All the mix through October
Autumn seems to have arrived with some chilly mornings and a bit of sunshine during the day, which heralds the return of what should be a busy trials season.
As this is being written, it’s the middle of September’s third week which means the Grant Trial is the next event and that’s a Westmorland Club promotion which is also a round of the Northern Centre Championship which will be held at Tommy Road, Wharton Fell near Kirkby Stephen. It’s flagged from the Tebay to Kirkby Stephen road, about a mile from the town and also from the Sedbergh road. Start time is 10.30am. This piece of land is only available for one trial per year and is worth taking in for those that like sensible sections with a bit of variety. Entries are still available on line for £20 and again on the morning of the trial for £25
A week later Barrow’s Revenge Trial takes place at Torver, another Northern Centre Championship round. The wood used just after the start suffered badly in last December’s gales with fallen trees all over the place but we’re told a route through has been plotted with the usual mix of good sections available both in the wood and also out on the fell. Again it’s a 10.30 start with entries both on line and also at the start for an extra fiver.
If you haven’t entered the Lakes Two Day then you are certainly too late to get a ride as it was full with a few hours of the entries being available on line. But that shouldn’t mean you not going as Gary Gowan who has the unenviable job of sorting out observers is requesting volunteers. It’s an enjoyable day, you get to talk with every rider should you so wish and it’s a means of putting a bit back into the sport.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY MCC
Graham Teasdale has been in contact to remind everybody that the next trial from Cumberland County MCC will be on Sunday, October 17 which is the Dixie Dee Trial at Brownrigg Fell, Plumpton near Penrith. The last scheduled trial at the venue had to be cancelled due to the fire risk but cooler and damper conditions now allow the club to return there.
It will be a club trial with two sensible courses, Clubman and Easy for all Adult solos plus Youth A and B. Entries are now available ONLINE ONLY via www.acu.org.uk with a. closing date of Friday, October 14. This is an excellent, easily accessible venue with excellent parking. Four good laps of 10-12 sections will be offered with an 11am start time.
WESTMORLAND MC
Next trial up will be from Westmorland on October 23 at Holme Farm, Middleton near Sedbergh. This is the venue that has been used for many years by the Nostalgia event, but this time it’s the Crabtree Cup, John Holmes Memorial Trial. The club are hoping that the likely conditions in October will be better for trialing. Whilst a trial linked to the name John Holmes would primarily be designed for Twinshocks, that’s not the case in this instance. Whilst the club want to attract Twinshocks it’s also open to all modern bike riders including Youths A,B and C. There will be no differentiation in classes, simply Twinshocks and Modern on either a harder course or an easier course. Entries will be available on line and also at the start which will be 10.30am.
BOOTLE SC
And finally – at least for October, the Bootle Club are hosting the final round of the national Rockshock Classic Trials Championship at Fell Green on October 30. Entries for this event will ONLY be available on line through the ACU and if you are unsure what the classes are, it’s simple, they are Air-cooled Mono, Britshock and Twinshock over a harder course and an easier course over 2 laps of 20 sections. There are prizes for observers at these trials and the chance to win money if you observe and are one of the lucky ones to have your name drawn from the hat – or more likely a plastic box.
In all the above situations, the on line entry system will be on www.acu.org.uk and should be available NOW, or at least within a few days.