Ladies ready to make history
By John Dickinson on 13th Jul 16
THERES history in the making at the FIM Trial World Championship round at Tong, near Bradford, Yorkshire, this weekend as Great Britain has the honour of hosting a round of the Womens series for the first time ever.
The event represents the first of the three round Women's WTC series and it really is excellent news that it allows reigning and two time World Champion, Emma Bristow, mounted on the factory Sherco, to begin the defence of here title in front of her home crowd.
The Ladies opener boasts no fewer than 33 entrants, representing nine countries in total which are GB, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway, USA, Australia and New Zealand. Surprisingly there are no entries from France, traditionally strong in the Ladies class.
It really is the perfect time for Britain to host a round, especially the opening round, as we currently boast a clean sweep of the top three in the world with Emma Bristow, champ for the last two years, joined by Isle of Wight ace Becky Cook, who swaps a Jotagas for a TRS this year, and the irrepressible Donna Fox.
Sherco factory rider Emma will be keen to stamp her authority on the series right from the off. Emma works really hard on her riding and takes what she does very seriously, and is a real all-rounder having also been World Champion in Super Enduro. If Emma rides to the maximum of her ability it is hard to see anyone getting close this weekend. Nine-times British Ladies champ Becky is our most experienced women having competed in the series for the last 12 years and finished Championship runner-up no fewer than five times.
Becky has been concentrating on competitive mountain biking recently but is guaranteed to give her all on the Steve Saunders TRS.
Donna didn't even plan on riding the series this year.
The effervescent Foxy Lady from Doncaster had decided that the 2015 series would be her swansong on the world stage but then surprised even herself by finishing a brilliant third in the Championship, her best result in 10 years of trying.
"After finishing third in 2015 I couldn't leave it at that so here I am back again and it is amazing to be able to ride in Yorkshire in front of the home fans. I just couldn't miss that opportunity.”
There are no fewer than 12 British women in the running, including five making their TWC debuts and these are sisters Louise and Catherine Alford, Jennifer Stephens, Gabrielle Whitham and Charlotte Kimber.
They will be joined by Chesterfield's Jess Bown, a real trier tackling her 10th TWC event, fellow Yorkie Chloe Richardson, who has racked-up a dozen TWC starts and Victoria Payne, the Bristol woman, having just three world events under her belt.
Katy Thorpe, who until very recently was Katy Sunter, might even have new husband Dan as minder at Tong. More at home in traditional national trials and endurance events like The Scott, JST Gas Gas ambassador Katy is an experienced International contender having competed in an impressive 27 TWC events. Katy's best result to date is fourth in Andorra in 2013, the year she finished an impressive sixth in the world. Madrid girl Sandra Gomez is sure to be one of the top challengers to the dominant Brits and the all-rounder, who rides for Husqvarna in enduros, recently signed to ride trials for Gas Gas.
Sandra is well-known to British fans as she is a regular competitor in the Scottish Six Days.
Mireia Conde, from Igualada in Catalunya, is the current World number five and leads the Beta attack while German 18 year-old Theresa Bauml, also Beta mounted and currently ranked No.6, could just be one rider who could cause an upset this weekend.
Seventeen year-old Madeleine Hoover makes the trip to represent the United States of America, while five times Australian Ladies champ Kristie McKinnon, a veteran of 21 TWC rounds is joined by 19 year-old Sophie Kraft making her debut.
Also at Tong is 22-year old Kiwi Gabrielle Gundry who has six TWC appearances to her name, as well as representing her country twice in the Trial des Nations.
All the girls will receive a warm welcome and all good rides will be applauded with enthusiasm but with large crowds expected both days here's hoping that Emma, Becky, Donna and all the British women are inspired by the occasion of the first Women's Trial World Championship in Britain and get their year away to an excellent start.
