OPEN DAY A GREAT SUCCESS
05 January 2006 - Sherco

The Malcolm Rathmell Sport Open day held at the Harefield Hall Hotel in December was almost a victim of it''s own past successes

Over four hundred riders sampling twenty two machines in the woodlands surrounding the Pateley Bridge venue.

M.R.S and main dealers Colin Appleyard, T.W Bikesport, David Jones of Newtown, John Wren, N.T.B., Alan Smith, and Pro-Trial were busy from before 9.0 am until darkness at 4.0 pm closed down operation on what was a dull overcast and wet day in Nidderdale.

Twenty two Sherco variants ran the full seven hours. The head count registered six hundred test rides. The entire car park, and access road, were chock full of vans, cars, and motor homes and even the track up into the woods contained a further five vans including the M.R.S transporter. The social side of the day continued at the hotel in the evening. Andreu Codina had jetted over from Barcelona to offer advice, technical comments, and enjoy the day, despite the weather. He also attended a Dealer Principal meeting on Sunday morning then flew home to the rain in Spain!!

Michelin were also present in force with European director Ian Murray and U.K. director Barry Urand. Conditions in the woods were very skatey as was the access road and even the tennis court was slippery. Consequently a Monty bike demo by Nottingham''s reigning fourteen-year-old champion Joe Oakley on the court was dumped in the interests of safety. Joe did give some rides to show just what skills won him his title. The same tennis court served has a picture backdrop for the M.R.S. team with Graham Jarvis, Chris Pearson, Richard Timperley, Thomas Hick, Gary Jenkins, Darren Brice, Phil Alderson, John Crinson, Robin and Gill Morewood, Hannah Styles, Donna Fox, Richard Sadler, new signing Jonathon Walker. Brand new signing Gary MacDonald arrived just after the picture session and will ride MRS Sherco in the New Year after fulfilling his contractual commitments with John Lampkin until the end of December.

M.R.S policy next year will be mainly centred on Graham Jarvis who will defend his British title backed by Sam Connor and Gary MacDonald. Graham will discuss and settle his programme at world level with Marc Tessier this week. Malcolm Rathmell said that the M.R.S Academy would also be fully supported with Graham involved in training programmes. Sam Connor will ride the Scottish Six Days Trial, the Scott Trial, as well as selected nationals, and contest some enduro events. Teenager Lee Sampson will be in the main plans. The Sheffield youngster will aim at the British, and European Youth scene with Lakelander Richard Ellwood. Gary Jenkins, Richard Timperley, Chris Pearson will target the Experts class in the Colin Appleyard. A.C.U championship. Donna Fox will front the M.R.S. attack on the British Ladies and Youths with Hannah Styles and Kathryn Wardle but ''Foxy'' will hit the Ladies European and F.I.M. events during the year. Richard Sadler will ride all Youth championship events. Reigning British sidecar champion Robin and Gill Morewood are tooled up with a 2006 Sherco and ready to defend their fourth championship crown. Robin has been busy setting up special parts suitable for sidecar trialling and his new outfit only just made the photo call. On Sunday thirty Sherco riders travelled to nearby Fellback to spend time practising on the new rock sections unearthed by landowner Norman Shepherd.

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