Magnificent seven!
By TMX Archives on 11th Dec 08
Was 2008 the best year for Ladies trials in Britain? I for one think that the seven British Championship events have raised the bar, in organisation, in competitor numbers, and in variety. And the notable fact that a total of 46 Ladies and Girls scored championship points in seven trials. Now consider this little but important statistic, how many riders scored championship points in the Blue Riband Colin Appleyard ACU national trials championship? 46!
T+MX forecast five years ago that the female championship was gathering speed. It has and the numbers in the north are rocketing. So what about 2008? Cheadle and Lincoln drew the short straws and with it the risk of the weather and its whims.
Make no mistake, trialling in early spring does feature frost and snow, not to mention the April showers. The Adults and Class A and B girls can deal with most situations but the Inters – Youth and Adults, the Class C runners in particular, contain some slim competitors. The responsibility of their safety sits squarely on the shoulders of the clerk of course and his assistants. That is a very heavy burden to carry.
Cheadle fired-up the championship in bright clear sunshine, albeit carrying a winter chill breeze. Ipstones has a history of horror days but the angled rocks were kind in April. The Adult scores were just about spot-on, as were Youth classes A and B. Maybe they did mount up to 100-plus figures but this was April 13, and a serious opener for many contestants. Becky Cook did the business with Donna Fox locked on. Foxy actually posted a best final lap She does not give up.
Joanne Coles was just brilliant in her winning Class A ride. Don't forget that Class A ride the Adult sections so Joanne was a very strong overall third.
Class B was just a taster with Chloe Richardson and Danielle Whitham head to head. It was a conflict that was only to be resolved at Richmond in mid-August. The Karate Kid, Nikita Smith, turned over Hannah Richardson and Kate Hunter in what was a Class C battle.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES, SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2008