Glusburn rider wins Cowling Crag trial

The forecasted rain did not materialise consequently 32 competitors enjoyed a dry but cool ride through 10 observed sections.

Expert and class winner Nathan Wrigglesworth, of Glusburn, plotted the course which featured the rocky sections and a real sting in the tail final section which tested the entire field.

Ironically, Wrigglesworth lost eight of his 11 penalties winning total on the section he masterminded.

The trial catered for four categories and all encountered the final section.

Youngsters Jonnie Fannon and Otley's Jimmy Crabtree, both riding in Class C youth, attacked the section.

Fannon’s strong leg power yielded a three-mark penalty while Barnoldswick's Lucy Ayrton managed three climbs and one failure.

* The temperature in the valley at Cockhill Mines, Greenhow, was bordering on freezing but with no rain the 40 competitors and a dozen observers were out of the David Weatherill Trophy Trial the ancient Nidderdale lead mines by late afternoon.

East Morton's Martin Crosswaite was in his van and away after a nasty spill that did his spine no good at all.

“I just went down hard and it is now giving some pain,” said the Busfeild Arms landlord.

The water level in the stream and that played a major role in who did what.

After the initial first rocky dry climb the stream came into the equation but was average on penalties

The picture changed though as clerk of course Patrick Darbyshire had checked the stream right down to the east boundary.

The water was deep in places but the banks were wide enough to flag seven sections.

Darbyshire was right as winner Danny Gamble dropped only two penalties in the first seven sections. Dan Hemingway matched Gamble with two dabs in the sixth section.

Bevan and Aldis Blacker were the next top scorers on eight and ten. Top youth Harry Hemingway totted up a ten score while bother George posted a 16.

West Leeds club treasurer Ben Ludgate blasted his way through the water with a resolute Paul Gravestock tracking him, but a 3-1-2 in sections eight and nine way up on the hilltop cost him just too many marks.

Paul Jackson's two dabs in the entire stream section put him well ahead of Neil Gaunt who dropped 11 in total.

TT winner Ian Hutchinson splashed his way through the tide and the ever-smiling Simone Wallis paddled her way to a 56-penalty finale.

* Barnoldswick's Anthony Ayrton rode his Montesa 2rt to win Class A of Spen Valley Motor Club's Shrimp Hill Trial at Parkwood Offroad Centre, Tong, on Sunday.

Parkwood had just hosted a major enduro and was slightly muddy for the Spen Valley club’s third West Yorkshire Championship trial of the year.

The Spen officials bit the bullet and plotted a three lap 14 section trial course in the dense woodland and with judicious flagging the scores rocketed in some classes but not in Youth Class A where JST Gas Gas international Jack Dance, of Kent, just floored his rivals.

He clocked up 37 clean rides to head Harry Hemingway by 18 penalties. And the Hemingways, Harry and George, are the top youths in Yorkshire along with Buxton’s Harry Turner.

As for as the adult classes only Huddersfield Inter Will Tolson rode the hard route and won it.

Class A and Class B were business as usual, as Ayrton won Class A from Ilkley's Graham Tales.

Mat Chamber rode his 50-year-old Triumph Cub, which tested Neil Gaunt and his Vertigo for Clubman B.

* Cookridge's trials expert James Dabill won the opening British Championship trial at Hook Woods in Surrey on Saturday.

The Beta teamster won by a margin of 22 penalties from Cornish expert Toby Martyn and Kirkbymoorside brothers Dan and Jack Peace Huddersfield.

Current British champion Jack Price was placed fifth. Andy Chilton and Richard Sadler were fourth and sixth in the Trial 2 category while Birstall instructor Dan Thorpe was placed third in the Expert class.

In the opening Youth class, Brighton’s Jack Dance was invincible and manage to contain East Keswick boy Harry Hemingway.