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All content © Bob MuIIins | |||
 
Scottish Six Day Trial DAY ONE Photo: Trials Central The 2017 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) got underway in glorious sunshine as the almost three hundred strong entry departed from Fort William for the first of their six daily excursions over the coming week. The summer like weather brought with it favourable conditions as the front runners made easy work on the initial thirty sections with no less than five riders tied for the lead having all completed day one clean. Defending SSDT champion Dougie Lampkin - Vertigo is one of these eight riders as he confirmed his intent to increase his tally to eleven wins. His faultless performance was matched by local favourite and recent winner of the Pre-65 Scottish Gary Macdonald - Scorpa and 2016 FIM Trial2 World Cup winner Jack Price - Gas Gas. Andy Chilton - Scorpa and Jack Sheppard - Beta are the other two early challengers who never parted with a mark over today's sixty-six-mile course. Reinforcing the depth and fierce nature of competition for a place in the higher order Spain's Jordi Pascuet - Gas Gas with a single dab was the highest placed foreign rider on day one in sixth position. Jordi's score was equalled by Guy Kendrew - Beta, one of the pre-event favourites Michael Brown - Gas Gas and eighteen-year-old Thomas Minta - Gas Gas leaving Chris Pearson - Sherco to round out the initial top ten on just two marks lost. With the sun already shinning overhead, two new sections at Coire na Cloiche opened the 2017 SSDT as the first riders rolled through the start cards just before eight o'clock. However, it was the traditional four hazards at Leanachen that provided the first real test of the week. The large gathered crowd were treated to several clean rides in the first two sections here, with the second sub proving the most difficult of the two with the ladies' leader Emma Bristow - Sherco being amongst many who parted with their first marks of the week on the big rounded boulders. The two further sections higher up the hill also gave the riders a tricky initiation as even more spectators packed the bankings to get a glimpse of the early action. After the opening two groups the route followed a familiar path as the riders then moved on to three sections at Bradilieg before heading over the hill to Kinlochleven, taking in four more groups of hazards at The Lairig, Meannanach, Carn Dearg and Loch Eilde Mhor on route to the lunch check at the bottom of Pipeline. From here the riders followed the road to the next two groups of sections at Garbh Bheinn and Cameron Hill before finishing the day off with six subs at the highly popular Lagnaha, which attracted the largest crowds of a great opening day. In addition to the battle for the main honours it is no surprise that Dougie Lampkin also heads the over 40's class ahead of Phillip Alderson - Gas Gas. Equally Emma Bristow has already carved out a healthy lead over her main rival Sandra Gomez - Gas Gas in the female category, as is the case with Gary Macdonald in his attempt to be the best Scottish rider once again. The fight to be best newcomer is a much closer affair with Thomas Minta holding a slender advantage over Jack Peace - Gas Gas who rushed back from Belgium overnight where he had been competing in the European championship. DAY TWO Day two of the 2017 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) was again defined by unseasonably good weather as defending champion Dougie Lampkin - Vertigo finished unpenalised for a second day in a row to edge himself into a clear interim lead having initially shared the top spot with four other riders going into today. Lampkin's lone bike wearing the all-important yellow leader board will be an ominous sight for his rivals, who know full well just how reluctant the already ten time SSDT winner will be to relinquish it, although he has done so in the past. The only other rider to remain feet up on the second day of competition was Spain's Jordi Pascuet - Gas Gas who now moves into second position overall having parted with a single dab yesterday. British teenager Jack Price - Gas Gas who will turn twenty later this month kept his assault on track with a daily loss of three marks to slot into third place with a third of the event now completed. Price has close company from his even younger compatriot Thomas Minta - Gas Gas whose performance in this year's Scottish to date is beyond his years. Minta holds fourth position in the overall rankings this far and sits one mark in front of the much more experienced duo of Jack Sheppard - Beta and Gary Macdonald - Scorpa, fifth and sixth place holders respectively, who both dropped four marks apiece today after having gone clean on the opening day. A multi runner-up in past