HL is right Corpach off in the distance and Loch Eil stretching into the distance towards Lochailort and Pipers Burn. The collection of white dots in the bottom left is the Glen Nevis Caravan park. the Hill to the left middle obscuring Fort William is the "Cowhill" to the right is the Meall-an-t-Suidhe
On a lighter note we have just been reminiscing about the SSDT back in the early 90's and I wondered if the little fella in the brown robin reliant is still around and involved with the trial.
He was a real character and used to start each rider off in the morning and do the time control at the end of each day.
I can't remember his name, anyone who rode back then will remember him though
I remember the World round in Osnabruck in Germany where the time limits became a necessity, some riders spending over an hour at one section, taking three or four minutes to ride it then haring round the rest of the lap, not exactly spectacular to watch.
time limits for the top riders in sections is a must, a time limit on the trial is also important for Observers and riders alike. There is a big safety element involved with this for everyone, not just riders.
I am a huge advocate of no stop but agree with other who have posted that something has to change but at the top end the next world contenders have to work on the same playing field as their continental counterparts. Until such times as the WTC gets back to what trials should be (IMHO No stop)instead of a circus, we have to give the likes of James Dabill the chance
Don't think it's that Ishy, the idea of "cheating" has always been a bit of the folklore around the trial, certainly dating back to the 60's when "fuel planking" was apparently rife (modern bikes could do with some of that!!) to the 80's when folk asked why Eddy Lejeune always managed to turn up at section spotlessly clean, even after 20 miles of peat bog. There are more recent instances as well.
Those who cheat and are caught are excluded from the trial, they should never get an entry again, doesn't matter who they are
I would if I actually knew when I was going to be there. I was supposed to be observing this year but can't gaurantee leave, until the Met Office finally sort themselves out leave is at a premium. As is typical though two weeks before hand the leave will be authorised
Pleased to hear the trial went well and like the idea of no Best Clubmember Award. The club used to say provide an observer or you don't ride, maybe that needs to be applied rather more rigorously.
I was reading a blurb on the web the other day, asking the question "is beer better for you than water" well I can't answer the question because I don't like water
I'm nearly 40 but I still dream of riding the Scottish (on some nights I can still win ), I know it'll never happen, I know it would kill me to try but I still dream about it and for a lot of trials riders that is a vitally important part of every year, deciding whether they have the wherewithal to stick in an entry.
Everyone who has ever ridden a trial wants to ride the Scottish, whether they are world round contenders or someone who will take 180 fives, finish 59 minutes late every night have a knackered bike and body by Monday teatime, they still want to try. In our esoteric little world, the Scottish and the Scott are the two biggies, finish them you are a "real" trials rider as my old man likes to say.
Whatever we have to say I think Willie got it spot on and that legacy is what will keep the Scottish going. Some will bitch every year but it won't change a thing, the Ballot is the only fair way to do it.
Seriously though, it looks not too bad, bit of a tidy and a bit of a fettle it would probably look quite tasty. Don't know whether the seller has much of a clue though reserve met at
One warning then dock them an extra 5 simple really, for the big boys that can mean winning or losing the trial. Observers have a big role to play in ensuring fairness, they can't jump on one guy and turn a blind eye to others.
That happenned in last years P65 Scottish, observer jumped hard on Mick Grant at one group for moving a rock, not even out of line, but let certain others named in this thread away with what he wanted.
Who will take the title of " No Stone Unturned" for his momoirs first
Toni Bou
in World Championship Chat
Posted
He'll have the Japanese phrase book out already
... won on 52 from Raga and Doug, both tied on 60 but Raga had three more cleans 
than Doug