Club Profile - Waltham Chase Motorcycle Trials Club

Club Profile - Waltham Chase Motorcycle Trials Club

Affiliation - ACU

Area - Southern Centre

Key Contact - Mike Wiseman Email: walthamchasetrials@outlook.com

Website: http://www.walthamchasetrials.co.uk

Motorcycle Disciplines: Modern Trials Adults/ Youths, Classic Trials

History: The club was originally named "Waltham Chase Boys Motor Cycle Club" formed in 1972, one of the first clubs in the country to cater for youth riders of 6 - 16 years of age only. Initially, a group of a dozen parents wanted to teach events. In the mid 1970's the club ran rounds of the ACU National Youth Championship. The Display Team, "The Wasps" Display Team their children to ride motorcycles so David Hamer started the club and despite the name, girl riders were part of the club from the very early years. Bikes were mainly "Bitsas" made from different makes of machine. Soon after the formation of the club, two branches of activity were available to the young riders, "the traditional scrambles, trials and grass track" and the "display team", although all members could take part in both branches.

WASP’s display Team, Trainer Ray Prince on the bike

For trials, in 1974, the club negotiated with the ACU to form a "youth division" initially with only four clubs in the country. With affiliation to the ACU, riders were offered local events at Chandlers Ford, Titchfield, Shedfield, and Froxfield as well as entries to regional and national performed at events across the South of England, they were fortunate to be trained initially by Ray Prince who was the trainer for the Royal Marines Motorcycle Display Team. When he left the Royal Marines he concentrated on training the Wasps, saying the youngsters were much easier to train than the twenty something year old Royal Marines. In 1973, They were included on the same programme as the famous Army "White Helmets" Display Team at the Portsmouth and Southsea Show which resulted in the club being invited to Catterick in Yorkshire to the home of the White Helmets for a weekends trials and display riding training. The Wasps performed at many fetes, fairs and shows across the south before becoming independent from the club in 1993.

In the mid 1980's the club gained ACU affiliation for adults to ride and in 2004 the name of the club was changed to Waltham Chase Motorcycle Trials Club. The club has maintained the early traditions through both trials and up until recently a "form of display", demonstrating trials in a special arena at the Netley Marsh Steam Rally.

Club Membership:

The club currently has 180 members. Riding members include adult and youth members.

Prominent Members:

George Greenland is a prominent member of the club still riding at almost 88 years of age. The five time British Sidecar Enduro Champion rides every weekend in Europe at regular international events and takes part in as many Waltham Chase Meetings as possible. He is ultra competitive and takes many class wins during the year on his Pre 65 machinery performing outstandingly in muddy conditions.

Three club members are current Southern Centre Champions, Thomas Moss, Rob Hoyles and Geoff Muston. Moss is the current holder of the Southern Solo Star Award as the expert champion. Hoyles has returned to trials after a long lay off, re-climbing the ranks he took the Club Expert award after a season long battle with Gary Tarrant. Rob's dad, Dick Hoyles who organised the trials section of the club in the mid 1980's is a regular visitor supporting the club. Geoff Muston took the Twinshock award on his trusty 125cc Honda after a season long battle with Paul Brown.

Key Events:

Gary Blackmore is the longest serving club member joining as part of the Wasps Display Team in 1972, he competes for the novice class championship and works tirelessly for the club committee. Links: The club is a staunch supporter of the Southern Centre Trials Championship working with other clubs in the region to provide a challenging championship programme. In 2019, the club hosted two rounds of the centre championship.

Gary Blackmore

Three years ago the club added an open classic trial, The Keith Marshall Classic Trial at Hut Hill which has encouraged a healthy entry of Pre65's and twinshock's as well as one or two youth riders on TY80's.

The club has a strong programme of events centred around an eight round club championship which attracts entries of sixty to seventy riders per round and a unique "Youth and Wobblers Championship" which is run on Saturday afternoons and aims to introduce new riders to the sport and to encourage current riders to move up and test their skills at a higher level. In addition there are several "Easy Trials" which not only encourage new riders but they also have experienced club members on hand to offer advice which includes trained trials coach Ian Bird.

Main annual trophy events often double up as Southern Centre Championship rounds, in 2019 The Geoff Chandler Trophy, and the George Greenland Trophy suited this purpose. In addition the Hobnail Trophy and John Wright Trophy Trials are regular fixtures on the club calendar.

Rob Hoyles

The club actively promotes trials as a family orientated sport, providing a programme of social events linked to trials including two camping weekends at Cadnam Lane with two trials, trials practice, and trials related evening events, these are well supported by families and riders.

Each year the club raises several thousands of pounds through Charity Trials, in 2019 this included £1000 for the Leo Charity, raised from trial entry and donations. The St Pauls Trophy Trial is held each year with proceeds donated to the ACU Ben Fund for injured riders, Southern Centre Champion Thomas Moss currently holds this trophy.

Main Venues:

Hut Hill Eastleigh Hants

Bryce's Farm Sherfield English Hants

Oakridge Copse, Salisbury

Cadnam Lane, Cadnam, Hants

Family club - the James family work together to rescue David's bike

Information:

Waltham Chase have a well maintained website with full information of events and results. A facebook page for the club is also available to share information from the club and between club members. The committee is led by Mike Wiseman, it is a strong committee who have clear roles in running well organised and varied trials. The club in very family based illustrated by Mike, son Chris and Grandson Finley all riding together at family Trials Camping Weekends. Mike said when he became Chairman in 2004, "I will give this a go for a couple of years but now 16 years later….and just as I was thinking it was time to hang up the clippers Grandson Finley joins the Club and starts riding ….how could I retire now?