Trials attract 102

ALDERNEY'S first motorbike trials event will be showcased in an empty shop in Victoria Street.

The shop, at the top of the street, will feature the Rock Island Trials trophies, a bike and a map showing areas where the event will be taking place.

There will also be lots of photos from the recent international trials in Bangor, Northern Island, to give a flavour of what to expect in Alderney next month.

The event has attracted a staggering 102 riders, with entrants coming from Jersey, Guernsey and the UK. There are eight Alderney riders and three female participants.

Competitors will perform 'trials' at a string of sites around the edges of the island, making use of stretches of rocky shoreline, concrete defence works and tree sections.

Alan Smart, Bill Hiscock and Graham Du Feu, chairman of Jersey Modern and Classic Trials Club, organised the event.

'The number of entries is phenomenal,' said Mr Smart.

'At first we thought we would have between 35 and 40 riders competing. The Jersey Championships attract 120 entrants and they have people coming from Europe, so we are really pleased about the numbers.

'Something about it really seems to have captured people's imagination.'

More than 100 spectators are also attending, while Aurigny is putting on special flights from Jersey and bikes will be brought over in containers by Alderney Shipping and Huelin Renouf.

Mr Smart said the event took only about three months to get up and running – in contrast to the Alderney Hill Climb, which took around two years to organise.

'States chief executive Roy Burke and States member Matt Birmingham helped us a great deal,' he said. 'It does show what you can get going in Alderney if you want to.'

*The event takes place on 21 and 22 April.