MICHAEL Phillipson from Crook rode brilliantly to take victory against a top quality field in last Saturday's Scott Trial held in Arkengarthdale.

The 20-year-old student won the world's toughest one-day time and observation trial by seven marks from Yorkshireman Ben Hemingway, who was a further two ahead of Spanish visitor Amos Bilbao.

Phillipson lost just three marks on time and 37 on observation on his Beta to become the first local winner since Askrigg's Phil Alderson lifted the Alfred Scott memorial trophy for the fourth time in 1991.

Hemingway, also on a Beta, was the last of the maximum entry of 200 riders to leave the Feldom Lane start. He set the standard time of 5hrs 38mins 25secs to hold off the challenge of Bilbao on a Montesa.

The day dawned bright and sunny for the event, organised by Richmond Motor Club, as the field took on the challenge of the greatest one-day trial in the world, almost 80 miles of rough moorland with 76 observed sections around Marske and Reeth.

The entry included two foreign riders in Bilbao and Robert Howard from New Jersey in the United States.

First away was Alan Kendall from Reeth on a Gas Gas, followed at 20-second intervals by the rest of the field.

Two female riders took part this year, the first for more than 30 years - 19-year-old Katy Sunter from Healaugh and Vicky Ellis from Malton. Neither reached the finish, but the former picked up the MHT Copley trophy for the top lady rider and the best endeavour trophy.

She was one of four members of the Sunter family competing on the event. Her brother John claimed a Scott spoon for 17th overall, while another brother Mark came home in 29th.

A veteran of 20 Scotts and in his first outing for 14 years, father Richard was coerced into chaperoning his daughter Katy in her first Scott.

Plenty of Richmond club members also competed and the club president, Alan Richardson of Skeeby, finished 31st on his Beta.

Two places further back was Jonathan Hughes from Dalton on Tees, with Bellerby's Peter Brown and first-timer Paul Wardle from Ravensworth finishing 35th and 36th respectively.

Darlington rider Kevin Chapman took 45th with Newsham's Chris Tennant 47th and Northallerton youngster Andrew Lishman, at the head of the course for much of the day, ending up in 51st position.

Colin Bailey, of Egton near Whitby, finished 56th, with Graham Charlton from Stockton 62nd.

Arkengarthdale's Michael Atkinson used his local knowledge to gain 67th, while Kevin Sharpe from Richmond (71st) just edged out Barnard Castle rider Martin Bayles, who ended up in 73rd.

Jonathan Atkinson from Brompton on Swale came home in 75th with Richmond's James Percival claiming 80th and Darlington rider Martin Wilson in 85th.

Fellow Darlington competitor Michael Hodgson had the honour of claiming the award for last official finisher in 87th place.

Programmes sales and all other proceeds, including £1,000 from an auction at the prize presentation at the King's Head in Richmond, go to Scott Trial charities.

Results. - Winner and the Alfred Scott memorial trophy: Michael Phillipson, who lost three on time and 37 on observation. Raymond Bailey trophy: Ben Hemingway, who set standard time and lost 47 on observation. Raspin Challenge bowl: Amos Bilbao, who lost nine on time and 40 on observation.

Folbigg cup: Martin Crosswaite (Scorpa) 33, 45. Galloway cup: Henry Moorhouse (Gas Gas) 15, 63. Kart House trophy: Dan Clark (Gas Gas) 6, 75. 1977 Silver Jubilee trophy: Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 21, 62.

First class awards, Scott spoons: Ian Austermuhle (Beta) 84; James Lampkin (Montesa) 87; Dan Hemingway (Beta) 88; Sam Ludgate (Sherco) 94; Gary McDonald (Sherco) 103; Joe Baker (Sherco) 124; Juan Knight (Gas Gas) 127; James Noble (Montesa) 133; Roger Williams 137; John R Sunter (Scorpa) 138; Andy Huddleston (Montesa) 139; Nathan Wrigglesworth (Scorpa) 150; Chris Pearson (Sherco) 152; Arran Drachenberg (Beta) 152; Tony Kaye (Sherco) 154; Graham Tales (Montesa) 171; Ian Wetherill (Sherco) 172; Edward McIntosh (Montesa) 172; Richard J Gaskell (Montesa) 173.

Scott Trial Snippets

* Richard and Katy Sunter finally gave up just before Whaw Bridge at around two thirds distance. Richard said he wanted to stop after they left the Grouse Moor at halfway, but Katy set off again so he had to follow.

* Mark Sunter rode half the event changing gear with a pair of pliers. He lost his gear lever near Surrender, just before halfway, and he was then putting it into first gear to do the sections and back into fifth to go across the moors.

* A total of 15 riders completed the course out of time, including Geoff Bushell from Ripon, who was out there for over nine hours. He started at 9.05 in the morning and returned in darkness at 6.15.

* Philip Kettlewell from Kirkby Fleetham retired with mechanical problems at Bridge End, three-quarters distance.

l Four-times winner Phillip Alderson from Woodhall near Askrigg suffered a seized engine less than half an hour into the event so decided to go and do some spectating. He slipped over and ruptured his Achilles tendon, which required hospital treatment.

* Another four-times winner, Graham Jarvis from Summerbridge, finished in fourth place but was excluded due to a rules infringement which saw him receive outside assistance while attempting to solve front suspension problems.

l Irishman Harold Crawford retired with mechanical problems at Cold Knuckles - ten minutes from the finish.