trialscot Posted July 9, 2004 Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 Just got back shoreside after a pretty horrendous 3 week spell and catching up on the gossip. An interesting point in the Bon Accord news item - observers wanted for a scottish adult championship trial, no experience required. Yup, that's about par for the scottish championship this year, eg leading championship contender dismounts from bike in section, both feet on the ground on the same side of the bike at the same time, gets on again and hops, endos and reverses up the rest of the section, observer applauds and shouts great clean..........Other riders walking the section exchange knowing looks!. Another Bon Accord point was their query in the report as to how they take marks off Gary Mac. Do these guys still not know that the idea of laying out a trial to"test" or to suit the specialised skills of one rider who is head and shoulders above the competition is a definite non starter. Any scottish trial that Gary enters it's a foregone conclusion that he will win anyway so why lay out a bike and body breaker for the lesser mortals and spoil their enjoyment of their day out for nothing?. The logic of a World Championship class rider piddling about in the scottish kailyard escapes me anyway but that's another story!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty-python Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 (edited) Yes, well "trialscot",, it's so easy to critisice isn't it. I am sure that the observer situation will be remedied shortly, because, as you are so concerned about it , you will inform your riding buddies, who will be so outraged that you, and they, will decide to give up maybe one or two rides a year to volunteer to observe for your club, meaning, no need for non- experienced observers. problem solved!! Not that i know anything about it, but i will imagine that experienced observers (i.e trials riders) were not forthcoming, because they either wanted to ride themselves, or would rather stay home than observe. It's the same story all over, Edited July 11, 2004 by monty-python Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulltaco Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Yes well I'm sure we all agree that the person who sits back and criticises the best efforts of others is a right pain in the a*** but in fairness we don't know trialscots background on this one. I also can't quite grasp the point that he/she is getting at but there's no doubt that alleged "fiddling", "cheating"," partisan observing", call it what you will, is becoming more blatant all the time. We had threads on it about the SSDT, WTC and now the scottish championship. A couple of youngsters who joined our club last year and rode one or two trials even asked the club secretary why she got all the scores wrong in the championship tables in the club newsletter. Riders mark their own cards at our closed to club trials and these lads couldn't understand the low recorded scores of all the guys they'd ridden round with and seen falling off so many times. Having re-read Ts's post I'd have to agree though that press ganging inexperienced bystanders into observing at a championship trial isn't really the way to do it. Too much dodgy observing at championship rounds must devalue that championship to some extent. I suppose it comes down to the attitude of the ACU/SACU steward at an event, if he's satisfied with second rate organisation then the situation will be self-perpetuating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaver Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Maybe what we should do is to get trialscot to observe all the rounds as he is such an expert on these matters. But, like most riders, he will want to RIDE in his precious time off. So what are the clubs supposed to do? I have observed many a national, although I would have preferred to watch my boys ride, I realise that without observers there would be NO TRIALS !!So I give up my time and stand in the P******g rain so that they (e.g. trialscot) can have a day out on their bikes. I would also like to say that 99% of riders are extremely polite and good humoured but there is the odd one who looks like "a spoilt toddler in the sweetie shop when he can't get what he wants". So get off your bikes once in a while and observe! It's your sport for god's sake!! As for the comment relating to Gary Mac - I'm glad to see a "World Class rider" who doesn't turn his back on his local events. Get over it trialscot!!Seems to me that you should give up your job if you come home and youre this miserable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g4321 Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 (edited) OBSERVERS - Sue was and always is a 1st class observer, she always appears to be observing when I do a national trial (which is not that often I hasten to add!) As for the quality of observers in Bon Accord and Inverness trials the organisers 'usually' try to pair up an inexperienced observer with a rider who is giving up his day to ride or an experienced observer - that way they both learn the ropes and do a valid part in helping with the running of the trial. section standards As far as I am aware the standard of A sections is aimed to the top half of the A group. Gary we all would agree - unless he has an off day - and it does happen is expected to be at the top or towards the top of the pile. I for one enjoy watching Gary riding in the 'local' events. The comment about setting sections to take points of Gary was I suspect made in jest. It must be remembered that to score Zero means that the rider has been concentrating the whole day and has not made one slip up - this takes some doing whether in the A or B route . It also