SSDT: Dougie takes the lead back on Thursday
By John Dickinson on 7th May 16
Another day and the lead in the Scottish Six Days Trial changed again as the ever determined Vertigo mounted ace Dougie Lampkin took over from Michael Brown on the Gas Gas, Brownys tenure of the coveted red front number plate alloctated to the trial leader having lasted just a single day. Doug, at 40 years old, is pursuing this opportunity of a tenth SSDT win with his usual steely determination.
Another day and the lead in the Scottish Six Days Trial changed again as the ever determined Vertigo mounted ace Dougie Lampkin took over from Michael Brown on the Gas Gas, Browny's tenure of the coveted red front number plate alloctated to the trial leader having lasted just a single day. Doug, at 40 years old, is pursuing this opportunity of a tenth SSDT win with his usual steely determination.
For the second time this week Lampkin completed all 30 sections without loss of marks, a tremendous display of skill and concentration as Michael parted with six to drop to second place, now five marks adrift of the lead.
And there was a final section heartache for Sherco's Joe Baker who arrived at the day's final group at Fersit on just three marks, cleaned the first six subs and then endured a catastrophic five mark loss that put him five marks adrift of Browny. And with Doug's Vertigo team mate James Dabill making a strong showing with just a single dab, at Gorton's second sub, the Dibsta now sits just three marks from a podium place alongside local Scottish ace Gary Macdonald on the Scorpa.
Thursday more or less followed the traditional longest route of the week comprising well over 100 miles beginning with a long, 30 mile plus road ride down the road taking in two sections at Pap of Glencoe, four rolling loose rocky climbs at ClachaIg near Glencoe village, then two at Chairlift, three at Ba House and then across the A82 to Gorton and then across Rannoch Moor in a big, big loop of tracks and open moorland to end the day with seven stiff subs in the burns (rivers) at Fersit where there was just the right amount of water.
As ever, time was pretty tight and while the fancied runners all got their timings right although Newcomer Dan Peace lost touch with his nemesis this week, Tom Hooper, with 16 time faults, fully understandable for a first timer riding a 125 on his early day. Fair play to Hooper though, the Sherco rider dropping just 13 marks for the day, 51 in total and 15th overall, a fantastic performance.
Other notable daily scores included five for Adam Norris, Guy Kendrew and yesterday's Best on Day, Sam Connor, seven for TRS teamster Ross Danby and a cracking tweo dan ride for Gas Gas mounted Sam Haslam who sits nicely inside the top 10.
An unfortunate retirement was Beta UK rider Ian Austermuhle who completed just three sections before having to pull out due to illness, either food poisoning or some kind of stomach bug.
Emma Bristow had yet another super ride to drop just 22 marks and now stands over 100 marks ahead of Becky Cook who has eased into the runner-up slot with Sandra Gomez and Katy Sunter right on Becky's tail.
It is a long day which the front runners can cope with but there were plenty of time faults for the club lads and lasses and there were a few tired bodies signing-off at the end of the day.
There's some respite tomorrow though with the mainly road based route round the Moidart peninsula although for those with an eye on a trophy it is very much business as usual...
