TEAM SUMMER ROAD TRIP

UThe Bike Trial federation’s UK team travelled to Germany and Czech Republic this summer to the world rounds on an epic road trip. This year’s competitions consisted of the UCI Youth Games in Freia, Germany, followed by the BIU World Championship in Blanks, Czechoslovakia. First stop for the riders and families travelling from all over the UK was the UCI Youth Games. The venue was based at a football club’s training ground on the edge of the village, with great facilities for the campers and picturesque views of the local countryside. A huge amount of work, money and effort had been put in by the local racing team, bike trials club, mayor, federation and sponsors to create this amazing event.

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on the man-made style of sections. Wooden cows were carved, barns erected, tractors and trailers provided, and huge logs were arranged to create the impressive sections. A huge marquee was set up to house two indoor sections, the stage and all the catering. In the evening the riders and families were entertained by various performers, dancers, musicians and jugglers — even the local racing team members performed their own special dance! Hundreds of locals joined in the two-day event, and the atmosphere was buzzing. This competition is traditionally held over two days, with the first day classed as the semi-final where the top 12 riders qualify for day two, the final. This year the competition attracted nearly 160 youth riders from 16 different countries.

The UK team consisted of Josh McParland and Bailey Dacker in the Poussin category, age 9-10. This was a first time for Bailey and Josh was on his second go at the Youth Games. In the Minime category, age 13-14, the team had experienced competition rider Adam Morewood, and Reece Seymour on his first trip to the World Games. In the Cadet Class, age 15-16, ready to attack his first Youth Games we had Will Ackerley and also established rider Charlie Rolls.

The semi-finals consisted of two laps of five sections to be completed in 2.5 hours. With an average of 30-plus riders in each class the UK team needed to prove their metal to qualify for Sunday’s final. The boys gave 100% and four out of the six qualified: Josh, Adam, Will and Charlie. The final followed the same format, with the 12 qualified riders battling out for the podium. Poussin rider Josh McParland had a cracking ride to finish in 5th place overall and Bailey Dacker had already secured the final in his 16th position on the Saturday. Minime rider Reece had already sealed his 23rd position in the largest class of 40 riders. Adam had an outstanding ride to take the win in the final, with the UCI World Champion title. Cadet rider Will Ackereley gave it his all to finish in 11th place and Charlie Rolls, in his first year in the highest class, finished in 4th just two marks off the podium.

There was little time to celebrate though, and as soon as the podium presentation was finished the riders hit the road to drive the 540 miles to ‘Czecho’.