We love to celebrate talent on the Island so we were really pleased to find out about Becky Cook.
Becky rides a trial bike … and she does it rather well … in fact so well that the 23 year old Islander is Britain’s most successful female motorcycle trials rider. She’s currently holding the title of British Ladies Champion and has done for the last six years in a row.
If you’re not sure what trials riding is about, here’s a short description – riders steer their bikes through steep, hazardous courses, over rocks and through streams. The goal is to complete the section and achieve a clean round – trying not to put their feet down, stalling or falling off.
Her achievements in the sport go way beyond her British Ladies Champion title, and they are, frankly, as long as your arm.
Here’s a brief overview – starting off by riding her brother motorbike aged seven, she won her first championship, the IOW Motorcycle Club 80cc and under at only eight. These days she’s competing on the world stage where she’s been number two in the World Ladies Championship for the last two years; number two in European Ladies Championship; Ladies Trial des Nations Champions – we could go on, but you’d just as well read them up for yourself.
Closer to home, she also made history when she won the 2008 Isle of Wight Two-Day trial, becoming the first female winner and one of just three Island riders to win the event in the past twenty years.
Devotion
Not only is Becky devoted to excelling at riding, but her devoting extends to getting herself all over Europe for the competitions that run over the summer, by driving her van that she also lives in.
This coming winter we’re told that she’ll be building up her strength and stamina, getting herself ready to launch her bid for the 2010 World Championship title, which is currently held by Spain.
Sponsorship
Becky’s clearly putting her all into this, but she needs support to keep her at this level. If you’ve got a company that might be able to offer her support, get in touch. How great would you feel knowing that you’ve helped a young Islander excel at World level.
images: Jen Crabtree
