THE first three-day trials competition staged by the Richmond Motor Club last weekend has been hailed a runaway success.

The trial was held at Grinton over three completely separate courses and the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale event, sponsored by Darlington sporting dealers White Bros, attracted a huge entry of 184 riders.

The organisers were surprised by the response, which bordered on numbers for the famous Scott Trial in October. Riders came from Belfast, London, Windermere, Woking, Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard and just about every county in England.

Every rider received a polo shirt as a memento, while entertainment was provided by a barbeque on Friday night and a live band at the Buck Hotel, Reeth on Saturday.

The club and Dales Catering sponsored the riders' lunches on Saturday and Sunday.

Chesterfield rider Dan Thorpe, last year's winner, produced the best performance to beat Askrigg's Phil Alderson and Sunderland's John Crinson.

Special awards went to Michael Atkinson of Arkengarthdale, who won the Red Lion trophy as the best resident of the area, and Bruce Storr, from Marrick, who won the Harkers Coaches trophy as the best Parish of Marrick resident.

The club now start thinking about the annual ACU youth training school in two weeks at Cogden Hall, Grinton and the Scott Trial in October.

Results. - Winner: Dan Thorpe (Chesterfield), Gas Gas, 7. Experts: 1 Phil Alderson (Askrigg), Sherco, 35; 2 John Crinson (Sunderland), Gas Gas, 43; 3 Richard Allen ( Peterborough), Beta, 47. Inters: 1 James Harland (Sunderland), Beta, 65; 2 Chris Greenwood (Huddersfield), Scorpa, 111; 3 Gary Pears (Washington), Birkett, 121. Novices: 1 Dane Sherwin (Leeds), Beta, 108; 2 Gavin Black (Sheffield), Beta, 124; 3 Leigh Jepson (Sheffield), Beta, 148. Clubmen: 1 Andy Kearton (Askrigg), Montesa, 52; 2 Gary Clement (Richmond), Sherco, 72; 3 John Holland ( Kendal), Beta, 73. Over 40s: 1 Dave Thorpe (Chesterfield), Gas Gas, 58, 2 Mark Chippendale (Leeds), Montesa, 65; 3 Rod Nicholas (Didcot), Montesa, 66. Best lady rider: Vicky Ellis (Malton), Beta, 278.

* Richmond trials rider Kathryn Wardle claimed second place in the junior ladies race at the latest round of the European Trials Championship in Cerrotto Laghi, Italy last weekend.

The result put her ten points behind leader Alessandra Sbrana of Italy in the championship standings.

Results, juniors: 1 Alessandra Sbrana (Ita), Gas Gas, 38; 2 Kathryn Wardle (GB), Sherco, 59; 3 Danielle Pluvieux (Fra), Gas Gas, 76.

Rankings: 1 Sbrana 40; 2 Wardle 30; 3 Pluvieux.

Adults: 1 Antonio Bou (Spain), Beta, 13; 2 Daniel Maurino (Ita), Gas Gas, 23; 3 Fabio Lenzi (Ita), Gas Gas, 26. Selected others: 20 Michael Phillipson, GP Beta, 81; 21 James Dabill, Scorpa, 83.

* Local riders are among a strong entry for Sunday's third round of the Colin Appleyard ACU British solo trials championship at Addingham Moorside.

They include Michael Phillipson (Crook), Ian Austermuhle (Rosedale), David Pye (Great Ayton), Phillip Kettlewell (Northallerton), Kirk Vitty (Crook), Stephen Suddes (Middlesbrough) and Richard Suffel (Northallerton).