Words: Trials Guru

Photo: Auto-Cycle Union

The ACU affiliated Waltham Chase Trials Club ran a successful, controlled Adult only Practice Trial at the weekend over two sessions at their Oakridge Copse venue near Salisbury.

Assisted by the Auto-Cycle Union and restricted to adult licence holders, the events were hailed a great success and paves the way forward for other organisations to follow suit.

Mindful of bad publicity surrounding any mass gathering, the club had used the ACU Risk Assessment guidelines and put in place many safety arrangements to ensure a smooth and controlled return to a form of trials that we have to become used to given that the Covid-19 pandemic may not be resolved this year and worse still if the predicted second wave forces a futher halt to the sport.

A full press release on the event by the ACU can be read > HERE <

The ACU issued a statement on Monday 8th June 2020 which criticised non-affiliated organisations who are organising group events or gatherings which they claim are putting the sport in a bad light with authorities during the Covid-19 contageon.

The full statement reads:

“As we carefully steer ourselves through the current pandemic of Covid-19, the UK Government and the respective devolved governments have and will continue to ease restrictions (subject to their not being a second peak of the virus) which will allow our various sports to commence.

We have now issued risk assessments templates which gives guidance/advice across all disciplines about the various Control Measures to be put in place to mitigate, as far as is reasonably practicable, any risk to our volunteer Officials and our competitors.

Furthermore, Organisers are to be mindful that as is currently outlined in the various Standing Regulations for our Sports contained in the ACU Handbook and in the National Sporting Code under article 8.02 in which it states ‘No competition shall be promoted on either a public or private road, track or elsewhere until the Organisers have obtained the necessary lawful authority from the appropriate public authorities or private individuals and landowners’,  all necessary notifications/permissions should be obtained from Local Authorities/statutory authorities (police), local hospitals that an Event is taking place, and/or have written confirmation from the Circuit/landowner that the necessary permissions are in place for the Event to commence.   

We have all seen reports of police turning up at events in recent times and we have seen reports of Organisers who are not affiliated to the ACU blatantly disregarding UK Government Advice and Guidance which has undoubtedly put Off Road motorcycle sport in a poor light.

Finally, please remember that until the UK and devolved Governments lift restrictions on camping and overnight accommodation, planned events should be restricted to one day events to eradicate overnight stays.

Please help us to help you restart and organise the sport and in doing so let us work with the respective Authorities and furthermore not attract unwanted or bad press to motorcycling.”

For more information visit the ACU website at: http://www.acu.org.uk