The incredible highs and lows of the 2018 SSDT
By John Dickinson on 17th May 18
So, yet another Scottish Six Days Trial is over and it is safe to say that it was yet another fantastic event that delivered on all fronts.There was a brilliant battle at the front of the field that started with an amazing six clean sheets on Monday and ended with a tense two-horse race up Ben Nevis on Saturday afternoon.
You can read all about this in the Scottish report of course but both protagonists, Dougie Lampkin and James Dabill were affected by problems outside their control and James eventually lost-out through no fault of his own. It proved that as well as supreme skill and determination Lady Luck really can and does play its part.
After last years unreal weather when there wasnt a drop of rain from the first day of the Pre-65 through to the last day of the SSDT it was back to reality in 2018 with a succession of grey, wet, days and very soggy moors not the dust-bowls of last year.
2018 SSDT Nigel Birkett, John Holland and Stephen Dixon
And it proved to be a real eye-opener to last years first-timers as well as all those who rushed for an entry following the 2017 event thinking that the sun shone permanently in Scotland. There was a relatively high retirement rate, around 40 failing to make the finish, through a variety of reasons including injury and machine failure.
First out was Mountain Bike ace Steve Peat who had an arm problem and although he weighed-in on Sunday and rode down the start ramp on Monday, he parked up immediately, hoping the problem would dissipate sufficiently to start on Tuesday on a no-award basis.
Peaty loves his Scottish and was gutted when he had to throw in the towel. One of the last to go out was the vastly experienced Dan Hemingway. Dans bike suffered a suspension link failure when right out on the moors on the final day.
Brother Ben said: We had a bit of a conference and came up with a plan to get the bike off the moors and back to civilisation we jammed a big rock in there which freed the rear wheel and allowed Dan to limp home. The rocks now in the garden.
North east vet Colin Ward had a torrid time, having originally entered on a totally-rebuilt Yamaha TY250, Wardy was mortified when the kickstart shaft sheared just before weigh-in.He sent son Colin Jr back home to Consett to get his Beta as a replacement, only to go out on Tuesday morning with a crocked ankle possibly the result of an awkward crash at Leanachan on Monday morning.
2018 SSDT There were nine girls competing in the trial this year
There were quite a few crocked bodies actually, with SSDT regular John Holland retiring with a knee problem (he already has one knee replacement) while Andrew (AG) Brown went out on Monday with the recurrence of a back injury.
Trotters Burn was in malevolent form and accounted for both Louis Grey and Jonathan Hagan. Louis suffered a badly broken arm, shattering both ulna and radius bones, while Jonny suffered damaged vertebrae and had to be ambulanced to hosipital
At first it looked like he was going to have to be transferred to Glasgow to be fitted with a body cast but after several days in Fort William hospital he had recovered sufficiently for Andy Perry and the Ulster contingent to break Jonathan out and take him home.
Louise Alford was another in the wars having badly twisted her knee.Lou was fitted with a splint support to allow her to hobble around and was to visit a specialist on her return home to determine the extent of the damage.
Martin Sandiford exited with a mechanical on the road stretch down Glencoe to Chairlift on Thursday while James Johnson ran out of sparks a few miles further on at Gorton. It all happens at the Scottish!
Massive thanks to all who work so hard to make an event of such magnitude such a continued success.
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SSDT is open now
And the big news this week is that Regs and entries are now available and open for the 2019 Scottish Six Days Trial.
2018 SSDT: Saturday - Dougie Lampkin seals unbelievable win
As the sun shone on the Highlands for the first time all week, Dougie Lampkin rode to an incredible 12th win at the 2018 SSDT.
2018 SSDT: Wednesday - James Dabill increases lead
Looking to secure his third SSDT win Beta’s James Dabill remains in control as the 2018 edition reached its halfway mark on the wettest of the three days to date.