The big guns will fire on Sunday at the national White Rose Trial south of Hawes where Sam Haslam aims to repeat his result of last year by winning the old established West Leeds Motor Club event. Ross Danby, Dan Thorpe, Liam Walker and newcomer Richard Sadler will be going all out to ring the White Rose bell. With a classy one hundred and twenty starters again the traditional national runs over forty fine natural sections in one great long cross country lap.

There is no sign of last years runner-up Ian Austermuhle in the entry list or the Hemingway brothers but Phil Disney, Yorkshire Centre champion, consistent Phil Alderson and Tony Scarlett, Manx Two Day winner Joel Sadler, Chris Pearson, Aran Drachenberg and Richmond teenager Will Reynolds the pressure will be on  for Haslam.

The organisers have hard, green and clubman routes with sixty one clubbies, a further thirty two greens and twenty seven White Rose contenders. The girls are out as well with Katy Sunter leading Kathryn Wardle, Robyn Alderson, Lianda Dabill and Harriet Peacock. All the favourite sections are in including remote Gristone, and even more remote Snaizholme with its eight in accessible sections. Those that get past Snaizholme have the pleasures of Cascades, Knocknee, and they are followed by The Butts and roadside horror Troutbeck with Legless, Easy Street and Final Fling ending the adventure. Dorothy Wardle will be stationed at the start. Follow the flag signs from either Buckden or Hawes. First rider fires up at 10.01. A final word of caution though to all riders. The boys in blue will be in attendance chasing the wild roadies but they do take exception to wheelies, untaxed bikes and riders without licenses and dish out on the spots and delay competitors in the process.

Words: Barry Robinson

Picture: 2009 White Rose winner Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas)

Credit: www.trialmag.net – John Hulme