AGAINST all odds the Bradford Motor Club trial ran smoothly on Sunday at lofty Cowling Cragg where forty one competitors rode ten sections on the steep unforgiving Penne hillside west of Keighley.

The weather was friendly after Saturday's rainfall when Team Ayrton planted the flags. Four classes ran with a shorter seven section course especially for the nine riders classed as beginners. A drying breeze lifted the moisture and all ten main course sections were cleaned.

Montesa mounted Jack Challoner cleaned the expert route from Daniel Smith and Sam Boocock. Joel Holdsworth topped the 50/50 class ahead of John Bellwood with Class A boy Josh Pearson turning in a cracking ride to grab third place overall.

West Leeds stalwarts Chris Manby and Mark Chippendale held off a determined Nick Eagleton who rides under the Summer Wine title though not quite a Compo character.

Bradford youngster Oliver Petty won Class B youth and is a young man to watch. Jacob and David Lowe topped the Beginners class ahead of Mike Frizzell and Paul Hobson. The latter riding his pristine Honda TLM. Only two girls competed. Lucy Ayrton was seventh on the 50/50 course while thirteen year old Alanna Eagleton posted a strong fifth in the Beginner's class and would have been higher up the results but for three maximums in section three. The trial attracted some new faces to trialling maybe because the Lancashire border is only five miles west of Cowling.

Results:

Hard course.

Expert: Jack Challoner Montesa) 0.

Inters: 1 Sam Boocock Sherco) 4, 2 Anthony Ayrton (Montesa) 5, 3 Aaron Holmes (Gas Gas) 39.

Novices: 1 Daniel Smith (Sherco) 4, 2 Mathew Baldwin (TRS) 27, 3 Jake Weatherill (Sherco) 48.

50-50 course.

Novices: 1 Joel Holdsworth (Sherco) 5, 2 John Bellwood (TRS) 11, 3 Ryan Smith (BSA) 14.

Youth Class A: Josh Pearson (BSA) 14.

Youth Class B: Charlie Petty (Beta) 76.

Clubmen.

Novices: 1 Chris Manby (Vertigo) 3, 2 Mark Chippendale (Vertigo) 11, 3 Nick Eagleton (Yamaha) 7.

Youth Class B: 1 Oliver Petty (Beta) 36, 2 Koby Smith (Beta) 43.

Beginners.

Novices: 1 Jacob Lowe (Montesa) 4, 2 David Lowe (Beta) 6, 3 Mike Frizzell

(Beta) 7mc.

Youth Class B Alanna Eagleton (Beta) 31.