Trials Blog - Scotland's finest - Trials UK

Trials Blog - Scotland's finest

• 4th May 2010
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Well, the riding has taken a break this weekend as I spent the weekend (a long one at that, from Thursday morning to Monday night) at the mother of all trials events, the Scottish Six Day Trial (SSDT).  I was accompanying the lads from Trials UK in an attempt to offer some help during the big set up of a ‘marquee shop’, the sales of one or two items (I actually ended up being on stock control in the back of the van) and the big pack down for the journey home.

I needed pinching when I was there as I was surrounded by some of the biggest stars of the trials world - and was rubbing shoulders with them too.  I chewed the fat over a few bar drinks with James Dabil, had some paddock talk with Michael Brown, chatted briefly with Dougie Lampkin (very briefly – in fact he said hello – and in my book that equates to a conversation) and dined with Albert Cabastany.  Yes, that’s right – I dined with Cabes on Sunday evening.  I also had meals every night with the ‘David Beckham of his time’ Malcolm Rathmell and spent a couple of nights schmoozing with Marc Teissier, the owner of Sherco and his lovely wife Vivien.  Woooo.  Check me out hob-knobbing my way through the higher echelons of trials society!  And I can officially confirm that it’s true...the best way to melt little frozen individual packs of butter is to sit on them.

I have to say that I make a poor retailer at what is effectively an international event as I tend to struggle with foreign communication (anyone reading this may want to ask Nige in Trials UK about my inability to hold, or even open a conversation with a Spaniard).  I also have no idea how to work a credit card machine and am uncomfortable dealing in cash. So yep, I was best placed in the van.  Even though I did very little in terms of dealing with customers I was left completely exhausted at the end of each day and, after a few beers, had no trouble whatsoever when it came to sleeping in a ‘foreign bed’. 

After the drive home on Monday (what a day that was, full day in the ‘shop’, pack everything down, put it all in the vans then drive home for 6 and a half hours) I felt physically knackered and had to have a bit of a slow day on Tuesday.  Hats off to Nick and Nige of Trials UK who spent the whole of Tuesday emptying the van and counting all the stock back in! I didn’t envy them one bit and don’t know where they get their stamina.

By the way, I have to say that Fort William is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in the UK.  The rolling hills on the way in make for a super drive up from Glasgow (for anyone thinking of going to the World round, it’s about 3 hours North of Glasgow, so take plenty of sweets to get you through the drive) and the scenery is quite breathtaking in parts, certainly as you near Fort William itself.  You seem to take forever to circum-navigate Loch Lomond – it is absolutely mahoosive. 

Unfortunately, I am unable to tell you much about the SSDT sections as never got to see any during my weekend up in Scotland as all of our time was spent in the Parc Ferme, but I have seen videos of the SSDT and it does look very, very challenging indeed – but challenging whilst being set in wonderful scenery! 

I get my chance to see the sections when we return for the World round in 6 weeks time.  Of course, I’ll be blogging about the World round upon my return.