Leading The Way

Waltham Chase Provide Blueprint for Practice Trials Using ACU Guidance

By Andy Withers Photos by Awsportsphoto

After several weeks of painstaking scrutiny of ACU Risk Assessments and advice, fifty excited adult trials riders got their first fix of offroad biking for three months with a superbly run practice trial split over two sessions in the "new normal" trials world.

Posting entry forms/fees

Using the ACU Risk Assessments and formulating supplementary regulations to allow for local conditions Waltham Chase Trials Club hosted the first official ACU practice session at Oakridge Copse near Salisbury and it was deemed to be both a very safe and a very enjoyable event for all riders.

Key measures were put in place:- Administration minimised

• Online pre entry or personal phone calls for technophobes - no on day entry

• Agreed, fixed riding numbers for all club members (Event for club members only)

• Signed entry forms posted in a box on the day (for a few days quarantine)

• Fees posted in box or transferred online On the day

• No spectators or minders

• Rider numbers checked against entry list at the gate

• Limited entry to allow for social distancing when parking and riding

• One way system riding in twos or threes with staggered start

• Clear signage to remind about safety measures including social distancing

What made it work?

The event was well planned to ensure maximum safety, this reassured the riders about their own personal safety and how to ride the event for the safety of others.

Having a limited of 30 riders with 15 sections and a good circuit between allowed plenty of space when riding - two sessions were held on the day to meet the needs of the majority of club members.

A team of marshalls circulated to check for rider safety. If a rider fell, they did occasionally, after a three month lay off, the "thumbs up" sign indicated the rider was "ok" and it stopped the natural instinct of marshalls and riders to step in and help.

The commitment of every rider to enjoy the chance to ride but also to look after the safety of others and themselves.

Tig Hartwell

What have we learned?

With good preparation the event can run very smoothly, however there were no injuries to contend with on this occasion, emergency service numbers were clearly displayed in case.

There is a balance between the number of riders and the space available for car parking and sections.

There will be no hesitation to run future practice trials and develop them further as the format works.

Is this the way forward?

For practice trials this is the way forward although the club will look at increasing the numbers of riders to meet the needs of club members within the restraints of the venue.

For competition, with a full complement of observers the format could be used maintaining safety, with PPE and quarantined results sheets. However, with reduced numbers two sessions may be needed or entries will need to be balloted.

Want to run a successful practice trial?

Waltham Chase would be happy to share the preparatory information and paperwork based on the ACU's comprehensive advice to help other clubs start to ride again.

Congratulations to Mike Wiseman and the team for overcoming the paperwork mountain and the organisational issues to provide riders with this great opportunity. Perversely Mike did say he "enjoyed the challenge of making it work", final score Waltham Chase 1 Covid 0.

Social distancing