From Sheffield to the Scottish
By TMX Archives on 14th Jan 10
THIS week the Sheffield Indoor was one of few events to take place because of the weather...so we look forward to May and the Scottish Six Days...
WELL, my sympathies this week are with the many trials organisers who had little alternative but to cancel their events in the face of the severe weather we have faced. And most don't give up easily.
Some waited until last thing Saturday, working hard doing what they could while praying for a miracle and then, and only then, reluctantly having to give best to the elements. And of course a sincere well-done to the few who somehow managed to get riders and officials to events, get them parked and then provided a competition. I do like to see people overcoming the odds.
Like many of you, I've ridden in plenty of snowy, icy events including many Lakes Two-Day National trials when they were run in January, some of which were legend. Riding in snow is really good fun – riding on ice can be less so! The problem in winter is usually not so much marking a course as getting people parked and maybe finding observers. Whatever, let's just hope that the snow and ice does a disappearing act and we can get back to a full programme of events as soon as possible.
One event that could always run – as long as people could get there – was the Sheffield Indoor Trial. No probs with snow in the Arena and the internal ice is all covered up by eight by four sheets of chipboard!
The unforseen problem was that the Arena, no doubt because of Elf and Safety rules, would not allow their snow-covered car park to be used and spectators had to find somewhere else to abandon their vehicles and then make their way back to the arena. Because of this the arena looked half empty as the trial kicked-off but within half an hour it was pretty-well packed as the faithful hurried-in after finding a car park.
Given the weather it was a very impressive turnout with a claimed 7000, which I don't doubt, making the effort to see the Indoor. Sure, most of you will have bought tickets months ago and no-one is going to waste the money if at all possible but many spectators did take a leap of faith in travelling. It's not so much going, give yourself plenty of time and it isn't much of an issue but it's the thought of a midnight trip home, possibly in a snowstorm, that gets you thinking. Whatever, the Sheffield crowd was as strong as ever.
And as knowledgeable as ever. The 2010 results system was complicated and to top it all the scores were not displayed either on the arena scoreboard or the giant screen yet with the aid of commentators Martin Crosswaite and Wayne Kershaw this small obstacle was overcome. It certainly didn't affect the standard of riding nor the appreciation of it and the arena rose as one to acknowledge Bou as he showboated on the Skips in qualifying, riding the section on the rear wheel of the factory Mont.
And you can forget Sun-style sensationalist stories about any ‘riders' revolt' at subsequent events. It ain't going to happen. Indoors, whatever the scoring system or eventual result, is one of the very few sources of income for ‘professional' trials riders these days plus their factories or sponsors will make sure that they are out there.
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YOU'LL see that we have got some 2010 Scottish Six Days Trial news for you this week (page 3 and Trials Torque) with many people no doubt relieved that the trial parc ferme will remain in Fort William.
A move out of town does have many plus points, not the least being ample parking space, but the prospect of whizzing back and forth to Fort William was rather a concern.
The town does a great job of supporting the trial and the ride-through of the main street by the entire entry on weigh-in Sunday has turned into an eagerly awaited event in its own right.
Much as the West End car park is no longer large enough to accommodate everything that we'd ideally like, thanks to the sheer size of factory artics and their monster awnings etc, it still provides that all-important link with the town that it could be argued the trial needs to ensure its survival.
And news that a World Championship contender of the calibre of Albert Cabestany has entered is great news for the event.
Unlike the World Championship, where the sections bear no resemblance to what the majority of trials riders can relate to, the Scottish is one of the few events where Joe Bloggs can ride alongside the superstars.
This is of course what ALL trials were once like and the Scottish is proof that maybe there ought to be more similar events. Surely a trial with 275 starters is preferable to one with just a dozen...?
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FINALLY: Not heard much from the Global Warming alarmists over the past few weeks... funny, that!