Super Doug storms another Scott Trial - report

By John Dickinson on 19th Oct 18

Dougie Lampkin casually shrugged aside his 42 years last Saturday to complete a stunning second successive Scottish Six Days/Scott Trial winning double with a typically gritty performance in the Richmond clubs classic time and observation epic set, as ever, in the Yorkshire Dales.

Once again the Vertigo ace left his younger rivals in his wake, quite literally this year in a rain-lashed event that saw a succession of flooded becks and a high rate of attrition with 60 per cent of the 200 starters failing to reach the finish.

Jack Price (Gas Gas) gave Doug a good run for his money, racing to Standard Time in a gruelling 5 hours, 7 minutes 17 seconds. But with Doug applying his total concentration and experience to the flooded sections he once again the posted Best Observation score of 51 to the 66 of Pricey and could afford the five time faults to nail a sixth Scott Premier with 10 marks in hand.

Betas James Dabill was just seven away from Dougsobservation score but 22 marks on time condemned The Dibsta to third place overall after several unscheduled halts to drain water from a flooded bike.

I never really got going, said James. I dropped back with a problem, then forged back up the order, then lost what Id gained and it was just like that all day. Frustrating really!

Back in the rain-lashed start field at 9am, No.1 Katherine Sharp was flagged away down the start ramp with the rest of the 200-strong entry following eagerly at 20-second intervals, so the entire field were out on the course doing battle with the elements just over an hour later.

They firstly took a loop out round Hurst Moor where the becks and rivers were already in spate and many early riders, mostly inexperienced in conditions like this, foundered with all hands and retired early with drowned engines and any number of associated water-based problems.

Reels Head, just section 12, was the first big spectator draw and No.7, Cumbrian clubman Dan Johnson was first to arrive at 10.11am and promptly ripped up the steep, rocky slope for an appreciated clean by the gaggle of dripping-wet spectators.

It was some seven minutes later that No.32, Scarborough clubman Zac Collinson arrived and the slow dribble of riders slowly built-up until there was actually a queue waiting for a clear run as the section became ever more slippery as spinning rear wheels dragged on the mud and it began stopping riders.

By 10.57am No.173 Dec Bullock (Gas Gas) heralded the arrival of the quick boys who started at the back of the entry, with No.194 Jack Price (Gas Gas) looking lively and No.188 Iwan Roberts (TRS) at 10.01am.

2018 Scott Trial (Image: John Dickinson)

Right behind was Dougie No.198 and clearly meaning business, straight to the front of the queue and straight up the section in determined manner. Dabill (Beta) was missing from the group though having been struck by a flooded engine early on and arrived just behind former winner Ian Austermuhle (Beta) around 10 minutes behind schedule and with a bit of catching up to do.

The route then headed out over Booze Moor to Bridgend, Shaw Gutter and down to Whaw Bridge via Faggergill and in all of these classic sections, plus many more besides, with the constant rain, water levels were noticeably rising and there were many cruelly deep holes in these ancient rocky becks.

Last years podium placeman and Best on Observation, local ace James Stones sadly retired at Bridge End this year, yet another victim of the liquid stuff. Five-times World Ladies Champ Emma Bristow is a great supporter of the Scott but the handlebar deep water at Whaw stopped Ems Sherco engine and she had to get busy with the spanners.

Emma was worried that the delay would put her out of time but in reality she had no need to panic and in the end only finished 74 minutes behind Standard Time, brilliant on the day.Em finished in a fine 34th place and took an impressive list of scalps.

From Whaw Bridge it was then down Arkengarthdale with sections including Blackhills, Tubbys Tank Trap and Grand Canyon offering a respite from the deep water before arriving at By Pass and back into the becks!

And, with the rain still coming down, to the surprise of most it was that No.7 (Dan Johnson) who was still first man on the course as he arrived at 12.30, just five minutes from the clerk of the courses estimated time. It was a full 20 minutes before No.69, Dublins Michael Burton (Gas Gas) entered the section only to go the wrong way through the flags.

But just two minutes later it was the distinctive red, yellow and blue crash helmet of Jack Price that came into view and the quick men were on the case having just passed No.86 Calum Murphy from Ballachulish, the Scottish youngster on the TRS going really strong.

Just a minute behind was No.113, Manxman Barry Kinley with Dougie right on his tail and local Scott flyer John Sunter No.181 riding on Dougs rear mudguard,Young Sunts sights were set as ever on setting Standard Time!

Corey Dubik No.98 was motoring nicely and looking strong just ahead of No.200 Ben Hemingway who whuffled upstream on his favourite four-stroke Beta.Perth clubman Gareth Palmer No.74 (Gas Gas). Jack Challoner No.156 then rode through the Ins cards but joined the band who took the wrong route, missing the flags on his 300 Mont.

Scorpas Andy Chilton No.176 enjoyed a quick clean as did No.187 Michael Brown, unable to resist The Scott despite dropping out of the National trials scene this season. But local girl Chloe Rich No.114 had her engine die just before the Ins cards. A quick drain of the carb soon had the Beta back to life though and determined Chloe was back in the fray.

The front-runners were now out on the dreaded and remote Grouse Moor, picking their path carefully while keeping up the speed and around an hour after leaving By Pass No.7 Dan Johnson still led the way as old favourite Surrender, flanked by spectators, was reached.

