desperado

Only damage was to the old pride and the wallet a bit thinner after seeing the farmer right for the pull !

I did follow your tracks - Just missed the Beemer as you did - but fived the crest of the bank. Then it got scarey going sideways backwards on the slant and looking down that bank. It was slick on a bike let alone trying it in the van ! Missed the rugby after all that. Think I'll be more patient and wait a while next time.

Adsy -'As for TSR22A, yes stopping is permitted, but not without penalty.' Picking up on Atom it actually states in Midland Centre Pink fixture book with reference to the 2006 Group trial series regulations paragraph one - 'Marking will be to TSR22A i.e Stopping allowed '. We will have a final statement before 5th March when all riders and observers will be made aware of the exact marking procedure on that day.

Picking up on Atomants comments I really think we should look at riders joining just one club that would enable them to ride in any centre. That would make for more club loyalty which would help the organising side of things, would enable more social functions to take place and would encourage more 'club teams ' to compete in the likes of The Group trial series. We do have a light hearted Breidden Hills versus our neighbours South Shropshire team competition but even that is difficult because we have joined each others clubs to be eligible for awards at the end of the year! On the membership at the moment I feel we miss out because our first trial is held early March by which time riders have signed up with the first club who run a trial in their centre. That really needs adressing quickly. Very few riders feel part of a specific club. Many don't want to but even they should be encouraged to be 'club members' of a specific club. It worked very well when I went AMCA motocross a few years ago. Again keep the thoughts and ideas coming that we can take to the ACU and make changes.

There is certainly no magic easy answer. If your location is such that there are no riders then there are no riders. Over here towards the Welsh border we do have a lot of youth riders. We at Breidden Hills attract 30 - 50 at any one event, South Shrops the same (roughly half the entry at some events). The majority are on the White Beginner route and most have Dad that rides (probably a very important factor). The sections are straighforward where the winner will lose 2 but having to cater for such a wide skill factor the last Youth will come in on 80 - 90. We activly encourage the younger members to help clear for trials, seek their advice when laying out sections and invite them to the few socials we have during the year (though we don't have enough of those- yet) One of the major problems if a rider is in the middle of the Midlands Centre with a shiny new bike costing

Scorpa it begs the question why have you no younger members in your club. Is it this Midland Centre problem that nothing has been done to encourage the youth riders in the past?. Do you have a youth beginners class in your trials to encourage the very grass roots ? Atom, Trials Central, myself etc keep harping on about the Youth (yes sometimes we are a pain in the arris) but you have hit the nail on the head. We at Breidden Hills (and our neighbours South Shropshire) have a flourishing Youth scene because we activly involve the lads/lasses and encourage and help them. We have Youth Beginners / Clubman / Inter & Expert classes. Perhaps a few riders need to tolerate the youngsters a little more not tut and moan when they are behind them in a section. They are tomorrows organisers !

Tony - I don't know a contact for Pye but these guys specialise in Fantic. Worth a try.They ship worldwide. bob@bobwrightmotorcycles.co.uk

Group trial results should be on www.breiddenhillsmcc.org by around 9.45pm. Very impressive given the complex scoring system. Well done Kirsty and team from South Shropshire.

The photos were a real nice touch. They are really trying at Central Wales AC. They deserve a little more support. Look out for their next trial and try and support them.

Gas Gas Uk are the folks to contact. Give them a call on 01298 766 813.

Now that you've had a look have a gander at the Breidden Hills venues. We have our first trial of the year at the infamous Nantmawr Quarry near Oswestry on Sunday 5th March. Totally different terrain to South Shropshire but the organisation equally as good, if not just a little bit slicker !. We look forward to seeing you there. Tell your mates !

You will find it a very well organised event - Kirsty, Buzz, Spence and the crew put on a first class trial. Sections will be based around a stream with a ride up the brook, using the banks and waterfalls. Gets really interesting towards the top ! To get a feeling of the terrain have a look at Breidden Hills website, shared with South Shropshire and click on Gallery then '2005 SMCC Social and presentation trial'. It is a different venue but very similar terrain.

