“The club’s donation will help us provide wellbeing and welfare support, tailored to individual needs, to serving personnel, veterans and their families in Scotland.”
Nearly 60 skilled trials riders gathered on farmland in New Cumnock to put their agility, strength and balance to the test on the pegs of a trial bike. Each entrant navigated rugged courses through the cold and wind to raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
With trial riders and event spectators arriving from 9.30am on Remembrance Sunday, the trials began after the crowd observed The Two-Minute Silence at 11am. Fifty-seven competitors worked to complete three laps of 12 sections, and a ‘fast race’ took place over a short course. The rider who completed the fast race in the quickest time without stopping won a new back tyre.
To keep people warm and put hunger at bay, home baking, homemade soup and drinks were available for purchase, and a series of donated prizes could be won through the Ayrshire Trials Club raffle. With all proceeds going to SSAFA, the event raised a total of £2,015.
Sara Watson, Secretary at the Ayrshire Trials Club, said:
“Our Remembrance Sunday fundraiser has become one of our favourite events of the year. Many of us have close military links, so we feel it important to use a club event to raise funds for a cause that helps veterans who have served our country. We are so happy to share that this year’s event raised a whopping £2,015 for SSAFA!”
Scott Cunningham, Challenge and Community Events Officer in Scotland at SSAFA, added:
“We’re very grateful that the Ayrshire Trials Club has chosen to support SSAFA for the last two years through this brilliant event. The club’s donation will help us provide wellbeing and welfare support, tailored to individual needs, to serving personnel, veterans and their families in Scotland.”
The Ayrshire Trials Club was founded by Barry Watson in August 2020. Without a base of its own, the club has built relationships with several farmers in the New Cumnock area who allow the club to run its trails on their land.
SSAFA has been working for the whole UK Armed Forces community since 1885. Its mission is simple: to reach and embrace the Armed Forces family, so they never battle alone.
Visit ssafa.org.uk/scotland to access support.
