Twice British Superbike champion and Eurosport pundit and commentator James Whitham tested his trials biking skills in the Ilkley Grand National Trial.

Huddersfield Falcon member Whitham competed at Middleton Moor and finished in 17th place on his Sherco machine.

The established cross country event, which boasts 10 miles of moorland, heather, deep streams and alarming gradients is basically a race, is run against the clock.

Despite being a newcomer to the trial discipline, the 49-year-old rode well to lose only 11 time penalties.

Whitham had been planning to ride with TT star Mick Grant, but the latter suffered a dispute with one of his dogs and the injury to his left hand denied any chance of riding a tough cross country event.

The third Falcon Club Championship Trial was staged at Dean Head.

There was a healthy entry of 54 at the Scammonden venue to take on a Bob Tyas and Mick Rock designed course.

Eventual winner Ben Robinson thought he had blown his chances with a costly three on the tight uphill turns of section nine.

However, consistency elsewhere meant he still did just enough to secure the overall win.

Best youth and third overall Will Tolson came close to taking the win, but section five with its jumble of awkwardly placed rocks proved to be costly for him losing a total of three.

In the Clubman A section Curtis Johnson returned to form and secured a narrow win over Tony Heath and Chris Tolson.

The latter saw his chances slip away on the narrow rocky climbs of section four with five marks being cast away, compared to the twos lost by his closest rivals.

John Wilkinson was the man to beat on the Clubman B course securing a two mark winning margin over Chris Greenwood on his Honda.

Greenwood was in turn was just one mark in front of friend and rival Nick Eagleton – also Honda mounted.

Consistency proved to be the key for Wilkinson with just single mark loses making up his final total of eight.

Greenwood in contrast had a costly maximum on the rocky turns of section eight and with it any chance of taking the win.

Expert graded former Enduro rider Jason Crossland making a rare appearance on a very special Montesa.

Best youth Lewis Beardsell struggled on his little Beta and must now be looking for an increase in engine size to continue his march up the results.

On the White route Montesa mounted John Wood turned in the lowest winning total of the day with just seven marks lost, comfortably in front of second placed Steve Ellis and third placed Andrew Kershaw was the only rider under electric power.

Best youth Charlie Crossland can blame section five for the reason he didn’t make the top three as his little Beta struggled for grip on the mud covered rocks and with it went a total of 16 marks.

RESULTS

Championship course, Inters: Ben Robinson (Jotagas) 8 m/1, Simon Tyas (Gas Gas) 14.

Novice: 1 Chris Hunt (Ossa) 8.

Over 40s: Andrew Jackson (Scorpa) 13, Martin Beardsall (Sherco) 27.

Youth Class A: William Tolson (Beta) 8.

Youth Class B: Charlie Smith (Sherco) 28.

Clubman A, novices: Curtis Johnson (Sherco) 11m Tony Heath (Montesa) 12mc, Andrew Washington (Beta) 21.

Over 40s: Chris Tolson (Beta) 12, Ian Haigh (Montesa) 37, Simon Slater (Gas Gas) 40.

Youth Class A: Ben Earnshaw (Gas Gas) 57.

Youth Class B: Jacob Smith (Beta) 77.

Clubman B, novices: Tom Ward (Sherco) 28, Aden Roper (Gas Gas) 31, Dean Lunn (Sherco) 41.

Over 40s: John Wilkinson (Gas Gas)8, Paul Flintham (Montesa) 17, Stephen Partlow (Beta) 19.

Twin Shock: Chris Greenwood (Honda) 10, Nick Eagleton (Honda) 11, Neville Painting (Montesa) 48.

Youth Class B: Lewis Beardsall (Beta) 90.

Youth Class C: Bradley Green (Beta) 98.

White route, novices: Andrew Kershaw (EMS) 18, Natalie Smith (Gas Gas) 72.

Over 40s: John Wood (Montesa) 7, Steve Ellis (Gas Gas) 12.

Beginner: Mark Batty (Beta) 29.

Youth Class B: Harry Smith (Sherco) 77.