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Reunion No Stops For Cat's Eyes |
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No sooner had I mentioned last week about the lack of news from further south than I received a letter from Bill Hartnell in the South Western Centre (my old patch) about the “4th Up Memory Lane”, the reunion lunch of South Western Centre trials riders.
I was fortunate enough to attend the first, organised by my old friend Pete Thompson and his Devonport club colleagues which was back in 2004 (I think). It made a good weekend as I was doing the ACU Classic series that year on my 125 Scorpa and enjoyed the reunion on the Friday, the West of England trial on the Saturday and the Otter Vale Presidents on the Sunday.
It’s easy to say that reunions are for old fogies, and indeed it tends to be true as it’s only when one reaches a certain age (not sure what that age is!), that renewing old acquaintances becomes important. Certainly, that reunion brought together many familiar faces and I was able to have long conversations with folks against whom I rode all those years ago when I lived in Devon.
Inevitably, as the years pass, folks pass on as well and even though it was five years ago now, several of those who were there that day are no longer with us, so now, five years later, I’m very pleased I took the opportunity to attend.
I’m not sure if there are many such reunions around the country, but if there are not, then somebody should consider organising them. It’s all relative of course, for whilst birthday totals for me are now getting numerous, even for younger riders, say those under 40, if they’ve been riding since they were kids they will have seen many riders who have been on the trials scene but have since disappeared and who they may wish to meet up with again.
Just for the information, the South West reunion is eligible to those who were involved with trials prior to 1975, but others who may consider organising such events may choose a slightly later cut off point. After all, 1980 isn’t that far back (to me!!) yet it’s 29 years and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.
I see from the short news article on TC that next year’s Novogar Championship is going no-stop, and the obvious question response has to be will the main British Championship be next? In fact let’s take it a bit further and ask if the World Championship is likely to be no-stop?
Far fetched? Of course, but think again, the World Championship has changed its observing criteria a number of times over the past few years, so why not go the whole hog and revert to no-stop. In fact if you ask the question about how it would effect section severity and the answer would likely be very little. Thinking back to the hazards used at Armathwaite (Carlisle) back in May and with only minor adjustments to bike length gaps between steps, they could probably be ridden no-stop by the entry. In fact some of the entry could ride them no-stop now if they chose to.
I’ve not been trialing this weekend, primarily due to a injured toe incurred in the Reeth Three Day (and yes, I have been to the Doctor), so instead took the VFR on a day trip over to Ireland for the inaugural Armoy Road Races, held over a new, three mile road circuit.
Good it was too; but if you think organising a trial of any level is difficult, just consider the implications of getting permissions and insurances to run a new road race over public roads and of the costs involved. Whatever problems we might have with organising events, at least we don’t have to request that cat’s eyes be removed from the track before we can take part!
I went on my own and expected to spend the day on my own, but I met up with a grand guy on the boat going over, so enjoyed his company for the day, and then stumbled (literally) across Tony Temple and Ian Murphy, respectively the secretary and clerk of the course for the upcoming Manx Two Day Trial.
And thanks for the lift back to the bike car park – bad toe you see, trouble walking!
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