You are right we do struggle a little at Old Grit catering for the experts but with Martin & Rachael the owners being so bike friendly and the terrain lending itself to all year round trialling we need to persist with it. As you have seen we are importing a few timbers and such but this is very time consuming and will take time. Come Saturday 8th April tho' and you will see quite a difference at the venue. Tell your mates !

What a terrific ebtry. But are you going to tell me the likes of young Wiggy rode all day without a front wheel hop turn or a quick back hop to get in line !

Two marks minimum Speckled Hen - 10 marks if he argued ! One of the problems here is that some riders, even Expert lads, DO NOT KNOW THE RULES !!!! Resting against any object (Bank, tree, Rock etc) is deemed as assistance and therefore markable. You show a lot of commonsense my friend and are a real asset to the trials world. Could I ask you to Observe for Breidden Hills MCC at Nantmawr Quarry, Nr Oswestry on Sunday 5th March. Please let me know. Keep the comments flowing !

It is certainly a concern this old marking system. We really need to get rid of all the grey areas. One of the problems of course is that we are all so grateful to get 10 observers or so that there is no uniformaty within those observers, even at championship level. Some will give a one for stopping, others wont.Very few of us brief the observers fully, Ok a few reminders but not a full brief. On the brief stop I would like to see a 3 second time limit tried. Observers and riders alike can count to three. One, Two, Three move on ! That will give riders time to pause before hitting a big step, or get composed after a heavy drop, without the poseurs standing still in a section for 5 minutes. I have said it before we are judging a riders skill on a bike and standing still, hopping sideways and dare I say it going backwards feet up are all skill elements.

Very valid points speckled hen. Comments like yours bring it home and remind us how important observers are at a trial. Many, like Ann Sagar, travel especially to observe. It is not fair on these stalwarts to be out for longer than necessary in the freezing cold. I think we can all learn from this experience. I know we at Breidden Hills are looking very hard at ways of trying to look after observers as well as streamlining signing on and ways to avoid lenghty waits at sections. A lot of trials seem to be getting very healthy numbers at the moment and I think it only right that we as orgainsers put a lot of thought into our own events. Come on over to Nantmawr Quarry near Oswestry on Sunday 5th March and see if we have made any difference. We hope too !

Trialsurfer I am so tempted. I was last over the pond 3 years ago doing the Disney thing and Daytona. Wish I'd have had a contact like yourself then.

Do you have to mention fun in the sun. We are shivering here in minus degrees riding iced up sections. Enjoy my friends enjoy. What is the chance of a 2 day licence and loan of a Gasser for a Brit on vacation ?

Appreciate what you are saying Rabie. I write the reports etc for our club and I do find TMX News a little frustrating on times ! However I think I have a valid point to try and gain a little publicity for those kind enough to dip into their pocket for someone elses benifit.

Just a thought for all secretaries at events. Some riders are good enough or privilidged enough to have a sponsor or two to help fund their trials riding. These companies / individuals receive very little recognision for their efforts. One sure way of keeping sponsor happy is to see his name alongside the bike (ie Repsol Beta / JST Gas Gas etc) in the results sheet and in TMX News results / Trials Central etc.It is very important for the rider / company and will lead to more help in the future, not just for individuals but for clubs and events. Just a thought.

Just picking up on a point there Gaz about riders commiting to one club. That I believe is the main problem with generating help because the majority of riders do not commit to one club, merely joining any club in whatever centre they happen to ride early in the year. Any ideas how to turn this around. As you know we at Breidden Hills are trying the odd open club night to generate a little enthusiasm and hopefully a little club spirit.

Very constructive comments Numbnuts. Will have my say when I have more time

There is no such thing as too much advertising - what was that club again - oh yes Breidden Hills MCC.

Nice one about leaving the engine running on the trailer Hinters. As they say joking apart I always used to cover my grass track and speedway bikes when on the trailer - mainly to advertise the sponsors I must admit but when you think freezing cold air being rammed at the bike at 70mph for an hour or so you'd be fliiping cold as well ! You could have Breidden Hills MCC on yours Webbie and start a new trend !