A couple of weeks ago this column concentrated on Michael Brown and his fantastic performance at The Tough One extreme trials race at Nantmawr Quarry, and although I didn’t say so in the column, it did cross my mind when writing the piece if there was a place for trials races at other events. Whilst driving around during the week, I did even consider whether to propose one from my own club, but have not done anything about it.
Well, somebody else has come up with the idea and there is a the chance to ride a trials race on March 2. And the rider behind the idea is none other than British Champion and runner up to Michael Brown at The Tough One, Graham Jarvis.
Graham has tied in with Dirtbiketrax, who run a series of hare and hounds events, and they have agreed to include a race which is to be called a Power Trial on Sunday March 2 at Nordview Stables, which is located just off the A6 between Penrith and Carlisle. The location will be flagged from the A6 and for those planning to attend, take the junction 41 exit from the M6.
The event will start at 10am, but this is not going to be at the same level of severity as the Tough One and will be suitable for all grades of trials rider. There will be some harder obstacles included, but there will also be easier routes around them, which will add a few extra seconds to the time of each lap. It’s going to be a straight race for a one-and-a-half hour duration, so even if you are only a bit tempted, at least give it a go and let’s see whether there is a market for this type of event. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.dirtbike-traxs.com
One of my concerns when writing this column for Trials Central is that inevitably it tends to be northern biased. That is not intentional, it’s just the way it works out. Living in Lancashire, the Northern, North Western, Yorkshire and Cheshire Centres are my hunting ground, but I also think that there is never much information on the site from clubs down south.
I know that when I lived and rode in Devon, the trials scene down there was thriving and I rode as frequently with the Otter Vale, Broadhembury, West of England, Dartmouth, Devonport, Lyn, Torridge, Exmoor and Yeo Vale clubs as I now do with the clubs oop north.
So why don’t all those clubs down south (and west and east) have a bit more involvement with Trials Central? It’s a great site and can only help promote trials in your area. Perhaps one of the reasons is that in the South West, they still have a Centre magazine, so perhaps there is not the need to promote events quite so much as there is where I live, but even so, we would all like to know what is happening down your neck of the woods as you get told about what’s happening up here.
Two weeks ago I rode the Westmorland Club’s Lonsdale Cup trial, a two lap, 12 mile road based course of 20 sections per lap which attracted an entry of 107 (or thereabouts). Last week, I rode the Barrow Club’s Frank Jackson trial, a road based event of one lap of 12 miles with 36 sections. Both were excellent events and Westmorland were very well supported with their healthy entry. The Frank Jackson was equally good (in fact even better to my mind, but that is a personal taste) yet they only attracted 41 entries. I feel really sorry for the Barrow boys for they did a great job but were so poorly supported. What’s the answer? I don’t know, but I would be keen to learn from postings in reply to this column what you guys think is the reason.
Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that there is a new heading to this column from this week. For the past year this column has been sponsored by Caroline Sandiford of Team Sandiford, but now it is going to be John Lampkin of Beta UK who is supporting the column in the future.
So personal thanks to Caroline and the rest of her crew for the sponsorship of the past year, and thanks to John Lampkin for taking over the mantle.
Ed: I would like to add my thanks to those of Mike. This column has been a very successful addition to Trials Central and would not have been possible without, firstly the support of Caroline at Sandiford Montesa and now John Lampkin of Beta UK.