Keeping in touch.
Just a brief update on what’s happening in the Northern Centre trials wise over the next few weeks. Most will be aware of the following, but for those who are not, here goes!
The Fell Side Auto Club were due to have held their Northern Classic Trial on Saturday, February 18 but that has now been cancelled, primarily due to the inexhaustible list of requirements put on the club by Forestry England. Five pages of what to do if the battery in an electric vehicle exploded and what the club are doing to mitigate such a circumstance. We guess that they don’t want their forests to be used by electric vehicles – not that any were likely to have entered the event. Just one issue amongst a load of others which could see the demise of the club.
On Sunday, February 19, Cumberland County MCC have their MHB Motorcycles sponsored Aughertree Trial for which ONLY on-line entries will be accepted. The club have made it clear that ALL their trials from now will only be through the ACU’s Sport 80 on-line entry system – and it seems likely that Cumberland County are setting a precedent as other clubs are sure to follow suit in the near future.
It’s recognised that not everyone likes this requirement, but for the club it is definitely much easier for several reasons, noted here:
a) the club knows in advance how many riders are going to take part – and they can easily limit the number should they so wish.
b) it takes away the need to handle money and the difficulty of banking the cash as whilst some Post Offices will handle large amounts of paid in cash, not all do so, and banks are now a rare feature in many towns.
c) it’s easy to prepare an entry and results list in advance. There are other reasons as well, but take it for read that it is better for clubs.
Moving on, Barrow’s club trial on the 26th will be at Stribers Farm Haverthwaite with entry both on-line and on the day, as will be the case the following week, March 5 for the Westmorland MC trial.
Please note that this March 5 trial is NOT the Milnthorpe Cup trial as Westmorland have been unable to secure a suitable start area for this popular event as the field used in recent years now has two farm buildings on it and an alternative venue now accommodates a load of felled trees. So the trial, a clubman event, will be at the club’s own land at Lindale.
Moving on a bit into April, the Bootle club are holding round 3 of the Trial GB British Championship series which will be at Po House, Millom. The clerks of the course will be Anthony Brockbank and Joel Gowan who between them are bound to put on some cracking sections; father Gary Gowan is the man who will be looking for observers and Mike Rapley will be the event secretary. If you feel like observing, then Gary would be delighted to hear from you.
So that covers the next month or so, stay connected to this site for as much news, reports and pictures as we can manage.