SACU NEWS - 2010 TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIPS

As a result of a recent meeting of the SACU Trials Committee, it has been agreed that the Scottish Trials Championships are to be enhanced for the 2010 season.

2009 proved to be an experimental year with a revised marker system incorporating four colours, being Red (hardest); Blue; Green & Yellow (easiest). It has been decided to continue with the coloured gate system as mandatory for SACU championship events in 2010 as it was voted a success by clubs and riders alike, from soundings taken by SACU Stewards and clubs during the season.

The firm of Aquawash, High Pressure Cleaners provided the markers for SACU affiliated clubs to use throughout the season and also provided a first class Trials Control Unit, first pressed into service at the Scottish round of the ACU British Trials Championship at Kinlochleven in March.

The SACU have been delighted with the support received from Iain Shankie of Aquawash, himself a former Scottish motocross rider turned trials rider. Due to business and family commitments, Iain may not be able to cover all the 2010 championship rounds but has made the marker system available and the Aquawash Trials Control Unit will be at selected Scottish events during 2010. SACU trials clubs will be encouraged to contact Iain as soon as possible, after the 2010 trials dates are finalised, to make suitable arrangements on the availability of the Trials Control Unit.

With regards to the Scottish Championships, the main championship class will from now on be called the ‘Scottish Premier Trials Championship’ run on the red route, with a brand new ‘Sportsman Championship’ on the blue route and the ‘Clubman Championship’ on the green route. It is hoped that this will encourage more riders to compete and because of three routes, there will be something for every grade of rider from Expert to Novice at the Championship Trials during 2010. The SACU Support Championship which incorporates Youth; Pre65/Twinshock and Over 40 classes will continue as previously.

The new Sportsman Championship mirrors the Clubman in that in can only be won once by a rider and is open to SACU, MCUI & ACU adult licence holders. The only other restriction is that experts who wish to contest the Sportsman Championship must be aged 35 or older at 1^st January 2010, an age limit which will be on a rolling year basis. The Clubman class has no such adult age restriction but is not open to experts or former expert competitors, it is open to ACU/SACU & MCUI licence holders of Novice or Non-Expert grades.

SACU Trials Chairman, John Moffat said: “The Scottish ACU has been monitoring the numbers of competitors at championship trials during the past two years and we understood that the name ‘Championship’ possibly scared away some riders, we want to redress this. At the same time we were listening to more experienced riders who felt the red route was too challenging and the green route too simple, so we have given them a brand new challenge for 2010 to ensure that our events are well supported and riders are in a position to move up a class in years to come as they improve their riding skills”. He continued: “The Premier, Sportsman and Clubman Championships will have six rounds next year, the Support Championships will have eight but only seven of those ridden will count for points, this enables riders to miss a round and not ruin their chances of a podium placement or the desired win”

Moffat added: “My colleagues in the Scottish ACU Trials Committee wish to thank all of our affiliated clubs for the effort they have put into the 2009 season, by getting to understand the new course marking system and helping to make it a success that both riders and officials have grown to enjoy very much indeed. We welcome feedback and will continue to listen to riders, clubs and landowners and make further improvements to trials events in Scotland”