editions, Michael Brown - Gas Gas made his task of finally clinching an SSDT victory slightly more difficult as he slipped further away from the leaders despite moving up to seventh spot overall following a daily total of five marks. After today's eighty-eight-mile route, and with the vast-majority of the almost three hundred strong entry still going strong, who are both enjoying and benefitting from the ongoing dry and warm weather, Sam Connor - Beta, Jack Stones - Beta and Chris Pearson - Sherco currently round out the top ten in a field that is packed with fierce and tense battles throughout. Although for many just to make it to the finish is a fight all-of its own and one worthy of praise and reward if, and when achieved. In the other contests, Thomas Minta deservedly remains top of the Newcomers having now extended his lead to seventeen marks over his closest challenger Jack Spencer - Beta. It is a similar story for Gary Macdonald who has also stretched his advantage at the head of the charge to retain his title as best Scottish rider. Thirty fifth overall in the outright results Emma Bristow - Sherco continues to dominate the Female class at this stage. As well as leading overall Dougie Lampkin already looks to have his hands firmly on the Over 40 awards, as he once again bids to be the oldest winner of this event, a record he already holds. Day three will follow a very much tried and tested routing that will serve up another eighty-five miles as the remaining riders look to reach the halfway point in the 2017 SSDT. DAY THREE For the third day in a row, not only did the sun continue to shine, but the defending champion Dougie Lampkin - Vertigo kept his feet firmly on the footrests to record yet another faultless performance to continue to hold the lead at the halfway stage of the 2017 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT). Despite now also qualifying for the Over 40 class at the age of forty-one, Lampkin continues to show his winning appetite for this iconic event even after having won on a record ten previous occasions. As is the case every year, the winner at the end of six long and gruelling days of holding the handlebars will be a worthy one, and it is a feat that Spanish rider Jordi Pascuet - Gas Gas continues to pursue as he sits just three marks back from Lampkin after he added two marks to his tally today. Whilst Pascuet is using his experience to keep in contention, 2016 FIM Trial World Cup winner Jack Price - Gas Gas can count on his experience far less at the tender age of nineteen as he remains locked on three marks overall with his Spanish rival and in third place for the week to date. Suffolk's Jack Sheppard - Beta matched Lampkin's and Price's clean performance on day three to move up to an interim fourth spot on a total of four marks, a score matched overall by teenager Thomas Minta - Gas Gas who continues to impress on his SSDT debut. Scotland's lone flag flyer in the higher order, Gary Macdonald - Scorpa very much remains in the mix in sixth position following his single dab ride today. Michael Brown - Gas Gas delivered his best showing of the week thus far as he was one of the five riders to stay clean on the day and remains in touch with the leaders despite currently sitting in seventh place. Sam Connor - Beta, the last of the contenders still with a single figure tally overall, followed by Andy Chilton - Scorpa and Sam Haslam - Gas Gas occupy eighth, ninth and tenth places respectively as the mid-point in the 2017 SSDT was reached. In addition to the main prize, the campaigns for the other awards remain work in progress with three days still to go. Thomas Minta continues to excel at the top of the Newcomer class, with Jack Peace - Gas Gas having now moved into second spot after having dropped just eight marks today. Gary Macdonald's chance of retaining his crown as best Scottish rider remains as strong as ever as he continues to feature high up the overall order. Emma Bristow again increased her lead in the Female division, and whilst Dougie Lampkin cannot yet be certain of the main prize, he looks clear favourite to lift the Over 40 award come the end of the week. Day four will break with the traditional Thursday route and will see the action kick off at Leanachan ahead of moving on to Laggan Locks before then following a route normally associated with Tuesday, as Witches and Trotters Burn will bring to a close the longest day of the week. DAY FOUR In what is fast becoming a performance as extraordinary as the continued sunshine, Dougie Lampkin - Vertigo ended day four of the 2017 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) still faultless having not dropped a single mark in the one hundred and twenty sections he has ridden to date this week. This achievement is made even more remarkable after Lampkin