Scottish Six Days Trial Fort William, Scotland
By G2F on 6th May 09
Dougie Lampkin has made a perfect start in his attempt to record his second successive win at the World famous Scottish six days trial. The thirty-three year old ex multi World champion has completed the two-tough opening days of competition without dropping a single mark. Whilst his score may suggest that the factory Beta has enjoyed an easy passage during the early part of this traditional classic, the real story is a different tale.
Heavy rain in the days prior to the event, and fairly persistent down pours throughout the first two days of the trial has left the Scottish streams swollen and very deep in places. Whilst Lampkin has not enjoyed the best of starts to his season this year, the experienced Yorkshireman arrived in the Scottish Highlands determined to repeat the victory he so richly enjoyed twelve months ago.
Dougie's win during the early part of May 2008 marked his fourth Scottish success, and was a fitting return for Lampkin, with him having been absence from this famous competiton for eleven years prior to his victorious comeback. This year the riders were greeted with a radically different route on day one that began with the tricky Trotters Burn group and that ended in and amongst the fearsome boulders at Lagnaha.
Lampkin made light work of the eighty-three miles covered and even the torrents that were flowing down the often-dry Inversanda group on the far side of the Corran ferry. After the initial thirty sections Dougie headed fellow Beta rider Ian Austermuhle by two marks, and was some eight marks clear of former winner James Dabill, who was predicted to be his strongest challenger this week.
Tuesday saw Dougie faced with his earliest start of the week, as the rotation system brought his group of riders to the front of the field on one of the most difficult routes of the week.
With conditions at their most slippery and the weather only slightly better than the day before Dougie looked to have a tall task on his hands just to maintain his lead. Equal to the challenge Lampkin was at his best even where the boulders were coated with a virgin green slime. Another trouble free day saw the reigning trophy holder return to the parc ferme in Fort William with just minutes to spare and with yet another clean score card to head the trial after the initial two days.
Looking relieved Lampkin stated. "It's been a tricky couple of days, which I am now glad to have behind me. Monday was tougher than any of the days last year so I was pleased to come in on clean. Tuesday is always a tough day, and with me being early I knew that I was going to have to ride well if I was not to lose ground to the other riders who are pushing me. So again I am pleased with how things have gone. Tomorrow is another day, and there is still a long, long way to go, so it's just a case of keeping fighting all the way.”
2009 Scottish Six Days Trial – Results after 2 days
1: Lampkin 0
2: Austermuhle 4
3: Thorpe 8
4: Ludgate 10
5: Haslam 10
6: Lampkin (James) 11
7: Wigg 14
8: Crinson 14
9: Shirt 15
10: MacDonald 16
Dougie Lampkin's next event:
16-17/05/09 Saturday/ Sunday – Carlisle, Great Britain
Rnd 3 World Outdoor Trial Championship