PLANS afoot for another exciting event in 2013. 2012 saw the world-famous Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) kick off its second century in exciting style.
Followers of this year’s record-breaking ‘Scottish’ witnessed the closest ever finish in the event’s history with former world champion and multiple SSDT winner, Dougie Lampkin (Gas Gas), clinching victory on the final day by the narrowest of margins.
Whilst this year’s celebrations have hardly subsided, the Edinburgh and District Motor Club, which organises the SSDT, is already looking forward to 2013 when they hope to deliver yet another thrilling event.
Said a spokesperson: “The weather was typically Scottish and unpredictable during this year’s event, with riders facing wind, rain, even snow, and only occasional sunshine.
“Despite this, the competition remained incredibly close over the six days.
“At least three riders were in with a shot of winning on the final day, and Dougie Lampkin and James Dabill (Beta) eventually finished the event tied on 15 marks apiece, which spurred an exhaustive tie-break process.
“Amazingly, the week’s scores revealed that Lampkin and Dabill shared the same number of cleans, ones, twos, threes and fives.
“So, officials looked to the rider who had travelled the furthest before dropping a mark and this was Dougie Lampkin, who had remained clean for the first two days of the trial.
“Dougie has now won the SSDT six times – the most ever won by one rider – which makes him the most successful SSDT winner of all time.”
Reflecting on this year’s SSDT, Mairi Jenkins, secretary for the Scottish Six Days Trial, stated: “The club was delighted to see many months of hard work and preparation behind the scenes pay off with a hugely successful SSDT and a fantastic start to the event’s second century.
“The finish could not have been closer either. We would like to thank everyone who assisted with this year’s event for their role in making it yet another year to remember.”
EventScotland continued its support of the SSDT this year as part of its national funding programme. This funding enabled the organisers to deliver an enhanced experience for competitors and fans alike, including a new evening entertainment hub programme with various events being held in the SSDT Hub throughout the week.
Paul Bush OBE, chief operating officer for EventScotland, commented: “EventScotland is delighted to have once again supported the Scottish Six Days Trial, and I hope visitors throughout the week enjoyed the innovations and additions to the programme for 2012.
“Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and in the SSDT we have an event that continues to go from strength to strength, attracting spectators from both the local community and further afield, while delivering a strong economic impact for the area.”
Planning is already underway for the 2013 edition of the SSDT, which will take place in Fort William and the surrounding Lochaber region of the Scottish Highlands on Monday 6th to Saturday 11th May.
The entry process for next year’s event will begin in late September.
Please visit www.ssdt.org. for further information.
High resolution, copyright-free images for media / editorial use are available on request.
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Notes to editors
Motorcycle trials – the sport
Motorcycle trials is a competitive sport that tests riding skill over a course of observed sections (or hazards/obstacles). Competitors must negotiate steep gullies, slippery rock steps, rocky streams or boulder-strewn gorges, and are penalised if they put their feet down to help them to ride the section or if they fail to complete the section in its entirety.
Motorcycle trials are unique in the world of motorsport, with it being the only discipline where the winner is decided on skill alone and not speed.
The Scottish Six Days Trial
The annual Scottish Six Days Trial is managed by the Edinburgh and District Motor Club. It is a particularly challenging motorcycle trials event as it tests competitors’ stamina, endurance, strength and consistency over long distances, with 276 riders completing more than 100 miles and 30 sections on some days of the six-day event. The routes cover a combination of rough moorland, rocky tracks and public roads.
The SSDT started in 1909 and, with breaks during the two World Wars, celebrated its 100th anniversary in May 2011, making it the oldest and also one of the most prestigious motorcycle trials events in the world.
The SSDT is based in the Lochaber region of the Scottish Highlands and is traditionally held in May every year. Each day of the trial starts and finishes in Fort William, providing a major tourist attraction for the town.
Admission to watch the SSDT is free on all days. Full event details, including the best spectating points throughout the week, can be found in the official event programme, which will be available to purchase in April 2012.
An independent economic impact survey commissioned by the event organiser and funded by Event Scotland in 2011 showed that the Scottish Six Days Trial provided a direct economic impact of around £1,100,000 to Fort William last year.
Event overview and history: http://www.g2fgroup.com/html/ssdt/html/SSDT12-addinfo.html
EventScotland
The Scottish Six Days Trial is supported by EventScotland.
EventScotland is the national events agency.
EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org.
The Year of Creative Scotland 2012 will spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage and is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.
More information and resources to help businesses engage with Year of Creative Scotland are available at www.visitscotland.org/yearofcreativescotland-toolkit
For all press enquires please contact:
Siobhan Turner / Jake Miller @ G2F Media
Email: siobhan@g2fmedia.com / jake@g2fmedia.com
Tel: 0161 763 6660
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Contact: Siobhan Turner, G2F Media
Phone: 0161 763 6660
Website: http://www.ssdt.org/
