The Three Musketeers
On December 8th 2024, the Leinster Motor Club ran their annual Turkey Trial at Ballyorney Farm in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. This non championship event is a fun day out for riders, officials and observers alike. With no pressure to bag a large haul of points for a championship, riders are sorted into teams from all grades to win the ‘Turkey’.
For this event Chairman of the MCI Trials Committee and also the Leinster Motor Club Brian McLoughlin, invited Youth D riders from the mini's trial championship to have a go at tackling the blue line route of the course. It was a fantastic idea and three young boys Arthur Hampshire aged 7, Eli Tolan also aged 7, and Jack Cregg aged 10, turned up to have a go. With some nerves at first as it dawned on them that this was not a normal trial as they were used to, they took to the course with much bigger bikes riding alongside them.
Any nerves they had were gone after the first section. Arthur rode with his dad Sam and grandad Chris, while Eli and Jack rode with Eli’s dad Ray. By the end of the fist lap all were filled with enthusiasm and had smiles from ear to ear. Jack shouting as he passed by “this is the best trial ever!” Now it has to be noted the area had been hit by severe rain and winds for a couple of days prior to the event which did raise the level of the rivers the riders would have to cross. Some of the adults found out the water was also quiet cold as they fell into it on section 8.
None more so the poor Luke Galligan, who in his wisdom decided to do a 9 hour hike to the event! Maybe doing the hike wasn’t such a good idea after all, as his attempt to emerge from the river on to the bank on section 8 failed miserably, ending in an early ice cold bath! Also spare a thought for poor Wayne Yore who is still drying out the seats of his van !
The river sections were no match for the three musketeers as they easily rode through them with not a dab in sight. The lap of 8 sections over four laps would be a challenge in itself for older youth riders and adults too, so for the three Youth D riders it would be a massive challenge. As the laps went by they ploughed their way through each section but tiredness was beginning to show by the end of lap three as well as the rosy red cheeks on what was a very cold winters day.
Thoughts began to turn to the battery life of the three bikes, one TRS and two Osets, and if they would last the distance more so than the riders. In the end both battery and rider on each bike went the full distance and three happy but tired boys made it home safe and sound. Many of the adult riders and observers who have been in the sport a long number of years remarked at how well the three of them did to get round the full distance.
Brian Mcloughlin who didn’t have the heart to turn them away that morning after he saw how high the rivers had gone up, reckoned “ it would be the equivalent of any of the adult riders doing a world round”. It was a nice gesture to the boys and Brian also produced a special award for each of them for doing the event.
It is I’m sure a story that will be added to all the rest from years gone by, of the sport of motorcycle trials in Ireland. In this current time of uncertainty with the future of the sport in doubt due the insurance issue once again it hopefully will be one to bring a smile to people.
Barry Cregg,
Click on the link for images from the event