Pre-65 boys line up for Highland fling
By John Dickinson on 22nd Dec 16
A TOTAL of 327 entries were received for the 2017 Scottish Pre-65 Two-Day Trial by the December 10 closing date.
And, wasting no time, the organising committee of the Edinburgh and DMC immediately balloted the eligible entries for the 180 places in the event which will take place on Friday/ Saturday, April 28/29.
Whichever way you cut the cake it means that there will be 150 disappointed would-be riders although 25 still have their hat in the ring as they are on the official reserve list.
They hope to take advantage should accepted riders have to drop out for whatever reason.
Definitely in is last year's Triumph-twin-mounted winner Dan Clarke who will be back to defend his title which he shaded on a tie-break from Ariel-mounted Ben Butterworth and Scot Murray Whittaker on his Cub.
Had Murray succeeded he would have been the first Scot to win the event in its history.
Both Ben and Murray get chance to extract their revenge!
Others known to be in the entry are father and son Dave and Dan Thorpe, Dave of course a multiple winner of the event, although he has battled against serious back problems the last few years.
The TMX crystal ball even saw an entry from one Gary MacDonald – is Scotland upping the ante in the search for a home winner? Event sponsor Ian Weatherill (of Hope Technology) will turn out on the Ariel that he loaned Guy Martin to ride in last year's event – and which took quite a beating in Guy's inexperienced (at trials) hands.
Guy was Guest of Honour last year and we can tell you that seven-times British Trials Champ James Dabill has agreed to do the honours in 2017 – before setting out on his quest to stop Dougie Lampkin scooping an 11th Scottish Six Days Premier award.
By the time this issue of TMX hits the streets those successful should have received official notification while the unlucky ones will be drowning their sorrows.
With the countdown to Scotland now well and truly on we'll keep you up to date on what's going on in the run-up to this always eagerly anticipated event.
