Barry’s Pre-Scott

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Barry Robinson captures ace photographer Eric Kitchen at Orgate with tons of water pouring over the falls – Photo: Barry Robinson

Barry Robinson who celebrated his 86th birthday yesterday (19th October) was out and about doing what he does best, taking photographs of places and people around the Swaledale area just prior to the 92nd Scott Trial.

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A smiling John Shirt of Gas Gas UK when out and about pre-trial – Photo: Barry Robinson

Robinson’s photos have graced quite a few pages of this year’s souvenir programme, which it has been said is selling like ‘hot cakes’ in and around the area pre-trial.

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The Trials Monkey, Michael Brown a former winner in 2013 and second last year – Photo: Barry Robinson

Here are just a few of Barry’s photos for your enjoyment pre-2017 Scott Trial.

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The Welsh contingent, pre-trial. Iwan Roberts is on the far right – Photo: Barry Robinson

 

Scott Trial Charity Auction

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Iwan Roberts (Beta) Reels Head 2015 – Photo: Barry Robinson

With under a week until this year’s Scott Trial the Richmond Motor Club are getting items ready for the Scott Trial Charity Auction, which will be held on the evening of the trial, prior to the Results and Presentation of Awards at the Richmondshire Cricket Club. All proceeds will go to Scott Trial Charities. If you would like to donate any items to be auctioned for Scott Charities, there is still time! Please email ~ secretary@richmondmotorclub.com ~ or telephone 01748 886356.

2017 SCOTT TRIAL CHARITY AUCTION DONATED ITEMS

EDINBURGH & DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB’S SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL COMMITTEE : http://www.ssdt.org – guaranteed and paid up entry for 2018 SSDT.

EDINBURGH & DMC’s PRE ’65 SCOTTISH TRIAL COMMITTEE – guaranteed entry for 2018 Pre ’65 Trial (not paid, please note that bike must meet criteria for trial).

RICHMOND MOTOR CLUB YORKSHIRE LTD – guaranteed and paid up entry for the Reeth 3 Day Trial 2018.

MC PRODUCTS IRONCRAFT / NIGEL CUMMINS, Piercebridge http://www.mcproductsironcraft.co.uk – Galvanised decorative sign hanger x 2

JITSIE/OFF ROAD ACTION – various items

CJT OFF ROAD, Richmond – various items

NEIL STURGEON PHOTOGRAPHY – Signed canvas photo of 2016 Scott Trial Winner James Dabill, signed photo of James Whitham, signed photo of Ian Hutchinson.

PAUL ROBINSON, SCOTT CLERK OF COURSE – collection of Scott Trial programmes: 1997,1999,2004,2005,2007,2010,2012,2013,2015,2016.

SMITH AND ALLEN, Darlington http://www.smithandallan.com – Oils

PIERCEBRIDGE FARM SHOP – voucher

ALESSANDRO’S SICILIAN RESTAURANT, RICHMOND http://www.alessandrossicilian.co.uk/ – voucher

JAXX LAWSON Joat’s Imagery Tel: 07720713892email: lawsonjaxx@gmail.comWeb: http://www.facebook.com/JoatsImagery/– limited edition (1 of only 2) A3 size mounted print from water-colour of James Dabill, 2016 Scott Trial winner. This edition will also be signed by James.

JIM AUSTERMUHLE – 2 X Beta EVO air-box inlet tube, mud-flaps & drain plug kits

MALCOLM TENNANT, STONEGATE FARM, RAVENSWORTH – Half a lamb hoggart, raised at STONEGATE FARM

APA BESPOKE TIMBER PRODUCTS – wooden chopping board

EMMA BRISTOW, WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPION – World Championship Winning T Shirt

MALCOLM RATHMELL SPORTS Bishop Thornton, Harrogate http://www.mrsltd.co.uk- various items

THE BUCK HOTEL, REETH http://www.buckhotel.co.uk – bottle of Prosecco

JOHN SHIRT GAS GAS MOTOS LTD/TRIAL ENDURO DIRECT, Buxton http://www.trialendurodirect.com http://www.gasgasuk.com – various items

AG BIKES, Low Row, Richmond http://www.agbikes.co.uk – various items

NIGEL BIRKETT, BIRKETT MOTOSPORT, Broughton-in-Furness http://www.birkettmotosportukltd.co.uk – Scorpa T shirt

BOTTLE OF KIN TOFFEE VODKA, Judith & Mick Wren https://kinvodka.co.uk/

JOHN LAMPKIN IMPORTS LTD, http://www.beta-uk.com/ – various items

THE CB INN, Arkengarthdale/PUNCHBOWL INN Low Row http://www.cbinn.co.uk – Voucher

TRIALS UK, Horsforth, Leeds http://www.trialsuk.co.uk – various items

LEE VASEY – Knee Slider (wet) signed by Aprilia World Superbike rider Eugene Laverty, Knee Slider (dry) signed by Aprilia World Superbike rider Eugene Laverty

PAUL SADLER, ACKLAMS BETA, Harrogate http://www.acklamsbeta.co.uk – various items (including one very special lot!)

