Number one
By TMX Archives on 30th Apr 08
AS an addendum to our Scottish Six Days Trial preview (pages 26 - 28) we omitted to point out exactly how the numbers rotate each day in order to make the event as fair as possible - mainly because we didn't have the exact information to hand when the feature was put together. However, thanks to the ever-helpful SSDT secretary Mairi, I can now fill in this blank. On Monday, obviously it is rider number (1) Gavin Johnston who gets the starter's flag first at 7.30am in the morning. Then on Tuesday it is the turn of rider number (47) Ian Myers of Wetherby, Wednesday is (93) veteran Rob Griffiths, Thursday (139) the experienced Swiss rider Jack Aebi, Friday (185) Barrow-in-Furness clubman James Johnson and Saturday it is (231) Seaton Delaval rider Geoff Fielding.
(27) Alex Wigg, (30) Amos Bilbao and reigning Scottish King (34) James Dabill get their early day straight off. On Tuesday, (84) Sam Connor gets his early wake-up call. Then on Wednesday no expected front runners cop a very early day but Thursday sees (157) Dan Thorpe, (166) Sam Haslam, (167) Ross Danby and (174) Shaun Morris in a runaway Gas Gas freight train.
Friday has a whole bevy of Beta names at the front starting with (197) Michael Brown, (205) Ben Hemingway, (217) Dougie Lampkin and (255) Jack Challoner. And final day Saturday has (262) local ace Gary MacDonald and (263) Graham Jarvis facing the hazards early-on while Monday's early risers are back towards the head of the field.
It is all done as fair as it can be but some days may turn out to be easier than others for the front runners often depending on the weather. It will all come out in the wash and it is all part of the Scottish!