RYEDALE'S Ian Austermuhle could only finish sixth in Eboracum MC's National Colonial Trial at Rosedale Abbey last Sunday.

The former Lady Lumley's School pupil had high hopes of winning the trial, which was the first event on the national calendar for 12 months, following the foot and mouth outbreak.

But Austermuhle failed to click on the day and the trophy was won by Londoner Sam Connor, who pipped the fancied Graham Jarvis.

The second section at Moorlands proved particularly difficult. Jarvis, along with the majority of the field, failed it, whereas Connor managed to get away with losing three marks there.

Former winner Ben Hemingway was always in with a chance and finished on the podium on his GP Beta.

West Leeds MC teenager Sam Ludgate never made the trial after trying, in vain, to rectify a carburation fault on his Sherco machine.

Elsewhere on the local front, Mark Harrison, from Kirkbymoorside, won the AJS Trophy, finishing 14th.

Tim Peace also from Kirkbymoorside, finished a further two places behind Harrison and Jonathan Frost, from Helmsley, finished 17th.

Thankfully, the weather remained dry for most of the 135 riders. When the rain did arrive, the majority of competitiors were enjoying their free meal at the Coach House in Rosedale.

Results - Experts: Sam Connor (Twickenham), Gas Gas, 10; Graham Jarvis (Summerbridge), MRS Sherco 12; Ben Hemingway (East Keswick), GP Beta, 17; Dan Thorpe (Chesterfield), Gas Gas, 19; Henry Moorhouse (Leeds), Gas Gas, 25; Ian Austermuhle (Ryedale), GP Beta 33.

Inters: R Kyrnyckyj (Scorpa) 49; Colin Bailey (Yamaha) 60; Alan Carr (Gas Gas) 67.

Clubmen: M Barrow (Gas Gas) 12; J Percival (Sherco) 20; P Ledgerwood (Montesa) 21.

Updated: 10:48 Thursday, February 14, 2002