Scottish Pre-65 signed, sealed & delivered
By John Dickinson on 23rd Dec 18
Entries for the 2019 Scottish Pre-65 Two Day Trial, supported by Hope, closed on December 7 with a total of 304 riders hopeful of getting through the ballot and securing one of the 200 places available.
The number of entries allowed was boosted from the previous 180 in order to give as many riders as possible the chance to compete in this iconic event. Well, the ballot for the event, which will take place on Friday/ Saturday, May 3/4, and based in Kinlochleven as usual, has now taken place and the full list of happy, successful applicants is now on the club website - along with a class breakdown.
As well as the 200 entry list there are also 25 riders on a reserve list who will benefit from any accepted riders who find they have to pull out for whatever reason. Theres the usual mix of nationalities and machinery headed by the winner of the trial over the last two years, local ace Gary MacDonald. He has won on a Bantam and a Triumph twin both loaned by local enthusiast Martin Murphy so who knows what hell appear on in 2019!
Gary will be joined by former winners including James Noble, Rob Bowyer and Dan Clark while twice victor Tony Calvert somewhat surprisingly awaits his fate on the reserve list. Then theres Bantam fanatics, pals Yrjo Vesterinen and Mick Grant, with Vesty joined by daughter Hanna. French enthusiast Joel Corroy - of JCM fame - also makes a welcome return.
And the legend that is Dave Thorpe will be back, the multi event winner hopefully recovered from yet more back surgery, with son Dan who has won virtually every National - several times - but still hasnt managed a Pre-65 Scottish. Not that Dave ever reminds him...
We will of course keep readers updated on all things Scottish in the run-up to the event, with the clock already ticking towards 2019!
