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Unfortunately, the regs available have not appeared in T&MX news, so the entry is down a little this year. There are 70 riders entered at this point with spaces for 30 more but the closing date is fast approaching for anyone who fancies a good ride around the Cotswold hills. Hot favourites already entered apparently, are Sam Connor and Dan Thorpe. I'll post a entry list after the closing date. For more details or regs contact Richard Gill tel 0121 2465823

I'm sure you'll have a good time Doogle, I've chopped out the sections at the new Group called Top Farm today. Although it's a little hard for me, (see picture)they are all cleanable. The route to and from Top Farm takes in some good trail riding which makes a change from riding around all on the road.

Punch cards do make it easier to have a result within 30 mins of the last man home. Also; Half way scores can be displayed (at the punch card change) but this is all more work and really to man 40 sections you need 80 observers. Ok for our big National but not possible the rest of the year.

It's the first round of the ACU's national trail bike series on Sunday 19th March. I must say I'm looking forward to this excellent event. Starting near Winchcombe, the Cheltenham Home Guard Club put on a good days trail riding with 30 observed sections across the Cotswold Hills near Cheltenham. Although the Barrett has dropped it's classic bike title this year, they still have a healthy entry of trail bikes with almost 80 riders starting at minute intervals from 9am.

I know it's not very technical, but that was just what I was going to say. I'm 13 stone and the finger method with the bike on it's stand, always seems to give me the perfect tension when I'm stood on the bike. Any tighter and the chain would be too tight on full compression. Obviously there are extremes, but a little too slack is better than a little too tight.

The Stratford-Upon-Avon Club are running the Colmore Cup as a one-off National for 2006, on the 5th March. Starting at a new venue; Downs Farm near Bourton-on-the-Hill, (signposted from A44) the 40 section 25mile road trial will visit many of the favourite traditional Groups high on the Cotswold hills, plus five brand new sections in the steep wood at Top Farm overlooking the Vale of Evesham. In it's 75+ year history Colmore Winners include, Sammy Miller, Steve Saunders, Steve Colley, Dougie Lampkin, Sam Conner and Graham Jarvis. As a non championship round, the sections will be less severe than last year when winner Graham Jarvis dropped 15 marks, mainly in the infamous Dovedale Group. Clerk of the Course Alan Wright and his setting out team will be aiming the severity at good Centre level riders, so expect the scores to be tight at the top end of the results board. For more information or regulations visit www.midlandcentreacu.org.uk./ or contact Richard Gill on 0121 2465823

Thanks for that Rabie. Unfortunately I don't agree with the part about the risks we are judging are the ones we "import" What about a barbed wire fence, a mine shaft, livestock or a steep cliff? There are many risks which might already be at a venue. I agree that filling in the RA form is a step in the right direction but we really should worry about what we put down. If we identify a risk and then do not take the appropriate steps to eliminate or reduce that risk, we find ourselves in a worse situation. I also agree that using common sense is the best way of completing the form, however we are all blessed with different levels of common sense. Back to the mineshaft example; An Assessor might think it is enough to warn riders at the start that there are mineshafts at the venue and to look out for them. An injured rider might argue in court that he didn't hear the warning. A judge could decide that the reasonable duty of care should have been to rope off the mineshaft with bright tape. Costs awarded. An extreme example it maybe but delete mineshaft and insert steep cliff etc etc and the outcome would be the same. We should all be carrying out assessments to the same standard and the only people who can take the lead on this is the ACU. I am a little worried that I will make myself unpopular over this but I am convinced that sooner of later one of these RA forms is going to be held up in evidence at a hearing and the person who is responsible for its content is the one whp signed the bottom. Someone like you or me, an untrained volunteer.

I appologise for bringing this up again, I originaly mentioned this in November last year but has any progress been made? Firstly I fully appreciate the need for Risk Assessment (RA)and agree with the ACU that we need it in trials to properly assess risks, reduce or eliminate them,keep a documented record and most importantly, to help protect ourselves from litigation. However, there has been no formal guidance on this important task. How can we (the unpaid volunteer Clerks of the Courses) be expected to complete RA to any reasonable standard without formal training? What is the standard? Our first trial of the year is fast approaching and we are worried (a lot) about completing the RA form. Has anyone else questioned the form? If so what was the advice? Has anyone not filled it in for their event? I am genuinely worried about this, once the Clerk of the Course signs the RA form, he or she is responsible. I know the ACU's Insurance is the best available, but surely there is no point in producing such a generic form without putting a standard in place for it's completion. If the form is then found n a court of law to be incorrectly completed, the Assessor is then negligent? I would welcome any thoughts or advice on the subject.

A poll would be a good idea. But don't forget there are a lot of very good trials which are already run non-stop now. I would make a bet that the poll would come out almost 50/50 across the board. Different groups will have different opinions.

