JD's Blog: 2014 SSDT Friday
By John Dickinson on 10th May 14
Just as Thursday's sections took it easy, giving the Clubmen and older competitors a chance to regroup, the section plotters got stuck-in with a vengeance on Friday.
The traditional 100 mile road based run round the picturesque Moidart peninsula is usually marked out reasonably easy.
But the general consensus on Friday evening was that some of the sections had been stunners and there were some pretty tired bodies easing themselves onto the Corran Ferry for the short sea hop across the Corran narrows and a dozen final road miles back to the Fort William base.
There was plenty going on at the head of the field as well with no clean rides and lots of cricket scores. The big news was that Dougie suffered a big five at Kingairloch, just after the lunch halt. This was a big deal allowing his pursuers a big chance, so what was going on behind the trial leader.
Well, Sam Haslam, who was cool as a cucumber for four days went into meltdown, dropped a mighty 28 through the day's 30 sections and dropped straight down to 10th place. Best on the day were James Dabill and Guy Kendrew with four apiece which moved Dabill to within five marks of Doug in the overall standings and with a real chance to apply the pressure on the final day.
It should have been even better for Dibs but in the final sub of the penultimate group he seemed unable to choose between two distinct lines, the result being a scrabbled two marks to ensure he reached the Ends cards. No such indecision from Doug who rode to a strong, confident clean.
There were only seven single figures scores including the above plus Sam Connor and Over 40s leader Jordi Pasquet on five , Ross Danby six and Jack Sheppard nine. Other notable daily scores were James Lampkin on a dozen and Tom Hick 16.
The Newcomer award is still wide open with teenagers James Stones and Iwan Roberts separated by a mere three marks!
A total of 33 riders have now officially retired plus another half dozen excluded for rule infringements so those who have made it through to the final day will have their fingers crossed that they make it to the finish - and with a long moorland loop around the moors past Blackwater dam and remote Loch Treig there's plenty of opportunity for things to go wrong, especially with both bikes and riders now feeling very tired.
Doug still holds the advantage - but it has certainly got very interesting.