endured his potentially most difficult day thus far as he was one of the first riders through the sections when they were in their most slippery state. Thursday is always a big day in the SSDT and although this year it did not follow its more traditional route it was still the longest day of the 2017 event and took in many of the famous and revered groups including Laggan Locks, Forest Gate, Creag Lundie and Witches Burn. Lampkin was one of only two riders to go clean on day four, his feat being matched by Sam Haslam - Gas Gas who has now moved up to ninth spot overall. In contrast Jordi Pascuet - Gas Gas started the day as the overnight runner-up but slipped to eighth place, as he added a hefty ten marks to his overall tally. Pascuet's demise sees nineteen-year-old Jack Price - Gas Gas move into a clear second spot, just five marks behind the much more experienced Lampkin with two days remaining. Price now holds a two-mark gap over Michael Brown - Gas Gas in third place who has made rapid progress up the leader board over the last two days to still be in with a shout of the main prize over the coming two days. Jack Sheppard - Beta remains in fourth position and very much still in contention for overall honours too. Sheppard has young Thomas Minta - Gas Gas for company, who sits only one mark back in fifth place. Minta deserves recognition as he continues to be outstanding on his SSDT debut. After his Pre-65 Scottish success local protagonist Gary Macdonald - Scorpa is also showing his skills on more modern machinery as he remains in sixth position. SSDT stalwart and 2005 winner Sam Connor - Beta is enjoying yet another excellent week in the Scottish Highlands and has moved up to seventh spot on a total of just ten marks. Andy Chilton - Scorpa is another high performer this week and remains just inside the top ten after posting four consistent daily scores to date. Emma Bristow - Sherco is more than matching her many male rivals, she sits just outside the top thirty overall and continues to totally dominate the Female class. Thomas Minta is now thirty marks ahead of Jack Peace - Gas Gas in the Newcomer category and is the clear favourite to collect this prize come Saturday afternoon. Two other clear favourites to win their respective class awards are Dougie Lampkin in the Over 40 division and Gary Macdonald as the best Scottish rider who are well clear of the chasing pack in both cases. Friday, the fifth and penultimate day of competition remains a favourite with both riders and spectators alike and this year promises more of the same. Doire Damh returns after being absent for a few years. Pipers Burn, Roshven, Glenuig and WD's will all be ridden before lunch. Whilst the afternoon run, which will return to the road for the first time in fourteen years, will take in the usual groups on route to the ferry with the riders having notched up ninety-five more miles. Daily spectator routes / maps and a full rider entry list can be found in the official SSDT Programme - which are on sale at various local outlets in the Fort William area. DAY FIVE Dougie Lampkin - Vertigo is closing in on an historic eleventh Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) win as the former multi FIM Trial World Champion remained feet up for a fifth day in succession as the sun continued to shine in the Scottish Highlands. Whilst the victory itself remains very much in the balance, with Jack Price - Gas Gas just five marks off the lead going into the final day, already the big question is being asked - Can Dougie go one better than Gordon Jackson did when he won the 1961 SSDT on a single dab, and go clean all week? Whilst it is obviously a record that Dougie would dearly love to add to the many that he already holds, his first objective will be to get the job done and further extend his winning tally to eleven, that being six more than the five SSDT titles won by both Sammy Miller and Mick Andrews who are next best in the honours list. Price remains a real threat heading into day six and has shown why he was the winner of the 2016 FIM Trial2 World Cup with some tidy and consistent riding despite his relative lack of SSDT experience. Michael Brown - Gas Gas is another man who should not be discounted, currently in third spot, the likeable challenger from Scarborough sits just three marks behind his younger team mate going into the deciding day. Despite not enjoying the best of days with a five-mark loss, Jack Sheppard - Beta still holds fourth position, but has lost important ground to the leading trio and thus has greatly reduced his chances of being part of the fight for outright victory heading into Saturday's showdown. After his poor showing yesterday, top foreign rider Jordi Pascuet - Gas Gas reversed some of the damage done on day four with his three-mark tally today seeing him