Dabill's Scott for the first time
By TMX Archives on 1st Nov 10
After 22 years of trying Gas Gas finally have the winner at the Scott Trial.
JAMES Dabill put last year's disappointment behind him, when he looked a likely winner after setting a scorching standard time before being pipped on observation by Graham Jarvis, by nailing his first win in the Richmond club's epic time and observation Scott Trial. And it was a double celebration for Dibs and sponsor John Shirt as - surprisingly - 2010 was the first time that a Gas Gas has won the Scott - after 22 years of trying!
Standard time this year was set by Michael Brown, who took his Sherco round the 86 mile moorland course in a total of five hours, eight minutes and 48 seconds, just three minutes faster than Dabill. Browny eventually finished third overall in a trio of front-runningSherco's with nine times winner Graham Jarvis nicking second overall and local teenager Jonathan Richardson in a fine fourth. Young Rich was distraught at the finish as he had been desperate to set standard time and was on course to do just that having caught Brown at the final petrol check but a crash and a drowned engine immediately afterwards cost him the five minutes that made all the difference.
It was certainly a tough Scott as when riders did their ‘unofficial inspection' of the sections on Friday conditions were fairly dry but heavy overnight rain altered that and many of the becks and rivers were in spate causing plenty of water-in-the-works type problems.
They discovered this at the third section, Orgate, where the falls were in full spate and several riders found out exactly how cold it was including poor Saskia Baxter, Matt Lor and Josh Brain with early baths. Conditions were obviously tricky as there were some large time gaps between riders and the section is only 10 minutes from the start. Everyone got safely through with engines intact though with the air-cooled Fantic twin-shockers of numbers one and two Chris Tennant and Anthony Tempest leading the field.
Right at the back, Dougie Lampkin cruised through the section, then stopped on the banking to calmly mend a rear puncture, before setting-off after the pack. He only got two more sections in though before the factory Beta came to a full stop.
The course was being run in the opposite direction to recent years so after the first petrol check it was off towards Bridgend and into the three subs up the tight, climbing beck at Shaw Gutter. This was section 23 and Chris Tennant still had the Fantic at the head of the field, number 5 Rob Wrayford behind and number 40, Kyle Hayes, next.
It all got a bit crowded at one point at the beginning and exit of the second sub and a big queue soon formed. Some riders took the chance to take a breather, others, like Ben Hemingway, jumped 20 places in a swoop. "I'd been following our Dan and he was holding me up so I jumped the queue!” said Ben at the finish.
Woody Hole (116) arrived at the same time as Katy Sunter (91) while the top guys, all of whom set-off at the back of the full-house 200-strong field, were working their way through the pack and Browny arrived virtually at the same time as veteran (but still remarkably quick) Phil Alderson and Richardson. Dabill looked cool but lost one of only two fives all day, through 77 sections, after making it to Shaw on just two marks down. There was still a long, long way to go.
The course then wound its way up Faggerghyll, the many Punchard subs to Whaw Bridge where a massive crowd awaited the action before speeding onwards through Blackhills, Tank Trap and the swoop upGrand Canyon to the slippery beck at By-Pass.
Michael Brown was first in view at bang-on 12.30 , two and a half hours after his 9:57am starting time. A quick drink and a squirt of chain lube from the Sherco squad and he was on his way before John Sunter arrived followed by Richardson while also going really well was Jonny Walker. Jack Sheppard was going remarkably well on the 125, looking hot for first-timer a well as the 125 award with Phil Alderson and Dabill right in his wheeltracks while north easterner Michael Phillipson was hanging-in there ahead of Will Brockbank and Alexz Wigg.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE T+MX OCTOBER 29
AWARDS
Standard Time – Eddie Flintoff Rose Bowl: Michael Brown 05:08:48.
Best Observation – Frank Fletcher Trophy: James Dabill 39 marks.
Best Time and Observation by First-timer – Herbert Scott Cup: Richard Sadler 143.
Best Yorkshireman on T&O – Billy Moore Cup: James Dabill 42.
Best Combined Performance 2005 to 2009 – Jubilee Trophy: James Dabill 245.
Best Under 21-year-old – T Cowie Cup: Jonathan Richardson 73.
Best Combined Performance Prior to 1995 – Tom Ellis Trophy: Graham Jarvis 59.
Last Official Finisher on Time – R Woodward Wilson Memorial Trophy: Mark Coulson 07:38:36.
Oldest Official Finisher Over age of 40 – S Hughes Trophy: Paul Bennett 317.
Best Performance by a Local Rider – Alan Longfield Memorial Trophy: Mark Sunter 211.
Best Performance by Northern Centre Rider – Hutchinson Trophy: Jonny Walker 156.
Best Endeavour Trophy: Chris Shorey (30 years) 348.
Best Lancastrian – Jim Riding Memorial Trophy: George Morton 108.
Best Richmondshire Resident – Richmondshire District Council Trophy: Jonathon Hughes 319.
Best Lady Rider – MHT Copley Trophy: Katy Sunter 316.
CLOSED AND RESTRICTED AWARDS
Best Co Durham Resident – Twins Trophy: Michael Phillipson 141.
Best Middlesbrough & DMC Member – Jack Gash Memorial Trophy: Roger Williams 228.
Best Richmond MC Member – Richmond MC Trophy: Philip Alderson 145.
Best Richmond MC Novice – Mill Garage Cup: Katy Sunter 316.
Best Richmond MC Intermediate – Nigel Birkett Cup: William Reynolds 206.
Best Northallerton MC Member – White Bear Trophy: Danny Haslam 210.
Best Ripon MC Member – A Trophy: Joel Sadler 270.
Best Scarborough & DMC member – Whitaker Trophy: Michael Brown 65.
Best Wetherby MC Member – Wetherby MC Trophy: Danny Gamble 199.
Best Yeadon Guisely & DMCC Member – Mel Harrison Cup: James Dabill 42.
Best Huddersfield Falcon MCC Member – Huddersfield Falcon Cup: Ben Robinson 280.
Best Eboracum MCC Member – Les Richardson Memorial Trophy: Adam Milner 171.
Best West Leeds MC Member – Punchards Trophy: Sam Ludgate 164.
TEAM AWARDS
SCOTT TROPHY – Best three-rider Trade Team
MRS SHERCO A – Total 197 (Graham Jarvis, Michael Brown & Jonathan Richardson).
ERIC S MYERS TROPHY – Best three rider Club Team
YEADON GUISELEY & DMC ‘A' – Total 206 (Graham Jarvis, James Dabill & Ben Hemingway).