Thank you to all our generous supporters and thank you in advance to our auction bidders! Come and grab yourself a fantastic auction item on Saturday night!

Barry Robinson 86 not out!

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Barry Robinson

Few people in motorcycle sport will not have either heard, or come across, the name Barry Robinson.

Barry from Ilkley, West Yorkshire has been taking photos and reporting on events for over 60 years. He turns 86 on 19th October and shows no signs of slowing down.

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Barry Robinson has been taking photographs for more than 60 years.

Serious about his craft, he joined the National Union of Journalists and he has worked on The Motor Cycle; MCN; Daily Telegraph; Californian Biker; Newsquest; Yorkshire TV to name but a few.

Robinson got to know Eric Rathmell, father of Malcolm back in 1953 when he rented a cottage in the village of Otley and became life-long friends with the Rathmells from that moment on.

Trials Guru’s John Moffat said: “I came across the name Barry Robinson by reading reports of trials in MCN when I was still at school. In particular an event that I attended as a spectator at Rochdale, the ACU Inter-Centre Team Trial that was in 1973. I was fortunate to be introduced to Barry some years ago when attending a Scott Trial and to my surprise he had heard of me, through the sport. Like most motorcyclists, he is a true enthusiast and I think his experience led him to believe that I was too and we hit it off. Since then he has taken my photo many times when interviewing and he has allowed me to use these here on Trials Guru. I spent a whole day with him and Eric Kitchen at ‘Goats’ during the Reeth Three Day trial a few years ago, which was a very entertaining experience. It was a joy to see these two guys at work and the banter between them was hilarious”.

Richmond sidecar trials driver, Barry Watson told Trials Guru: “I first met Barry Robinson in 1976 at the Allan Jefferies Trial, which Ronnie Suttill and I won, beating Arthur Lampkin. In his words, he said, well I suppose I had better take a photograph seeing you have won!”

Robinson has actually ridden many factory bikes in his time, especially those of Malcolm Rathmell. These included the works Bultacos, Montesas and of course Beamish Suzuki.

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Trying out Malcolm Rathmell’s factory Montesa in 1982, Robinson has had his leg over quite a few factory machines in his day.

He has also had close ties with the Lampkins, especially Arthur, the eldest of the Silsden brothers.

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Barry Robinson astride a 750 MV Agusta, which belonged to Mallory Park owner, Chris Meek. MCN borrowed it for a road test, but damaged the motor.

A very private person, Barry Robinson told Trials Guru: “Not a lot of people are aware of my long connection with the Rathmell and Lampkin families or that I actually rode trials, as an expert; scrambles, as an idiot, or that I was a Yorkshire and Lancashire champion grass track sidecar passenger and rode in televised scrambles as a solo and sidecar passenger”.

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Malcolm Rathmell’s factory Montesa Cota 349 in 1982 – photographed by Barry Robinson

Robinson has also been a Speedway referee, a TT and Ulster GP mechanic for Alan Shepherd and Rob Fitton and an ACU road race steward. He was also an assistant clerk of the course of the Ilkley Grand National to Eric Rathmell for 25 years. He also ran the Dunlop press office at the SSDT for three years when the tyre company sponsored the event.

Barry has captured on both roll film and digitally all of the top riders of their day.

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Rob Edwards relaxes after the Scott Trial in 1981 -Photo Copyright: Barry Robinson, Ilkely.

Happy birthday Barry on the 19th of October, you have a good few miles and events to cover yet!

This tribute to Barry Robinson on his 86th birthday is copyright.

Article: Trials Guru / MoffatRacing ~ 2017

Photographs: Barry Robinson ~ world wide copyright, All Rights Reserved

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Houston is 2017 Champion

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Craig Houston is the new Scottish Premier Trials Champion – Photo: Brian Gray Photography

Craig Houston is the 2017 Scottish Premier Trials Champion. He is the first Ayrshireman to hold the Scottish Trials Championship Premier class since it began back in 1955.