But the chasers were closing Dan down now and Pricey was only three minutes astern and charging and would finally catch No.7 shortly after the following group which was Roys Rocks.Doug was just a further three minutes behind Jack and knew exactly where he stood.

He couldnt shake off the attentions of John Sunter, though, who was being tailed by Ben Hemmo, Michael Brown and Iwan Roberts with Barry Kinley, Calum Murphy, Jack Peace, Corey Dubik and local Clubman Will Reynolds No.159 the latter riding without gloves!

Andy Chilton was next followed by Jonathan Richardson, a pre-trial hot favourite for Standard Time hes done it several times already but another rider struck by water gremlins.

Up front was a skirmish between the front guys on the run-in to the finish, via Fremington Edge, where Pricey picked-up a front wheel puncture which had to be rectified in a bit of a flap as Jack was expecting Doug along at any moment!

But Pricey stayed in front and high-tailed it back the reverse way of the morning route to speed up the finish field at Feldom Range, first man to finish at 3.15pm. Fittingly, the first man to finish set Standard Time and Jack picked up that award for completing the course in five hours, seven minutes and 17 seconds.

Next along, some seven minutes later on the road but just five adrift on corrected time was Doug and the two shook hands and debated what had happened on observation. Jack looked fresh while Doug was tired but looking much better than he did when finishing last year.

Ive put more effort in preparation this year, you have to when you get to my age! he grinned. I have no idea what Ive lost in the sections. I dont even know how theyll observe some of them. We couldnt see anything, just pushed and manhandled through the water, they were impossible to ride. How many have you lost Jack?

Pricey just grinned, Ive no idea a lot! What could you do, just battle on but in some you had no chance. Just push through and on to the next one.

As they chatted, up the field roared No.7 with Dan looking surprisingly fresh after mixing it with the best in the business. Doug and Jack were first to congratulate him on a great effort and Jack said: We knew someone was in front but had no idea who he was! Doug added: Fair play, he took some catching and hes stayed with us for over an hour into the finish.

Next up was John Sunter who had tailed Doug for miles and miles. He wouldnt come past said Doug while John grinned, I kept pulling over but he wouldnt have it, he wanted me to hit the rocks first! I did have the last laugh though, he came past and then had a real big one he was crashing hard and his legs were running in mid-air. I did have a look to see if he was all right. He looked like he didnt know which bit was hurting most!

Sunt was soon surrounded by his family before a smiling Ben Hemingway chuffed in on the Beta four-stroke having enjoyed himself as usual and then Sunts long-time pal Jono Richardson arrived having made up good time on the run-in to the finish but knew he was out of it on the Standard Time front for this year. Its how it goes sometimes, its The Scott, said a rueful Jono.

A couple of minutes later a bike was spotted making its way slowly along the well-worn track before the left-turn up the field towards the finish. Bike and rider eventually reached the finish time clock in slow motion it was Dibs!

Im not really looking casual, I lost the gear pedal in the last section and Ive been stuck in third gear back here. That just about sums up my day really, said James.

Next along was Jack Peace. The young Gas Gas ace from east Yorkshire had ghosted along all day just behind the leaders on the course, almost off the radar, but was putting in a really big effort in the sections.

Jacks observation score of 56 was actually second only to Doug, 10 better than Price and 12 up on Dabill but 29 on time just kept Jack off the podium. It was a brilliant effort though and fourth place was a just reward for his endeavours.

And finishing virtually at the same time was fellow Gas Gas rider Michael Brown. Out of trials action for most of this year Michael couldnt resist a gallop in the Scott and the conditions didnt phase the Scarborough man with fifth place after looking comfortable at the finish.

Next in was Billy Bolt, taking a busmans holiday from his real job of Extreme Enduro riding but Billys aim had been Standard Time and once again the weather foiled this achievable ambition with a day of drowning and reviving his Acklams Beta. The speed Billy approached the sections and the becks a motor boat would have been a better bet!

And the survivors kept on arriving, Guy Kendrew, who finished an excellent sixth, Will Reynolds, veterans Sam Haslam and Sam Connor, Tom Affleck, Andy Chilton, Ross Danby, a mighty-pleased Corey Dubik, Tom Minta, Richard Sadler, Ian Austermuhle, Dan Thorpe Calum Murphy all with similar stories of their battle with the moors.

Local lad Jack Stones from Arkengarthdale took the last of the coveted Scott Spoons while fellow Richmond club member Will Reynolds had the disappointment to be the first to miss out. In total there was an impressive 80 official finishers, those who managed to complete the course within two and a half hours of Standard Time.

Last official finisher on time was James Johnson, brother of the flying Dan, on the same minute as Jack Harker having been on the course a mighty 146 minutes two hours 26 minutes longer than Jack Price.

Both foreign entries, German champ and Jitsie representative Jan Peters and James Dabills TWC Monder Jiri Svoboda, both made it to the finish. Jan missed a German Championship round to ride the Scott. No contest! said Jan.

Everybody deserves a mention though.To finish any Scott is an achievement, and to be classed as an official finisher on a year like this is definitely something special.

Super Doug storms another Scott Trial - report

Share this…

More like this…

Toni Bou heads up Sheffield Indoor entry

KIA National Twinshock Championship getting right down to the wire

James Dabill aiming for BTC clean sweep