This part of the question was sent to the Trials & Enduro Committee
Alison,
Something else which I would like the committee to consider although I am not sure of the protocol of getting it to them so if I could be indulged this time;
Why are the Youth Grades set out according to their ages rather than their ability?
The few youth trials clubs will get them early and push them through with training and they will probably be about right according to the current system but, all of the other youth who are not able to join the ‘youth club’ through whatever reason do not progress according to the current system and we have a position where a ‘relatively new to trials’ Youth A or B is expected to ride against the experienced Youth A & B’s.
So they stick to club stuff until they become able to ride as an adult and enter combine/group trials as a Novice.
In the NKTC we have sorted this about 4 years ago and run our own classes Youth Novice, Youth Intermediate and Youth Expert and they compete at their own level irrespective of their age, yes we may have a 15 year old riding against an 11 year old in the Youth Novice class but that is where both of them will belong, and it allows both of them to be involved in our Group trials watching how the more experienced do it.
We want the youth to be involved but we will not make them ride beyond their ability and any youth who wants to move into the next class must have written in to the committee requesting this and the committee will take advice from those who know him/her before allowing it.
We find this works well.
Thanks,
Steve Westley
This part of the question was sent by e-mail to Gary Thompson following our meeting
Many thanks for you and Jim to find the time to see us at local level.
A couple of things that I did not mention as time had run out are;
I have been asked why my club members have to complete the trials registration form each year when nothing material has changed. It costs the ACU postage which for trials as a whole will add up. From my experience most renew by cheque and know that renewal time is the 31st Dec each year. Would it be better to just allow members to send in their renewal cheques to their various clubs official who would apply the club stamp to the back if they have renewed with them and check their ACU number is correctly on the back. Most of my club members are on email and look at the Double Five or NKTC website for info and we would chivvy them along to renew so they can continue to ride. Those who have changed details could continue to use the form but the vast majority would not need to. Worth considering I hope.
The question on Youth engine sizes asked by one of our riders, really caused a problem when it came in several years ago due to the lack of 125cc bikes around at the time but we got over that, now we have a real problem in that from 1.1.07 you caught the 10 & 11 year olds in a trap. Last year as Youth C (when they were 9 & 10 & 11) they could ride 125’s and we were able to ‘let them try our sport’ on restricted 125cc bikes. This year the 11 year olds (now 12) are Youth B and ok on their 125’s but the 9 & 10 year olds (now 10 & 11) still in Youth C are caught on either riding their 125’s illegally or Dad has to cough up for an 80cc (which are in short supply). That I feel is the real problem. Some clubs do not have many youth riders on 125’s to lend to ‘newcomers to try it out’ which is why he would like youth back on the 250’s. I have many youth and father pairs in my own club who both ride and I allow my own 125 to be lent whilst in a restricted condition, to those who want to see if they enjoy it. So two things come out of this 1) are we likely to get the youth to be able to use 250’s again and 2) please immediately allow youth C (or at least the top two years of youth C) to be able to ride their 125’s.
Also we would like to know the background of the real reason the 125 limit came in.
And finally I would like to ask if we/The ACU can move forward to using online entry forms for trials for those clubs who want it. I use an e-mail based system to get entry forms to my club members for club trials and Beginner trials. This entry form is interactive and they complete it on their computer screen, print it off and bring it signed to the trial, pay, sign on and ride. What I would like to be able to do is post the entry form on the website which the riders fill in, electronically sign it, and hit the send button, all they do when they arrive is show their cards, sign on and pay, minimal paperwork, stored on a disc and those who want to fill in a form can do so. With the amount of trials that we run I have envelopes stacked up full of the entry forms that I have to keep for the minimum period and I would really like to be able to cut this down.
Thank you again for coming to see us.
Steve Westley
Secretary
South East Centre Trials Combine
(e-mail response from Gary Thompson) I do take your point regarding the Trials Registrations and it is something we shall look at during the course of this year in readiness for 2008.
Regarding the question of Youth sizes, there is a Trials and Enduro Committee tomorrow and so I will pass a copy of your email to the Committee for them to have a look at.
Many thanks
With kind regards
Gary