RYEDALE'S Ian Austermuhle prepared for this week's Colonial Trial at Rosedale in fine style by winning the opening round of the Yorkshire Centre ACU trials championship at snow-blitzed Keighley Gate last Sunday.

The former Lady Lumley's School pupil, now a geography student at the University of Central Lancashire, won the expert class in the Leeds-based Yeadon-Guiseley MC event, which featured 123 competitors in total.

The 22-year-old said: "I seemed to drop some silly marks. At one time, I had a section marker flag in my front wheel on section 12. That cost a third of my total loss."

Ahead of Sunday's national trial on 'home' turf at Rosedale, Austermuhle added: "This victory has put me right on track for a Colonial Trial win. I have tried for a few years but just missed the top spot."

Finishing with just 15 faults, Austermuhle cruised to victory ahead of second-placed GP Beta team-mate Michael Phillipson, who was runner-up with 36 faults on a tie-break from Gas Gas rider Liam Walker.

Helmsley inter-grade rider Jonathon Frost won his class on the hard route course.

The rise in trials entries in the last six months has rolled right across the county so it was no great shock that the Eboracum MC-organised Colonial Trial was oversubscribed at the end of November.

A total of 135 riders will take part including Martin Crosswaite (Bingley), Dan Thorpe (Sheffield), Mika Vesterinen (Burnley), Kinlochleven teenager Gary Macdonald and Sam Ludgate (Pontefract).

Local riders taking part include heating engineer Mark Harrison and Tim Peace, both from Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley's Jonathon Frost and Malton's Vicky Ellis.

A programme will be available indicating that certain areas are not open to the public, namely Hartoft, Rock House Farm. On the north side of the valley, only sections Craggside and Thorgill will be open to spectators but no vehicles will be permitted on the road to those areas at all.

The problem-afflicted Scottish Six Days Trial in May is going on, despite having no event secretary, and up to three weeks ago, no contracted refuelling supplier. Malton's Vicky Ellis was among the 270 who made the entry cut, while 200 got their applications back so there were some very long faces on the trials scene this week.

This year's International Bike Week at Scarborough, starting on September 13, was officially launched at the recent International Motorsports Show at Birmingham. The Auto-66 Club-organised event will also feature the Auto Cycle Union Centenary Festival celebrations.

Updated: 10:43 Wednesday, February 05, 2003