Scott Trial – a brief analysis
Pictures by Ian Abbott
Last Saturday (Oct 11) it was the Richmond Club’s Scott Trial, the classic one day time and observation trial across the Yorkshire moors, an event, that whilst is not in the Northern Centre, does attract a large following from the area this website represents.
In addition to there being seven riders in the event who regularly ride in Cumbria, there was inevitably a large contingent of trials fans from the Northern Centre out watching this great trial.
Enjoying what was undoubtedly the best weather at the trial for many years, it was Centre Champion Tom Swindlehurst who put in the best performance of our local riders, finishing 29th, with a total score of 182 marks, – 106 on observation, 76 on time, whilst the three other finishers from this area were Wilf Shuttleworth, 40th (143+67=210), Jack Dixon 48th ( 138+99=237) and Jonny Robinson 80th (211+147=358). For Robinson it was especially sweet to get a finish after suffering machine failure last year almost before the first section.
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Wilf Shuttleworth and Jack Dixon
Ryan Proctor both reached the fuel stop after section 33 and the Grouse Moor where they both retired and Cameron Brice (lead picture) reached section 34 after which machine problems forced his retirement whilst riding well and looking good for a decent placing.
Lewis Gaskell and Adam Raga
Full results are available on the Richmond Club’s website but briefly, the trial winner was Jonathan Richardson who lost 33 marks in the sections and was fastest round the course in a time of 4hours 46minutes 35seconds. It was the eighth time that Jono Richardson has set fastest time at the trial, but only his second win, the first being 14 years earlier in 2011, so surely to win with a gap between the first and last of 14 years must be a record. But no, as 24 years elapsed between Dougie Lampkin’s first win (1994) and his last in 2018.
. Tom Swindlehurst
Many at the trial thought that Robert Crawford’s record of being the only first timer to win the trial at his first attempt might be broken by George Hemingway, but it was not to be as he finished second on 35 marks (10+25=35), whilst Richard Sadler, still to get the elusive win was third (18+27=45).
Undoubtedly, it was yet again a great day of sport, blessed with brilliant weather and what appeared to be the largest gathering of spectators for many years.