Shock and awe decides SSDT title
It’s time for my annual analysis of the Scottish Six Days Trial which finished on Saturday, May 9 after another dry and bright week that everyone seemed to enjoy although it proved to be quite chilly at times, especially in the early mornings.
The Northern Centre was represented by a smaller number of competitors this year with 11 riders normally recognised as being part of the Cumbrian group. This is perhaps a disappointing number when compared with recent years but could well be a reflection of the current financial restraints so many people are feeling and the cost of taking part in the Scottish increases all the time.
Centre champion Tom Swindlehurst topped the pole of Northern Centre men with a very fine 27th place overall on 80 marks lost then came Cameron Brice in 40th place – a bit down on his 2025 result – but the opposition, particularly from foreign riders increases every year. Cam lost 102 marks. Both riders took home Special First Class Awards.
Steve Dixon is always a steady Scottish competitor and he was 52nd on 126 for a First Class Award, then came Joe Hiley in 68th on 158, Richard Gaskell 73rd on 164, followed by Jack Dixon in 79th on 186 and Sam Myers 86th with 204 marks to his name. James Johnson was the last of our First Class winners in 124th with 68 marks then in the Second Class Awards David Myers was 136th on 296, Gary Pears 140th on 306 – riding his 35th Scottish!! – whilst the two remaining riders from our area were Ben Croasdale in 182nd place on 404 and Nigel Birkett completed the Scottish once again – his 53rd if anybody didn’t know – in 198th on 437.
After last year’s controversial result, Adam Raga came good this year without any controversy, winning the trial with the loss of just 10 marks. However, it was the final day’s action that caught the imagination as the morning opened with both Raga and 18 year old George Hemingway on just 7 marks for the first five days. So it was all to play for and also very much in the reckoning was Harry Hemingway. Effectively it was two double World Champion brothers against an 8 time World Champion.
The massive waterfall at Lower Fassfern was reckoned to be the deciding section, and so it proved to be. Of the three likely winners, Raga was the earlier rider on that final day and he spent absolutely ages kicking rocks into and out of place before he decided to ride the section – so long in fact that the observer Fred Savage had to interfere and quietly remind Raga that enough was enough in his rock shifting. Raga rode the section – which had already been cleaned several times and perhaps unexpectedly, lost two dabs.
Some time later, the Hemingway brothers arrived and presumably were aware that Raga had lost two – though the rumour on site at the time was that the observer had only recorded one mark for Raga, though the final results sheet showed the correct score. Neither brother seemed stressed, though it’s difficult to tell as George in particular looks and behaves impeccably calmly. He was the first to ride the section and – shock and awe – he clattered into the face of the waterfall for his only failure of the week. Apparently undeterred, he jumped back aboard, tried the section again and sailed up the hazard with feet firmly on the pegs. But the damaged had been done – first attempt counts and the trial had been lost. Harry went clean and in doing so leapt ahead of his brother in the final standings to finish the week with Raga winning on 10, Harry Hemingway on 11 and George Hemingway on 12. Surely their time will come – but who will win the SSDT first? Harry or George?
The Peace brothers on 15 each were decided with Jack taking fourth and Dan fifth. And how about 14 time winner Dougie Lampkin? still very much a threat, another victory evaded him, but 7th on 18 marks behind sixth placed Billy Green on 17 was pretty good for the 50 year old.
It was a fitting and exciting climax to a fantastic week. Roll on 2027.