Alastair Macgillivray
Words: Trials Guru
Photos: Jimmy Young – Iain Lawrie – Kimages/Kim Ferguson
Two times a Scottish trials champion, 1974 & 1979, from Banavie, Fort William, Alastair Macgillivray is an electrician by trade and was brought up at ‘Muirshearlich’ near to where a group of sections for the Scottish Six Days were situated – ‘Trotter’s Burn’.
Known to all the locals as simply, ‘Allie-Magill’, the quiet spoken Lochaber-man was a force to be reckoned with in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Scottish Trials.
He is the cousin of Rodger Mount, himself a three-time Scottish Trials Champion (1971-1973).
Always a member of Lochaber & District MCC and at one time a secretary of the club, Alastair rode mainly Bultaco Sherpas from 1971 until 1982 when he moved on to ride Fantics in Scottish nationals and in the Scottish Six Days.
He acted as a ‘back-marker’ official at the SSDT for many years after he ceased riding regularly in trials.
Macgillivray won the Scottish championship in 1979 after coming very close to winning in 1978, but lost out at the penultimate round at the Glentanner Estate in Kincardineshire run by Bon Accord MCC, leaving the championship spoils open to eventual joint winners, John Winthrop and Robin Cownie.
Alastair is also an accomplished fly-fisherman, particularly trout fishing and has won many competitions, one of which the prize was the use of a Lexus car for a year being the Lexus Fly-Fishing Champion in 2012.
The Premier Trial Sport Website for photos, articles, news and the history of motorcycle trials
TRIALS GURU 
Now John, as one who used to train alongside Kenny Fleming when he was an ISDT teamster and heard the stories, I’d say there has to be a post covering his career sometime.
Aye! The “meanest man in Dunblane” according to Ernie’s marvellous lore. Bring out that grand old shotgun story!
Ali is without doubt one of the sports nice guys and always had a sensible word of encouragement or advice for others.
In addition to his trials prowess, Kenny was an accomplished amateur wrestler. I remember him giving us a demonstration of a drop kick on the stair landing of our SSDT guesthouse! The noise when he hit the deck woke up the whole house.