Last week’s question “Is ours a Northern Sport”, was certainly answered by correspondents who have gently reminded me that there are some good road based trials in other parts of the UK. I never doubted it, but whilst there were a few postings from Wales and the South West, it does point out to me that many road trials that were available to ride back in the 'eighties no longer exist.
We know the reasons of course, land availability, bike suitability, difficulty in getting road insurance when you are young and increasingly a problem these days, getting a motorcycle driving licence, which necessitates a CBT test, multiple answer schoolroom theory test and intensive training to actually ride a bike and pass a test. All a long way from when I passed my bike test, riding a clapped out Tiger Cub round a few streets with the examiner standing on two different corners! Those were the days!
Back to the present and there’s no doubt that all off-road trials make life a lot easier when you are an organiser. Today’s affair was a trip up to Fell Green, Bootle, a venue that has been in use at least for as long as I have lived in the North West, and that’s 32 years. As far as off-road venues goes, it is one of the best and many riders will be familiar with it; not just the locals that get to ride it half a dozen times a year, but also those who have ridden there as competitors in the Bootle Club’s round of the ACU Traditional Trials Championship, as well as riders who have been there in the Novogar series as Fell Green has been used for that championship as well.
And I musn’t forget that way back in the early days of the Lakes Two Day, we rode out that far from Broughton in Furness. It feels a long time ago and a long, long way or so it seemed at the time when the ground was either frozen rock hard or covered in deep snow, but look at a survey map and it’s not that far at all.
However, I digress. Sure, all off-road trials are good, but there’s no doubt that trials that use the road have an attraction and whilst they are certainly diminishing in number, we can only hope that those that continue to survive remain well supported by riders, for once they go, getting them back is less likely.
Two Sundays of fabulous weather has been a bonus. It was incredibly hot and muggy last week at the Gerald Simpson, and I vividly recall seeing Willy Wood absolutely dripping sweat from inside his helmet as he stopped to enquire if I was alright whilst I sorted out a minor bike problem. I was no different as sweat was pouring from my helmet as well. Yet today at Fell Green, the chill wind off the Irish Sea made it very different, as despite it being bright and sunny, it was hardly warm. But it was clear enough to see the Isle of Man and Sellafield from the Cumbrian Fells.
As I write, the World Trial at Nevis Range, Fort William is just four weeks away and whilst the weather in June in Scotland can never be guaranteed, if it is warm and sunny, then there can be few places more enjoyable to watch a trial than on the slopes of Aonach Mor in the shadow of Ben Nevis.
Speaking with Jake Miller recently, it really is all systems go and the near two years of planning are about to come to fruition with an event that I firmly believe will set a standard for world trials that will be hard to beat. Within the limited confines of Hawkstone, L and M Events did a great job in promoting the world trial in the UK, but with the superb facilities AND brilliant section availability at Nevis Range, the trial should step up another gear.
Everybody is entitled to their own opinion of course, but at today’s trial I was chatting with some fellow riders who longed for the return of world trials to the old format. By that I think they meant clubs doing it in deep mid-winter, on the road with vans and spectators traipsing from section group to section group.
It’s never going to happen of course. For varying reasons, putting on a world trial these days to the standard demanded costs in the region of £50 to £100k and that can only be achieved with significant sponsorship. Bring sponsors on board and they demand certain standards commensurate with the money they put in, which means levels of sophistication previously undreamt off, which in turn means a professional organiser.
Knock it if you like, but that’s a fact of life these days. Plenty of folks also want to knock the professional organisers, but the field is open to take it on, just as the field is open should you want to open up a trials shop for example.