Sorra round proves a classic
The Bootle Club has historically been an organiser of classic trials in whatever series of sponsors there are at the time from the early SEBAC shock sponsorship, through the Kia series, the Rockshock years backing the events and now, for 2025 the clothing company SORRA, who have put their weight behind the trials – and indeed of any other past sponsors that have been involved.
The venue at Fell Green has always been the location used as it provides a wide variety of sections from rocky streams, to shale screes, to hillclimbs and rock out crop which can be set out for any level of severity. This year’s trial was for this Sorra classic round, but 11 months earlier it was a Trial GB round, so that’s the variety of sections available for events, in fact something to cater for all levels and classes.
If there is a disadvantage, it’s that the venue is just as far west as it’s possible to go, being less than a mile from the Irish sea in Cumbria, but that didn’t prevent over 100 riders entering this year’s second round of the series, though a dozen declined to take part, something that is all too apparent at events where entries are taken in advance – a 10% non-attendance rate is about the norm.
For 2025 the number of routes has been increased with Clubman, Intermediate and Expert on offer in all of the four different classes, which was apparently well received with all classes being well represented.
The results show the placings for everybody with the lowest score on the day being that from Will Brockbank on 3 lost over the two laps of 20 sections, all of which made good use of the large Fell Green venue, and there were no riders losing huge three figure scores, with 91 being the greatest, which should go to prove that course setter Joel Gowan and his team managed to get the it just right.
Judging from comments made, this trial proved to be exceptionally well received with all sections observed, something very difficult to achieve in this remote location by the organising club and already the series organisers have enquired about a date by the Bootle club for another year.
All the class winners from top left: Derrick Edmondson, Nigel Scott, Jonathan Heeley, Mile Jones, Paul Cook, Stephen Barnes, James Black, Will Brockbank, James Williams, Andrew Scott
Full results are from the home page link and photographer Eric Kitchen will be providing his pictures in a day or so for the Gallery