Joanne Coles makes a winning return

Joanne Coles – Gas Gas made a winning return to the World of Women’s Trial when she played her part in Great Britain taking victory in the 2014 FIM Women’s Trial des Nations held in Andorra. Now twenty-two years old, Cole effectively retired from the sport back at the end of the 2010 season whilst ranked third in the World. The loss of the then eighteen year old from the sport was a big and sad one as many in the paddock tipped the British girl to be a potential champion of the future. Cole was controversially selected to represent her county in last year’s FIM Women’s Trial des Nations, but more than justified her place in the national team as she finished on the rostrum at the final round of the 2013 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship held in France the day before the main team competition. Now training and working as a plumber Joanne’s inclusion in this year’s British squad over more regular riders once again caused a certain a stir with her having hardly ridden since last year’s team event. However once again Coles proved her pedigree and was back to near her best despite her lack of bike time as she collected an FIM gold medal alongside her teammates Emma Bristow – Sherco and Rebekah Cook – Beta for the second year running.