‘Build it and they will come!’

There is a saying that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’, but realistically how many championships does the sport of trials really need?

phrase uttered I wonder? How many times have I heard that

it can of course be true. It Quite a few I would imagine but

from competitors and is safe to say from what I have heard

that the Kia National reading the postings on social media,

the brainchild of former Twinshock Trials Championship,

Gerry Minshall and Alan Cheshire Champion, Peter Salt,

and riders have supported Wright which was ‘built’ last year

to take part but it is a series it. Personally I haven’t been able

because it reminds me of that particularly grabs my attention

at twin-shock machinery with my youth, given that it is aimed four classes and two routes.

has been put into covering A lot of planning and hard work

this national series the bulk of England and Wales but

of a venue in the Scottish has, for the first time, made use

Saughtree was the old Borders, Newcastleton to be precise.

Scottish Clubman venue Hawick & Border clubs’ successful

years. It was a smart move which lay fallow for nearly thirty

MCC, the venue being by organisers Cumberland County

who didn’t have the accessible to southern based riders

lowlands or even highlands for perceived long trek up into the

was heartening to hear that it a Scottish round of the series. It

received by all concerned. has been well supported and well

the events; there have been Clubs have been keen to put on

and financial support observer’s draws, widespread publicity

can only be good for from Kia Motors for the series which

such as the Kia is the the sport. The problem with a series

didn’t deter the likes of geographical spread; however that

making the effort and West Lothian rider, Steven Mycock,

the rounds as possible. commitment to ride as many of

the emergence of another What does concern me a little is

2016 announced by the ACU broadly similar championship for

of their established Sammy which incorporates modifications

this is a lunge onto the Miller series. Many voices are claiming

things, people want to be proverbial band-wagon. Like most

no different. associated with success, trials are

is the sincerest form of There is a saying that ‘imitation

championships does the flattery’, but realistically how many

you have too much of a good sport of trials really need? Can

potential entries and thing, to the extent that it can split

with depletion of numbers? subsequently nobody benefits

progress next season and I Time of course will tell how things for one will be watching with interest.