spike123 Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Sitting watching the sports personality of the year annual show and not one mention of the achievements of our ladies in trials on the world stage . Emma Bristow Ladies world champion and our ladies winning the Trials des Nations again .. ACU pull your finger out and raise the profile of our sport , as the governing body it falls as part of your mandate to promote and raise awareness of the sport of Trials and what better platform than this programme, let's see if the ACU can do better next year !!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillary Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Thanks Spike for knocking the ACU - I wonder exactly how much YOU put into the sport when compared to the huge volume of work that the vast majority of ACU club officials do to simply get a local trial off the ground. Whilst it would be great to acknowledge Emma's efforts and also those of her two compatriots at the Women's Trial des Nations on the BBC SPOTY, what exactly would that have achieved. Would it have attracted more riders into the sport, would it have attracted more individuals to go out in all weathers and mark out a trial, would it have enthused more people to take up the paperwork mantle which is behind every trial, would it have generated somebody to spend hours of their unpaid personal time liasing with the RAC, government and Forestry Commission to ensure that motorcycle events can continue to run in the forests and would it have created the newly announced road traffic act insurance that now covers ALL UK riders and officials to be legally covered whilst they are organising or riding a trial on the road. No is the answer to all those points; being on SPOTY , much I would have liked to see it featured, if only momentarily, has absolutely no bearing on what happens within our sport. Simple as that, Spike. As an aside, I saw John McGuinness with the Dunlops in the audience and he was not mentioned either, even though they are probably the only sportspersons who genuinely risk their lives to compete in their chosen sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanorbust Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 I recall that Dougie Lampkin once appeared on Sports Personality of the Year, for about 7 seconds of air time. A pity, as I considered his personality to be far superior to the winner's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanorbust Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Even if the ACU don't think trials should be low key, over many years I've known plenty of club stalwarts who organise events and negotiate use of land who are thankful that it is, myself included. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneh Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 The promotion of trials has nothing to do with the acu It's it's almost exclusively down to the riders I think there's quite a few reasons it's hard to get people interested The bikes for starters They are not fun for much else other than trials , so folk won't buy them for a bit of fun and move on to what they are really designed for From a spectator point If you watch world indoor /outdoor it is more spectacular than the norm but not many people watching other than current riders will think " yeah ill have a crack at that" But watch an average club trial and I think most will think ,dare I say , boring Yes it is probably one of the cheapest forms of motorsport , but you can't just jump on a trials bike and do exciting stuff But people that can ride a bike can jump on a road bike , motocross , enduro and wizz round at thrilling speeds with little effort And not spend hour upon hour falling off and trying again Those of us the already participate know what it's about and the sense of achievement Historically it's usually family or close friends the are introduced into the sport because they get a better understanding what it's about To promote and get people involved outside the sport is an uphill struggle , tv or not The acu dont itroduce friends family to the sport , the riders do 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Following the comments of toneh, the venue selected for the British round of the 2016 WTC will require significant work in order to install a course suitable for the competition, which I have no doubt whatsoever will be very competently achieved. However considerable thought needs to be given to the fact that the obstacles will need to be modified immediately after the event in order to make it safe for 'wannabees' who will certainly want to test their skill level against what they will have seen. That could so easily result in significant injury which would render the sport very liable to intense adverse publicity on the gogglebox as well as all the social networks..............hardly the sort of publicity that would promote our image. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingle Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Bring back kickstart I say ! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanorbust Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Interestingly, I don't think Kickstart had any impact on entries at any of the trials I was riding every week at that time, nor was it intended to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breagh Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 As an aside I'm thinking Motorcycle trials must have the highest numbers of participants of any motorsport in the UK. i suppose it is pretty insulting not to have a few seconds on the Beeb once a year. Don't suppose many riders really care mainly because all they want to do is play on there bikes. A weekend out of trials is a weekend out of life. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike123 Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Hillary I have obviously hit a raw nerve , and I take on board all of your comments re "What ACU does on behalf of trials in negotiations with third parties" however you miss the point that an opportunity like SPOTY would have been great to show case the sport given the current world class standings of our Women trials riders .., Oh and by the way the negotiating done by ACU is no different to that of any other govering body in a given sport and all sports have people dedicated to helping events take place for zero monetary return so trials is not unique in that respect .. I reiterate that perhaps going forward ACU can negotiate with the BBC to include trials if we produce world champions again in 2016 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telecat Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Following the comments of toneh, the venue selected for the British round of the 2016 WTC will require significant work in order to install a course suitable for the competition, which I have no doubt whatsoever will be very competently achieved. However considerable thought needs to be given to the fact that the obstacles will need to be modified immediately after the event in order to make it safe for 'wannabees' who will certainly want to test their skill level against what they will have seen. That could so easily result in significant injury which would render the sport very liable to intense adverse publicity on the gogglebox as well as all the social networks..............hardly the sort of publicity that would promote our image. Chris is looking Forward to the Sections being left in situ! Should make practice days more interesting. THe next Club trial there could be a cracker too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Don't get me going on this one...................................pead off with pozzy football and other boring sports, agree 'Raise the Profile Of Trials' The BBC have also scrubbed the F1 coverage aswell - TW_TS!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitsua Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 I've never heard such vitriol for a guy that just wants a bit of recognition for the lads&lasses who have achieved at world class level and yes the offials at the acu should do more to promote our fabulous sport. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomant Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) The promotion of trials has nothing to do with the acu It's it's almost exclusively down to the riders.. I disagree - The promotion of trials is down to the governing body (ACU) and other interested parties i.e The manufacturers/importers/suppliers who gain from the sales of their products. The ACU at the top level could do more to promote motorcycle riders and surely no one can disagree with that? Can you see the irony in this comment from Hillary -" As an aside, I saw John McGuinness with the Dunlops in the audience and he was not mentioned either, even though they are probably the only sportspersons who genuinely risk their lives to compete in their chosen sport." Edited December 21, 2015 by atomant 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b40rt Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 I've never heard such vitriol for a guy that just wants a bit of recognition for the lads&lasses who have achieved at world class level and yes the offials at the acu should do more to promote our fabulous sport. You'll get used to it ...... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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