Trials champs a success
By TMX Archives on 14th Jun 13
LAST year, as we all know, the British Trials Championship made the bold move to switch to no-stop observing a controversial move that had plenty of opposition, not the least of which came from many of the riders.
Quick revue: the change was made in order to attempt to revive what had become a terminally ill series, with few entries and little outside interest.
The ultimate aim was to return the British Championship trials to something positive, a series that both the riders and the public could relate to and to strip-out the misplaced elitism which had seen entries plummet to as low as six.
Clearly this could not continue.
The move to no-stop wasn't an easy transition and various parties fought it to the bitter end – and beyond – and clearly many hoped that last year would be the one and only year.
Yet fast forward to last Sunday and the Richmond club's event.
It proved fabulously successful with a full-house – with even more riders disappointed that they couldn't get an entry.
Out have gone the minders – no more cluttering up sections, shifting stones, pouring water on rocks, shouting inanely and generally distracting from the event.
Some went reluctantly, some very reluctantly.
Result: the atmosphere was improved 100% with riders talking to one another, instead of muttering darkly into a microphone to their minder.
Some riders had even travelled together – and just in case I hadn't mentioned it, no silly shouting and yelling of the blindingly obvious .
The competitors were all riding to the spirit of the rules – not intentionally pushing their luck with the observers – and it says everything about the event that the considerable number of spectators present stayed on for the presentation.
Sure, any sport that is judged by a person is always going to have decisions queried, as so much is down to a personal viewpoint but this always was and always is the case in trials, whether Stop or No-Stop rules are employed.
Everyone has learned so much from last year, clerks of the course, observers and riders became attuned to the change and I'd go as far as to say 90% of those involved can see that the sport really can now move forward.
The ACU must not back-off on this. Stewards must remain active and involved at events and not drift back into the old "we are only here to report on the event” mantra that got us nowhere.
This attitude had blighted FIM World Championship trials for years and has only recently been addressed – and hopefully the World Champs will also eventually benefit from a more pro-active approach.
Sunday was an excellent example of what can be achieved. Well done to all concerned.