Known in the Scottish Trials world as ‘Housty’, Trials Guru was quick of the mark to do a ‘five minutes with’ style interview with the man himself.

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Craig Houston is the first Ayshireman to win the Scottish title – Photo: Brian Gray Photography
Craig: “My Dad, George, also a trials rider, got me into motorcycle sport, he got me a Yamaha PW50 at four years old and a Yamaha TY80 a few years later.
I didn’t compete until I was around twelve when I entered the local Stevenston and Dalmellington clubs’ trials riding a brute of a 1999 Beta Techno!
I have 2 major influences in trials, firstly school teacher, Alan MacDonald, who was not only my maths teacher but my trials teacher in the early days!
He used to throw me out of his class during the day and then I’d go out practising with him and his brother, Duncan at night!
He used to get annoyed when I called him ‘Mr Macdonald’ at trials as it made him feel old. I still do it now and again, but he is old now so it’s fine. 
My other big influence is Gary Macdonald, who has helped me a lot over the years and actually got me back into trials after giving up for three years when I turned nineteen.
He’s a pretty awesome trials rider and definitely the best Scotland has seen- and probably will see for a long time yet. 
My all time favourite trials rider is Takumi Narita, I think he was awesome, his riding style was great to watch and way ahead of it’s time”. 
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‘Housty’ on his Duncan Wood supplied Scorpa 300 – Photo: Brian Gray Photography

Trials Guru: What is your line of work Craig?

“I’m a mechanical fitter working in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. My job is well suited to maintaining motorcycles which is great. 
Now I’ve won the Scottish championship I want to try and do better at national events down south, like the S3 rounds and the BTC, the Scott and the big one will always be the SSDT.
I hope to string a good week together up in the Highlands one year! I am also looking forward to trying to retain the title next year against Andy Anderson, Joe Dawson and Duncan MacColl. Should make for an interesting championship in 2018!
 
I have to say a massive thank you to Duncan Wood at East Neuk Trials Motorcycles who has been helping me out since 2014, without him I wouldn’t be able to to do what I love so thank you very much”.
Thanks to Craig Houston for taking time out from his busy schedule and best of luck for next season, 2018.
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Article Copyright: Trials Guru/MoffatRacing 2017

Photographs copyright: Brian Gray Photography, Shetland Isles –

http://www.briangrayphotography.com

Scott Trial Fever continues

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Chloe Richardson at Orgate in the 2016 Scott – Photo: Barry Robinson

With the run up to the 92nd Scott Trial, the Clerk of the Course and his assistants have now fully assessed and plotted the route and sections. This year the route will run in reverse to normal, with the underfoot conditions being described as being ‘good to wet’.

The reverse route is necessary to adhere to the planning permission arrangements for this unique annual event.

If there is a bonus of a dry spell in the weather leading up to the Scott, then conditions would be perfect for this ‘trial of trials’.

With all this in mind, competitors are reminded to keep to the flagged route and not to deviate.

Spectators are similarly urged to abide by all warning and information signs and specific information given in the official souvenir programme priced at £5.00 with the proceeds going to the local ‘Scott Charities’ – and on the Richmond Motor Club website. This will ensure everyone has a good day trialling, one way or another.

Bruce Storr, a former Clerk of Course and the notable seeing eye, has penned his choices within his famous ‘spectator guide’ once again. This is an invaluable plan for those wishing to make good use of the day.

Storr continues to be a keystone in the event organisation, and his knowledge of the event is nothing short of legendary.

With yet another full entry of 200 riders, and the expectation of large crowds, it promises to be an exciting, event with the possibility that any one of the favourite riders can take home the Alfred Angas Scott Memorial Trophy.

The other prestigious award is for those riders aiming to set ‘Standard Time’, watch out for Sunderland’s Billy Bolt and local men, Jonathan Richardson, James Stones and John Sunter to name but a few who are all on a mission to succeed.

All that’s needed now is some fine October weather to make for a perfect Scott on Saturday, 21st ~ Bring it on!

In keeping with copyright, we direct you to the Richmond Motor Club official website for the current rider list.

HERE

SSDT 2018 – Opens 11 October

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Entries for the annual Scottish Six Days Open Reliability Trial, based at and around Fort William, Scottish Highlands, open on Wednesday 11th October and once again these will be online via the event’s website: www.ssdt.org

The entries close on Wednesday, 6th December at which time it is expected to be oversubscribed, given that the 2017 was run in wall to wall sunshine!

The organisers cannot guarantee the weather, but they can guarantee a test of rider and machine over six days which cover a fair mileage of Lochaber and surrounding counties.

