TMX Says: Ace day out at the Scott Trial!
By TMX Archives on 29th Oct 16
So the boys and I visited Hawes fairly early on Saturday morning before continuing our grand day out by driving through Wensleydale country where we had a close shave with a speed camera as we headed to the Scott Trial.
Although I had the wrong trousers on I had remembered my coat this year and we were able to stick it out a little longer than last year's disastrous attempt.
We weren't the only ones to make the trip either, as a huge crowd of trials enthusiasts converged on Arkengarthdale – and the surrounding area – for the world's toughest one-day trial.
While waiting for the early riders to enter Section 34 at By Pass I managed a brief chat with Trial Magazine's top bloke John Hulme, legendary photographer Eric Kitchen, JD and his notebook and pencil-wielding daughter Liesel and ACU chairman Brian Higgins and his lovely partner Di who hooked me up with a day-saving bottle of water as I'd done my usual thing of putting the kid's needs first and forgetting to eat or drink anything myself which caused me to have a bit of a funny turn. Silly daddy!
Anyhoo, I was feeling better by the time 25th starter Ryan Stavely arrived on the scene first and after that the action followed thick and fast. Many of the favoured runners were up there at the sharp end of the pack bar Dougie Lampkin who must have had a nightmare between Dicko seeing him ‘well up at Surrender' and arriving here. It'd get worse for the 12-time world champion n'all as a run in with a rock ended his trial almost within sight of the finish.
After an hour or so we moved on to Bridge End where (if my memory serves me right) John Sunter was first rider through. Despite being really quick on time, a fairly bad day on observation saw the two-time runner-up eventually ranked 24th – one place ahead of leading lady Emma Bristow who became the first female rider to ever claim a Scott Silver Spoon.
Although it's not always the case observation seemed to be key to this year's overall results. Jonathan Richardson once more set standard time while Sunter and Jack Price were next fastest finishing, just five and six minutes slower than the pace setter after five hours of hard graft.
However, it was the next three on time who took the top three slots overall with Vertigo's James Dabill winning the Alfred Scott Memorial Trophy with an observed score of 32 and 11 on time, while Michael Brown was second with 42 and 11 and Guy Kendrew third with 56 and 10.
I have to say I feel somewhat for slowpoke Richard Sadler whose 38 minutes extra on the pegs saw him slip to seventh overall after he posted an ace observation score – 46 which was third best on the day. That's part of the game though, and like I said last year, you have to be good at both parts of the game to get a good finish overall.
Regardless of results though, I think anyone who took on the trial is a bit of a hero – I wish I'd been crazy and informed enough to give it a go in my youth – and for all those who made the finish, in time or not, you're well deserving of a massive pat on the back from me.
In fact, come track me down at this weekend's International Dirt Bike Show and I'll happily hook you up with one. See you there...
