Today’s Volunteer in Focus comes from the only one of MQ’s 6 motorcycle competition disciplines where speed is not a determining factor in the result. This is Sarah Hirschy from Moto Trials Queensland.
What is your current volunteer role in motorcycle sport?
Current Club Treasurer for Moto Trials Qld
How did you come to find yourself there?
Both my husband Christian, and son Noah wanted to get into trials riding. Christian had been a trials rider when he was young and had wanted it to be an experience he and Noah could share. I primarily came out to watch and support my family. After being asked to fill in to observe or click score cards at a few events, I learned I really enjoyed being a part of this sport. I ended up in the score tent – which consists of signing on riders, handing out score cards, adding up the points of riders after each lap. Organisation of observer lunches, general questions and fundraising are also part of this job.
What do you love about it?
I have met so many genuinely good people being involved in our club. I love watching the riders come up after each lap, a little more exhausted each time. They share what went wrong, what went right, or we have a little joke. You look out and see these guys mentoring the younger riders, sharing their wisdom or urging them to keep going. Sharing bike parts so others can finish the sections. After every event we can always come up with new ideas to make our gatherings more streamlined, more exciting, and more challenging. Not just for the riders but as a committee as well.
What was it like to be involved with an Australian trials Championship?
Being a part of the team who put this year’s Australian Championships together was a big challenge for me. Being so new to the sport there is still so much that I am learning. Months of planning goes into an event like this. We all have our roles within the committee but rely heavily on each other and our club members to get it all running smoothly. Being in the score tent for the three days of the Australian Championships was both exhausting and the most fun I have ever had. Our days started long before riders briefing and ended long after the riders handed in their last lap card. We were a team of four: Myself, Stacey Bray, Carla Edds and Veronica Gough – experience ranging from decades to a day. There were 142 riders needing three scorecards a day to be counted, tallied, checked, recounted, written up and published. It is a non-stop duty that flowed well with plenty of warm cuppas, laughs and encouragement to get us through. It doesn’t give you much time to see what is happening beyond your area, so we relied on our friends and family members who were competing in the championship to fill us in on each returning lap. Hearing all the positive reviews from visitors, riders and the wider trials community, made the time put in for this event very much worth it.
Can you tell us a little that people mightn’t know about your club in terms of where you operate, your riders, particular challenges etc?
Moto Trials QLD (MTQ) is a newly formed club (starting in 2025) that was the amalgamation of Logan River Motorcycle Trials Club and Trials Club of Queensland, both of which had a 50-year history within SE QLD. The club is based in SE QLD with events being run on private properties in the Logan River, Beaudesert and Boonah areas of the Scenic Rim. We also have some events near Toowoomba and are looking to do some in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland as well. Our events are run on private properties. MTQ hosts over a dozen events each year which range from Club Championship rounds, Twin Shock & Classic (pre-1965) bike events, Coaching days for Juniors and Seniors to Social rides and Come & Try days. Our members range in age from 4 yrs through to over 75 yrs. It is common to see mums and dads riding with and competing against their own children!
The terrain that we ride on is varied and caters for all abilities and skill levels. The more tree trunks, creek beds, rocks and gulleys, the better for this sport. This makes each event we hold new and challenging for the riders.
Like most sporting clubs we rely on our members and volunteers to help out at working bees when clearing suitable areas to ride, as well as run the score tent and help out with a range of other tasks. The more riders that can give their time, the more events we can put on!
The unique aspects that I like about Trials is that rather than racing against the clock, it is more about control, balance, coordination and skill where you are competing against yourself. It is very much a family-oriented atmosphere.