Scottish Six Days Trial and Pre 65 2024
Previous years: 2008, 2009 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023. Official SSDT site
SSDT report
Stroud MC's Craig Talbot (TRS) and Ryan Eamer (TRS) both completed the biggest, most famous trial in the world, Craig for the 15th time and Ryan the first.
Uncharacteristic sunshine from days 1 to 3 gave way to overnight rain which poured all of Thursday and made for one of the hardest days known on the SSDT for many years.
However the boys battled on, with BVM Moto team mates Tyler Rendall and Ian Fortune. At the time of writing, it looks like Craig has picked up a first class award, and Ryan has missed out on a second class award by a handful of marks but gets a very well-earned finisher's medal. Craig was riding an electric start version of the TRS, which proved reliable throughout the event and will no doubt please Gloucestershire-based importer and 4x SSDT winner Steve Saunders.
Tyler looks to have secured a special first class award, and Ian a second class. Congratulations to all four, who competed in one of the most hotly-contested SSDTs for years, with all of the UK's best riders going for top spot.
You can see how the boys got on, on the BVM YouTube channel, plus other YouTube channels Trials Mania, Some Hanlons, and 2 Wheels Offroad
'Poacher turned gamekeeper' Bretton King, who first rode the SSDT in 1987, was one of the army of volunteer observers for all six days, and his volunteering duties included a dawn to dusk stint in Parc Ferme at Fort William.Individual results breakdown - provisional
Pre 65 Report
Best Western Centre performance belonged to Simon Welch, whose second attempt at this event saw his 'clean or five' approach pay dividends and got him a coveted first class award.
Finishing on 11 on day 1 and 8 on day 2 also meant he was second-best 'original bike'. Brother Matthew had a tough event mechanically which was a shame as he was on for a competitive score on day 1 until the gremlins struck.
Ryan Eamer has got 2 days of his 8 day holiday out of the way, on the big Matchless, before switching to the TRS for the remaining six days. Amory Falconer got the fiery Scorpion round for not many more than Ryan, and not far behind was Merv Powell on the big AJS. Well done to all, most of whom have already drawn up a list of modifications for next year!
Western Centre riders
Preview
ACU Western riders are heading to the Highlands for the Scottish 6 Days Trial (May 6-11) and the Pre 65 (May 3-4).
SSDT first timer Ryan Eamer (Stroud MC) is also riding the Pre 65 as a warm up to the main event, where he will be riding near BVM's Craig Talbot (Stroud MC). This will be Craig's 15th SSDT as a rider, having been to many more with his dad Mark who rode the event for several decades. Look out for regular reports on the BVM YouTube channel throughout SSDT week.
They'll be accompanied by regular ACU Western visitors Ian Fortune and Tyler Rendall.
Simon and Matthew Welch will be riding Royal Enfields for the second year running in the Pre 65, Simon on the 2 stroke 250 twin as last year, while Matthew has stepped up to a 500cc Royal Enfield, powered by an ex-Julian Bishop motor.
A few minutes behind them will be Amory Falconer (Cheltenham Home Guard MCC), who has upgraded from a 70 year old rigid bike to a 60 year old twinshock Scorpion.
Ryan is riding early on in the entry on day 1, next to Merv Powell, and both are Matchless-mounted as last year. Best of luck to all these riders, who will be well-supported by ACU Western enthusiasts, who support these events regularly. One of those is Peter Collins, who is once again driving all the way to Kinlochleven, just to observe!
Also, best of luck to former ACU Western Trials Youth Development Squad rider Will Haines, who will be competing in the UCI Mountain Bike World Series round just north of Fort William from May 3-5