takes a lot of skill and even more practice - whats the best practice - riding in events! Can the gent with the post criticising observers, standard of sections and riders competing in local events manage this each time out ? Edited July 12, 2004 by g4321 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scottie Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 (edited) I enjoy riding in the Scottish championship. I don't expect them to be back breakers just a bit harder because they are championships. Clubmen trials are for a good day out! I can't win the SC because it clashes with a Brit round in Devon, but I would rather drive 600 miles just for the experience gained. There are more Scottish kids travelling down south to ride and although it is much more difficult they still gain more from it. Where is the Scottish intercentre team this year? You always have the option of the A or B route? Lets hope our up amd coming younsters keep trials going! Gaz Our Lochaber club ride around in groups of six with one taking the punch and marking the cards. It does cut down on cheating and it also means that most of the usual riders can ride if they wish. Edited July 13, 2004 by Scottie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulltaco Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 Ouch !, bet these last two posts got him where it hurts eh?. Or did they?. You see, I've worked out now that the "trialscot" posts are coming from at least two, probably three and possibly even four sources , none of them as wet behind the ears as they'd like us to think. In fact one of them might even be an ex-scottish champion in one branch of bike sport. I think these guys sit over a dram occasionally, going on about the old days and setting up these posts with tongues firmly in cheeks to see who's daft enough to rise to the bait. So maybe we shouldn't take them too seriously, even though the points made are usually very valid ones?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boofont Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 Where is the Scottish intercentre team this year? You always have the option of the A or B route? Unless I'm mistaken its being held by Inverness and District MCC. The venue was planned to be Cannich but I couldn't confirm if that's still the case. Maybe Big John or IDMCC sec can shed some light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the artist formerly known as ish Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 Any scottish trial that Gary enters it's a foregone conclusion that he will win anyway so why lay out a bike and body breaker for the lesser mortals and spoil their enjoyment of their day out for nothing?. Hey trialscot!! BDMC mark all thier trials out for Doug Lampkin, and he doesn't even go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scottie Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 (edited) sorry boofont I meant the team that goes down to Bristol to compete with the rest of the centre teams from the rest of the uk. Gaz Edited July 14, 2004 by Scottie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfoot Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Trialscot The comment about taking marks from Gary were indeed meant in jest. I think it's great having someone like Gary ride these trials and obviously expect him to win once in a while. If the comments about sections and observers were aimed at the Bon Accord round in June then I take offence personnally. The sections were set out with the majority of riders in mind and proved a little easy on what turned out to be a dry day. If it were wet (as expected) then things would have been very different and you'd be complaining that it was too hard. Only one complete novice observer worked on the day and I'll bet you can't tell me what section he or she was on. Each observer is supplied with a very concise description of the rules with instruction for observing. This means that there are no questions. To see these instructions click here. Rules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialscot Posted August 1, 2004 Report Share Posted August 1, 2004 Wasn't that an interesting snippet in Trials Central report of the Spanish WTC round?. Dougie Lampkin wasn't happy with the poor standard of observing!. He says that no one gained any advantage so just what was the point he was trying to make?. After the slagging-off poor old trialscot got in this forum from Dangleebitz and Monty Python I hope they have dashed off emails to Dougie telling him not to be such a wuss and to get out in the p***ing rain on the moors observing his local club trials for a change rather than criticising well-meaning volunteers who give up their time for him?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petedad Posted August 1, 2004 Report Share Posted August 1, 2004 You sir are really going to have to climb out your pram and pick up the dummy , what are you really trying to say, whats youre point ? at the moment it seems like you feel its you against the rest of the world. As for Garry riding nationals or club trials more power to him that he can be bothered, we had a club trial a short time ago and Garry and Roger gave what seemed like a masterclass , messing about at the end of the trial they had all the kids (and adults) over watching for the best part of an hour, now if my son cant learn something from watching these boys he'll never learn, which, in my opinion makes it worth while that " A world class rider can be bothered piddling about in the kail". A final point , if our Scottish champion is to be the best , he has to aspire to beat the best and from what ive seen this year some experts are getting closer. Rant over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.