Centenary Scott Trial Just Days Away

Dougie Lampkin jpgLosing is not in Lampkin's DNAOne hundred years on and Alfred Scott’s dream lives on, growing stronger and stronger as the years go by.  There is probably a bit of a misnomer in the title for Saturday’s annual gallop around Swaledale but due to the Kaiser and Adolf Hitler attempting fruitless take-over bids of Europe and the Foot and Mouth epidemic of 2001, the actual number of Scott Trials run is a mere eighty seven, but run they have, carrying hundreds of adventure stories that progress from believable to impossible. 

 

This day out in the Dales for the workers at the Scott factory at Saltaire to test the products has moved on to a giant feat of organisation on the part of the Club. Hardly were the flags gathered off the moors surrounding Reeth and Hurst when Event Secretary Chris Wallis wrapped up the 2013 trial with letters of thanks to various organisations who made the trial possible. It is somewhere near to state that planning for Saturday’s Centenary event commenced three hundred and sixty four days ago. The proceeds, totalling to date over £137,000 since Richmond Motor Club took over running the trial, have been donated to deserving national and local charities and organisations.

 

Last year Dougie Lampkin won his fourth Scott matching his father Martin. Malcolm Rathmell had a good six victories stopped only by his rival and friend Martin Lampkin. Graham Jarvis heads the leaderboard on nine Scotts. Only two father and son duos have graced the top spot, Gerald and Jonathan Richardson and Martin and Dougie Lampkin.  Triple winner  Phillip Alderson heads the spoon count with an amazing twenty seven gold and silver variations. The means twenty seven starts, and finishes. 

 

Bruce Storr and his vast army of volunteers have plotted a seventy six section course roughly eighty miles in length, but many will not even make half the distance on Saturday. Several Scott hopefuls will be making the journey from the continent, from Ireland, the Ulster Province and the Isle of Man. All are listed in the Centenary Programme right down to home towns. 

 

Jonathan Richardson jpg 2Jonathan RichardsonThis Scott Trial is going to be one spectacular battle of wills. Dougie Lampkin is, and always has been, programmed to win. Will James Dabill, Michael Brown, Jonathan Richardson or international enduro ace Jonny Walker match Dougie on pace? Five past winners run in the last thirty five starters. Ben Hemingway will be on the pace as will Ian Austermuhle who has a string of rostrums but not the one he is after. Richard Sadler, Alexz Wigg, Tom Affleck and Ricky Wiggins will pose a threat on time as will Sam Connor. Billy Bolt and Jack Price must be rated for the Newcomer award. World Champion Emma Bristow heads the girls with Katy Sunter and Chloe Richardson but the latter will have the Under 21 award in her mind.  Former World Champion Yrjo Vesterinen leads the Charity Team of Trevor Willans, Glen Scholey, Joe Buckworth and Mark Willis.  The final leg from Clapgate to the finish is available to the highest bidder with the chance to ride it on an immaculately restored Fantic 240 kindly loaned by AG Bikes.  See the RMC website for more details. 

 

A one off on the start field this year  is a marquee containing copies of all the progammes since 1920, a display of beautiful old bikes from each decade along with memorabilia for sale, so make sure you go along at some point during the day.  The best and only way to follow the trial is to buy the Centenary Programme for a fiver. It contains the sections lists and results from last year and right back to 2014. Truly a mine of information.  These are available from Richmond Petrol Stations, Richmond Garage Services, The Food Weighhouse, Cross Lanes Stores, Smith and Allan in Darlington, Piercebridge Farm Shop, and the usual Reeth outlets.

 

Images & Story courtesy of Barry Robinson