial on the season.

Not only were the usual competitors in action, but also an eight-strong party from Germany who have ridden four trials over the Christmas period and been based with the Whitham family at Silsden.

All are members of the Hippell Racing Team along with Gabby Whitham, 18. Her mother and father, Kim and Paul, have become accommodation and catering experts, and part-time interpreters, although the visitors spoke English.

The entry soared to 78 starters who rode a Nathan Wrigglesworth-prepared 10-section four-lap course.

The rush by Wrigglesworth cost him eight penalties and that let Class A Youth Bret Harbud to close in. Even more threatening was Spen Valley winner Moritz Rua.

The German was by far the most skilled of his compatriots. Max Eck was fifth, Max Beeb claimed eighth and Robert Bereiter 10th.

Ilkley heating engineer Andy Tales topped the 50/50 class from Skipton's Richard Thornton. Dan Lambert ran off with the easy class from Peter Hollingworth. Jana Horr took 13th place in class, just 10 marks ahead of 14-year-old Lucy Ayrton.

The ever-smiling German girl enjoyed every minute of her Yorkshire visit as a member of the Hipple Racing Team.

The group spent Wednesday practicing courtesy of Mr Pratt at Silsden who allowed the team to practice on his land. They headed home on Thursday.

Results: Experts: 1 Nathan Wrigglesworth (Beta) 8, 2 Moritz Rau (Beta) 10. Inters: 1 Max Eck (Beta) 20, Anthony Ayrton (TRS) 27, 3 Max Beeb (Beta) 30. Novices: 1 Mitch Brightmore (Gas Gas) 14, Phil Howlett (Beta) 24, 3 Phil Howlett (Vertigo) 31.

Youth Class A: 1 Brett Harbud (Beta) 10, 2 Rodney Bereiter (Vertigo) 48, 3 Alice Minta (Scorpa) 57. Youth Class B: 1 Max Chadwick (Beta) 96, 2 Ashton Brightmore (Gas Gas) 117, 3 Harry McLoughlin (Beta) 115.

50/50 course: Novices: 1 Andy Tales (Fantic) 12, 2 Richard Pearson (Beta) 22, 3 Adam Thornton (TRS) 28. Youth Class A: 1 Richard Moorhouse (Beta) 67. Youth Class B: 1 Martyn Pratt (Beta) 83, 2 Ethan Chapman (Scorpa) 126.

Easy course: Novices: 1 Dan Lambert (Vertigo) 15, 2 Peter Hollingworth Gas Gas) 27, 3 Martin Pratt (Beta) 33. Youth Class B: 1 Mason Carter (Beta) 56, 2 Josh Pearson (Beta) 79, 3 Lucy Ayrton (TRS) 99. Youth Class C: 1 William Sagar (Beta) 56, 2 Bradley Crabtree (Beta) 89, 3 Oliver Petty (Beta) 163.

Beginners course: Novices: 1 Andrew Grimshaw (Montesa) 13, 2 Helen Greaves (Gas Gas) 18, 3 Lauren Crowder (Sherco) 23. Youth Class: Harry Shackleton (Sherco) 39. Youth Class B: Harvey Blacker (Gas Gas) 76. Youth Class C: 1 Ruby Lawrie (Oset) 81, 2 Karl Hancock (Beta) 103. Youth Class D: 1 Jimmy Crabtree (Oset) 31.2 Bobby Crabtree (Oset) 48 End.

Meanwhile, Leyburn joiner Richard Sadler just held on to win the annual Ilkley New Year Trial on Sunday at Dob Park from Ben Hemingway and East Yorks Centre visitor Adam Milner.

The latter two contenders rode the Nick Pullan 18-section two-lap course in Dob Park and the adjoining Browns Wood loosing seven marks.

The decisive section was Crossers Rocks, seventh on the lap in Browns Wood where only Sadler, Milner and Thomas Housecroft mastered the near vertical rock face on lap one.

One error and a six-foot drop on either side of the rock awaited customers.

By lap two the surface of the stone afforded some grip but only Sadler, Ben Hemingway and Dan Hemingway managed to master the section.

The Ilkley club divided the 98 starters into two groups. The Expert and Green course classes started at section one under the evergreens in Browns Wood while the Clubman route dropped down into Dob Park and six traditional sections, three of which tracked the stream at the east end of the wood.

The 13th and 16th were green route sections. The Browns Wood featured a further five such sections, 46 clubman contenders headed down Dob where Huddersfield Falcon front runner Ian Haigh dropped his three penalties in the opening section and then blitzed the rest of the lap riding his 4RT al la Bou.

Karl Greaves was matching Haigh but three dabs in Browns, two in Crossers, lost him inevitable tie breaker on farthest clean.

Scott Trial winner and evergreen stalwart Phillip Alderson won the 50-50 class from Richard Mellon and West Leeds club treasurer Ben Ludgate.

Nine contenders completed the course on single figures and that just emphasised how right the section were on the day.

Several youths competed in the trial but the outstanding youngsters were the Hemmos. Harry won his class on the hard route and was placed 11th overall. George won is class in Clubman A and overall was also placed 11th.

Results: Hard course: Experts: 1 Richard Sadler (Gas Gas) 3, 2 Ben Hemingway (Beta) 7 mc, 3 Adam Milner (TRS) 7. Inters: 1 Thomas Housecroft (Beta) 19, 2 Louis Haley (Montesa) 21, 3

Novices: Tim Middleton (Beta) 26. Youth Class A Harry Hemingway (Beta) 25. Clubman A: Experts: 1 Phillip Alderson (Gas Gas) 3, 2 Anthony Ayrton TRS) 15, 3 Alan Mudd (Beta) 17.

Inters: 1 Graham Tales (Gas Gas) 9, 2 Roman Kyrnyckji (Gas Gas) 22, 3 Neil Gaunt (Beta) 31.

Novices: 1 Richard Mellon (Vertigo) 4, 3 Ben Ludgate (Beta) 5. Jamie Stephenson (Montesa) 5.

Youth Class B: 1 George Hemingway (Beta) 15, 2 Henry Stephenson (Beta) 31, 3 Keirhan Skihan (TRS) 64.

Clubman B: Novices: 1 Ian Haigh (Montesa) 3 mc, 2 Karl Greaves (Vertigo) 3, 3 Tony Heath (Beta) 4. Youth Class C: Jasper Fox (Beta) 34.