Scottish Six Day Trial
By TMX Archives on 6th May 06
After five testing days at an event that remains one of the most prestigious in the International trials calendar, James Dabill saw his chances of a podium finish cruelly slip away on the sixth and final day.
Dabill went into day six of the Scottish six day trial in second place having spent the week climbing the leader board with some mature riding, but a mis-calculation on his own behalf with his route card saw him incur unnecessary time penalties that would eventually force him down to a disappointing sixth place.
A loss of only four marks during the opening day left James down in eleventh position, but two more days with just a three mark loss on each saw him rise to sixth place at the halfway point in this gruelling competition that covers an average of one hundred miles per day in the Scottish highlands.
Having fought his way through strong winds and driving rain that caused exceptionally high water levels in many of the stream sections, Dabill posted his best score with just a single mark loss on day four, the longest of the trial, to move into second place and close in on leader and eventual winner Jarvis.
In contrast day five brought James' highest observation score as he recorded his only five of the week in his daily tally of nine marks.
Despite this Dabill went into day six in second place and with every chance of finishing on the podium at worst. However fourteen time penalties to add to his four dabs would prove to be his undoing, as he learned a sporting lesson in the cruellest fashion.
"It is my mistake, so there is no way I can blame anyone else apart from myself. I am utterly devestated, not just for me, but for the rest of my team as we have worked hard all week and thought we were at least going to be rewarded with a good result for everyone's efforts.”
"It is a lesson that I will not forget in a very long time.”
01-06/05/06 Fort William, Scotland
Results – Final scores after 6 days
1: Jarvis 14
2: Hemingway 24
3: Austermuhle 30
4: Morris 37
5: Pascuet 37
6: Dabill 38
7: Thorpe 38
8: Connor 42
9: Colomer 43
10: Brown 45
May
14 British Championship Mitchell
20-21 Outdoor World Championship Squatchie, TN, USA
June
03-04 Outdoor World Championship Twin Ring Motegi, Japan
11 Italian Championshi Carinco
18 British Championship West of England
24 European Championship La Chatre, France
25 World Championship La Chatre, France
Issued by: G2F: worldpress@g2f.co.uk
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