2025 – Scotland post 2
FRIDAY EVENING 20.30 hrs. Friday started off as a drizzly morning as the first riders left the start ramp for the opening day of the 2025 Pre 65 Scottish with three Northern Centre riders in the first ten starters.
Video blogger Phil Haygarth was number 4 away but his trial lasted barely 2 miles as his recently rebuilt 250 BSA broke the kickstart ratchet and also experienced a disintegrating rear wheel. His bike was seen parked up at the bottom of the Mamore Road but despite 2 phone calls to him this Friday evening, can’t ascertain his plans if any for the morning.
Nick Shield and Michael Irving were 9 and 8 so had a slippery day ahead of them though by Sleubhaich, the fifth group of the day, they were still very close to the front, which was no bad thing as the single section on the north side of the Mamore Road was definitely easier for earlier riders.
Yours truly together with Neil Buckley were the observers at Sleubhaich so experienced plenty of action and a load of crack with the riders, many of whom were looking decidedly knackered after just thirteen sections. The hazard, a winding slippery narrow rock stream bed has been in the trial for many years and this year (every year?) gets harder as the loose rocks move. Loads of cleans were recorded but so too were loads of dabs, threes and fives, though not so many 2 mark losses.
After two more groups and 5 subs came the long, very testing climb and descent over the top of Mam na Gualainn – better known to trials riders as Callart – took the 200 strong entry, whittled down by a dozen or so to that point to the main road for another six groups and 11 sections to bring the total for the day to 30 individual sections.
Having been observing all day, it’s difficult to Learn who has done what as our visit back to the car park was pretty late in the day. Will Brockbank claimed a loss of 7, his riding pal Sean Radcliffe reckoned on 5, Erik Buckley said 14, Angus Jenkinson had no idea but felt he hadn’t been at his best.
Michael Batty and Peter Blowers were together with numbers 31 and 32 so at least will be speaking the same language, not always the case for riders mixed in with those from another country.
Gary Macdonald said he had stayed clean but was certain a good few others would have done so as well. North Easterner Steve Larkin was alleged to be riding well, but there’s so many good guys in the trial.This is the best offering at this stage of posting, more tomorrow all being well.