climb back up to fifth position overall. SSDT newcomer Thomas Minta - Gas Gas continues to impress and holds sixth spot with one day remaining despite dropping one place today. Both Minta and Scotland's best performer Gary Macdonald - Scorpa parted with eight marks apiece over today's thirty testing hazards and ninety-five mile route. Macdonald goes into day six in seventh spot, leaving Andy Chilton - Scorpa, Sam Haslam - Gas Gas and Richard Sadler - Beta to round out the top ten overall respectively. Current FIM Women's Trial World Champion Emma Bristow - Sherco has again more than earned the respect of her male counterparts with her holding thirty-third place in the full results with just one day to go as well as totally dominating the fight to be the best Female rider in the two hundred and eighty strong mixed entry. Being the best Over 40 competitor will mean little to Dougie Lampkin if he fails to lift the main prize, but will be yet another trophy to add to his already over-crowded mantle-piece. Thomas Minta will hope that he has a top ten finish overall to go with his best Newcomer prize come tomorrow afternoon whilst Gary Macdonald will be no stranger to collecting the award for best Scottish rider unless he endures an absolute disaster on day six. Although the finish line now maybe in sight, Saturday's fifty-six mile route should never be underestimated. After the tough finale to last year's SSDT and the welcomed feedback from riders post event, the organisers have duly removed Nevis Forest from the closing day but have still included sections at Achintee, The Ben and Glen Nevis before the traditional end to the week at Town Hall Brae, by which time the 2017 SSDT winner will have been decided. DAY SIX Even at the age of forty-one years old, Dougie Lampkin - Vertigo continues to rewrite the history books as he claimed an unprecedented eleventh Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) victory with his best performance ever in this iconic event. Losing just one mark on the sixth and final day, during a week when the sun shone continuously, Dougie equalled the feat of Gordon Jackson who finished on the same score back in 1961. Going into today clean, Dougie needed just one steadying dab in the first section at Lower Mamore this morning as his front wheel started to tuck, to run out a clear and comfortable winner after staying feet-up in the other one hundred and seventy-nine hazards. Eight marks back from Lampkin, Jack Price - Gas Gas showed great composure throughout the week, despite the youngster not turning twenty until later this month, to end the 2017 SSDT as a very worthy runner-up. Regular podium finisher Michael Brown - Gas Gas secured the last place on the box as he enjoyed a much improved second half of the week after having slipped down the rankings mid-way through the competition. Brown's strong closing rides kept Jack Sheppard - Beta off the rostrum after the rider from Suffolk had really threatened the front runners, however he will not be too disappointed with his fourth spot when he sees the riders he demoted. Thomas Minta - Gas Gas rounded out an immense SSDT debut with a top five placing at the first time of asking in this classic and almost week long endurance event. Minta really had to hold his nerve to keep the highly-experienced Jordi Pascuet - Gas Gas at bay in sixth spot, especially as the highest placed foreign rider had held the interim runners-up placing earlier in the week. Whilst there or thereabouts throughout all six days of competition, which were held in unusually warm and sunny weather, local protagonist Gary Macdonald - Scorpa was unable to really challenge the leaders and had to settle for a very respectable seventh place overall. Sam Haslam - Gas Gas was the only rider to go clean today, which allowed him to take eighth spot overall just ahead of Andy Chilton - Scorpa who completed an excellent week with a solid showing on the final day to deservedly claim ninth position, leaving SSDT stalwart Sam Connor - Beta to close out this year's top ten. As well as taking the main prize Dougie was also the winner of the Over 40 class, in what is becoming a never ending SSDT story for the Yorkshireman. Lampkin made his SSDT debut back in 1993 and recorded his maiden win in the Scottish Highlands at just his second attempt a year later at the tender age of eighteen to become the youngest ever winner of this World famous and widely revered competition where experience counts for so much. Dougie continued his winning ways in 1995 and 1996 to make it a SSDT hat-trick before then taking time off to win his twelve World titles. Dougie made a successful return to Fort William in 2008 and 2009 with two further wins to match the record of five victories held by Sammy Miller and Mick Andrews. However, he had to wait until 