SOME of the world’s best trial riders will be in South Cumbria this weekend for one of the sport’s big events, writes LES TROTTER.

The Lakes Two-Day Trial has been recognised for many years as one of the biggest and best on the UK calender.

This year, more than 180 national and international class riders – including two-times ladies world champion Emma Bristow – will be converging on Broughton-in-Furness.

As well as 2014/15 global champ Bristow, there will be a host of other big names from the sport coming up against a tough course.

The start list is like a who’s who of motorcycling with most of the regular Furness competitors are taking part.

Veteran Nigel Birkett, who is riding from his home village, and his prodigy Billy Bolt have been contesting World Championship Series, while Bootle brothers, Jake and Joel Gowan, have good knowledge of the area.

Joel, who was leading the experts class of the British Enduro Championship this year until taking a heavy fall, is hoping the resultant knee injury is not going to hamper his progress. With British champion James Dabill and last year’s winner Michael Brown having commitments elsewhere this weekend, there is the potential for a local winner.

Over the weekend, riders will tackle two routes of approximately 20 to 25 miles each day, consisting of 40 sections which have to be covered in six-and-a-half hours on Saturday and six hours on Sunday.

Saturday’s route takes competitors around the Bootle and Corney Fell areas, while on Sunday the sections are in the Woodland and Torver areas.

Full details and programmes are available from the start area at the Broughton Auction Mart, where refreshments are also available.

The event is free to watch for spectators and riders will leave the start area on both days at 9am.

Some of the numbers to watch out for are: Emma Bristow (101), Katy Sunter (104), Nigel Birkett (89), Billy Bolt (90), Jake Gowan (122), Joel Gowan (123).