I am a big advocate of returning to full non-stop rules for all. This is mainly due to trying to explain the complicated system which we now use to new observers. However, the perfectly good points which your anonymous observer makes would stand regardless of the system being used. It boils down to observing being a subjective matter. No two people see exactly the same thing all the time. Reading the letter, I think the writer generally backs what you have been saying. We need and appreciate observers and most of us fully understand the position they are in when faced with making a decision, it's just a shame that there are odd occasions when a rider behaves badly. All we can do is to try and show a good example to our peers.

I've been on the recieving end of this one too. A few years ago, a certain World Champion dabbed in a mud slot just before a climb out of a section I was observing, miles from no-where on a moor. He came back to me and said "was that ok mate?" I replied "Yes, just the one." Then I copped it. "That was clean" he said "no way did I dab there!" The surrounding (minders) fellow competitors, gathered closer but despite more of the same, I stuck to my guns. I must admit, I did start to doubt my own eyes, but the score stood. As the annoyed gang roared off to the next section, a spectator came up to me with a video camera. "You were right" he said. Sure enough there was the dab. The trial was won on one mark, the World Champion (mention no names) was on two. Sure left me with a bad feeling. Ever after that I politely enquire as to my score. Sometimes it's plus, sometimes minus. That's the sport. Loosing three unexpected fives does sound a bit strange, for piece of mind it might be worth a very humble and appologetic call to the secretary to see if there was an adding up mistake, which does happen. I do have these kind of calls, which I don't mind, especially as the results were wrong on one occasion. It's easy to miss/jump a row when your typing in rows of numbers. Perhaps the next rider down had three cleans he wasn't expecting?

How do you think riders in the Midlands would cope with a full non-stop type trial when it isnt the norm round here? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It wouldn't make any difference to the majority of riders who ride in our trials. They can't trick ride effectively anyway. As for the top 10% who can, they are the best riders and would continue to be so under non stop rules I guess. If the FIM went full non stop and the ACU followed, everything would be so much simpler. Then perhaps there would be more than five riders in the world who could ride the WTC sections... and that would be much better for the sport. Imagine a world round with 60 starters. Ok, ok I'm dreaming again, but it's a nice thought.

I was out of my depth on Sunday in the Group trial, so I did what I could then stood back and watched the more talented (and much braver) riders going around. It was amazing how many cleans I saw where the rider should have been given a five for bouncing sideways whilst stationary. The skill demonstrated was amazing, but how many riders would have kept moving if the observer(s) had marked them strictly to the rules? We can't blame riders for "hopping and bopping" if the observers allow it. We also can't blame the observers for being lenient if that is what is expected (the norm.) What we need is a scoring system which is simple to understand and easy to remember. One that observers are not reluctant to enforce. I personally feel that full non-stop is that rule. Your front wheel stops moving forward and you get a five.

Our trials are almost always easy. As a rule (there are occasional slips) each route is won on single figures or even clean. Of course there are riders who choose to ride up a route and loose 100+ but that is their choice. It just seems as if the younger riders have gone? I can't do more than offer four routes where the winner almost always looses under 10. I wish I had the answer. I would be really pleased to see 30 or 40 young people turn up to ride for a championship at every trial. This season hasn't started yet. If anyone has any suggestions as to what would make them (or their sons/daughters)ride with us, I would be more than happy to consider implementing those ideas.

I don't think we can do that, if the event is being run with an ACU permit, as to allow sideways bouncing with no penalty contravenes the Sporting Code which is not allowed.

For the first three years that I helped to organise our five round club championship we had four routes. Youth A, B, C & TY80 (previously there were just two routes,) putting on the extra routes doubled our entries over night. Each route had a championship with a points table attached to every set of results and trophies for the top three at the end of the season. Eventually due to lack of interest in the D class we dropped that and ran just three routes for a couple of years. Last year at the prize presentation evening, I took home more trophies than I gave out. Lack of regular entries has caused us to drop the championship. There were just three youth riders who rode in every trial. If four routes, a championship for each and triophies down to third place doesn't help attract the youngsters, I am at a loss as to what I can do? I whole heartedly welcome any suggestions or ideas on how to make our events more appealing to young people.

So what rules are you using?

Getting youngsters involved should be one of the most important things for a club to concentrate on. No disrespect to members of our club, but take out the over 60's and there aren't many active members left. Take out the over 40's and there is no one. Doesn't look good long term.

Pinkys have a disc brake on the front as standard.

I must say the problem of finding observers is by far the worst thing about putting on a trial. We do give riders who supply an observer a free entry at our club trials. It is well worth giving up

Congratulations to the results team - What a service! Full results before 10pm on the day of the trial. We should all aspire to provide this sort of service. Thank you.

I must admit - for my very limited ability and complete lack of bravery - it may as well have been a world championship round.

There are 70 entries for the latest round of the Midland Centre Group trial championship held by the South Shropshire club on SUnday. I was wondering if anyone had ridden at the venue before and if so what is it like? I am very late in the starting order - each club has to take their turn at being last and it's ours this week.

Has anyone got, or seen a set of drawings for a bike trailer which can be dis-assembled for storage? My old trailer looks a right mess on the front of my house, I only have a path to the back garden and would like to store it there. Making it is no problem, I just need the plan.