2012, after a mechanical problem and injury thwarted him for two years, to become the outright holder of the most SSDT titles. This was to mark the start of an incredible period for Lampkin, with his latest victory stretching his winning run to six on the bounce and eleven in total and to hold the record of the oldest rider to win the Scottish. At the other end of the spectrum, Thomas Minta at eighteen years old was the best Newcomer at this year's SSDT after an exceptional debut in the Highlands by the youngster. Emma Bristow - Sherco was by far the best Female rider over the week, but slipped down the overall results to fortieth place today following her heaviest daily loss of the trial. After another attempt of adding a home name to the famous North British Rubber Company trophy, which is presented to the Scottish Six Days Trial winner, local hero Gary Macdonald will have to be content with being the best Scottish rider as his consolation prize. There is no doubt, the 2017 SSDT has been a huge success and one that will be long remembered thanks to the amazing weather and Dougie Lampkin matching the lowest ever SSDT score, a record that dates back over fifty years. 2017 SSDT DECLARED ONE OF THE BEST YET Often referred to as the ultimate holiday in the Highlands, the 2017 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) certainly lived up to its billing, with six days of non-stop sunshine helping many of the happy finishers to declared it as one of the best editions ever in the hundred plus year history of what remains an iconic event in the international sporting calendar. The lure, of what for the majority of the oversubscribed entry is a testing six-day adventure in the Scottish Highlands and the chance for amateur riders to compete not only over some of the best trials terrain on the planet, but alongside and following the exact same course and sections as some of the best riders in the World remains as strong as ever. This was confirmed by this year's two-hundred and eighty strong entry, with riders from nineteen different nations from as far afield as Australia and Costa Rica, once again gathering in the West End car park in Fort William to take part in the 2017 SSDT over the last week. This immense and continued support for the event is great testament to the Edinburgh and District Motor Club who prides itself on sourcing new sections and routes each year to keep things fresh and challenging for the wide-ranging ability of riders, many of whom return year after year. Whilst the actual running of the event over the six-day period is huge the vast amount of the work is done in the planning stages with the club spending many months liaising and negotiating with local land owners and authorities to secure land and permissions required to keep the SSDT as the greatest single trial in the World. With the influx of many visitors, many from overseas into the Lochaber area at the start of the holiday season continues to bring important income to the region and World-wide exposure to the Outdoor Capital of the UK. Although it is the riders who make it to the finish who receive most of the glory, and deservedly so, equal appreciation should also go to the many volunteers and officials who make the trip to the Highlands each year to deliver this amazing and unique competition. From the observers, who have had to endure a week of continuous sunshine out on the remote hills to the backroom staff who have not seen the light of day all week, without each and every one of these people the event simply would not happen. Less than twenty-four hours after Dougie Lampkin stepped up on stage to collect the famous North British Rubber Company trophy for an unbelievable eleventh time, much has already been written and shared on social media around the World about his incredible achievement in matching Gordon Jackson’s 1961 single dab winning ride. Despite now having six more SSDT titles than any other rider, Dougie looks set to return next May in search of win number twelve and a totally clean week. The Edinburgh and District Motor Club would like to congratulate Dougie on his 2017 victory and would like to extend a warm and open invitation to him and to trials riders from all corners of the planet to be in the ballot for the 2018 SSDT when the entries open later this year. Finally, the club would like to sign off by offering their special thanks to all the riders, their support teams, the many spectators, the local authorities, their loyal sponsors, the numerous landowners, the teams of volunteers / observers and all the officials who made this year's SSDT so great and enjoyable for all involved. See you all again next May! To find out more about the Scottish Six Days Trial, please visit the official website at www.ssdt.org
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