The 2018 event will be run from Monday 7th until Saturday 12th May.

Clerk of the Course will be Jeff Horne and Event Secretary Mieke De Vos, both now veterans in their posts.

Full details of the event are best viewed on the official website.

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Will McBain (Beta) in the 2017 SSDT . Photo: Trials Guru/Moffat

Scott Trial – Latest news

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Trials Guru’s countdown to the Scott Trial

With only three weeks to go until the annual Scott Trial, sponsored by local haulage company NDL, operated by Darlington trials rider, Trevor Willans, the Richmond Motor Club (Yorks) Ltd (RMC) have been engaged in a whirlwind of activity in Swaledale where the event takes place. It is a very unique event, being a time and observation trial.

The sheer scale and magnitude of the Scott Trial is a weighty task for any club to undertake, the RMC have organised it for the past twenty-six years and 2017 will be their twenty-seventh event. This is the 92nd Scott Trial held in the 103 years since it began in 1914.

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Darwen club member, the irrepressible Andy Cripps (TRS) at Orgate in the 2016 Scott Trial – Photo copyright: Barry Robinson

Trial Secretary this year is local farmer, Ken Wallis, no stranger to the Scott, he has been a committee member for many years and the start-field at Feldom Lane is based on his ground.

Ken’s wife Chris was a previous Scott Trial secretary, stepping down in 2015 and their sons John and Richard have also ridden the event.

Diane Horner who carried on the task in 2016, but with Grand-parenting duties taking up a considerable amount of her time, she decided to step down at the last AGM.

Ken Wallis has been keen on the event since he was a small boy, so there is no lack of enthusiasm for the ‘Greatest Trial of them all’ in the Wallis household.

The event attracts 200 competitors from far afield and the trial secretary has just released details of the start numbers and times, so that competitors can make their arrangements in time for the big day. These details are available on the RMC website including a current list of riders along with important information and final instructions. Click HERE

The Scott Trial has an official souvenir programme which is sold at the price of £5.00 with the proceeds all going to local charities, known collectively as the ‘Scott Charities’. The programme is a ‘must have’ for the event as it gives full details of where to watch, where catering is available out on the course and other facilities. Packed full of interesting articles, it will be available to buy from Thursday 5th October onwards, either by post at the slightly higher price of £6.50 or by calling customers from local stockists from Saturday 9th October at the face price of £5.00, details of where to buy are also on the official website. Click HERE

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Local rider, Chloe Richardson from Skeeby has a number of Scott Trials under her belt now, seen here at Orgate on her Beta – Photo copyright: Barry Robinson

The programme which has 92 pages, will also be available to buy at the start-field where the sales ladies will happily exchange your hard-earned £5 note for a copy on the day.

The first rider leaves the start field at 09:00:00 on Saturday 21st October and the first rider home is usually back at the finish field around 15:00 hours, this is an estimated time, and the actual finish time is dependent on a variety of factors not least the weather and the condition of the course.

The fastest rider sets standard time and as to the winner, well that is always kept under wraps until the presentation of awards that evening around 22:00 at the Richmondshire Cricket Club in Richmond. Entry is free and the awards are preceeded by the Scott Charity Auction which starts around 20:15. Proceeds of the auction again go to the local Scott Charities.

For more information on the Scott Trial: Click HERE

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Coming soon to Irish Trials

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David Coughlan from Waterford on his very original 244cc Bultaco Sherpa T seen here at the Banbridge Classic Trial – Photo: Chris Sharp

Trials Guru has pleasure in announcing that we will be showcasing some images granted display by County Londonderry’s Chris Sharp, a trials, cycling and motorcycling enthusiast.

Chris has taken photographs for many years at events on the Emerald Isle and beyond and he takes really good images.

We are of course delighted to be able to show his work on the new ‘Irish Trials – Chris Sharp Selection‘ page and of course, as usual, all images remain the copyright of Chris Sharp, so please be respectful of that.

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Autumn in Swaledale

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Top Scottish rider, Andrew Anderson in the 2016 event on his Scorpa at ‘Orgate’ – Photo courtesy: Barry Robinson

As usual with Autumn settling into the Yorkshire Dales, this can only mean one thing, apart from the falling leaves. The trials world knows that ‘Scott Trial’ fever is in the air.

The annual pilgrimage to the North Yorkshire Dales for the Saturday 21st October begins, and it begins early.

The Scott is a very special event, one that is run for the last twenty-six years by the Richmond Motor Club (Yorkshire) Ltd under it’s Scott Trial committee. The first rider leaves the start field at 09.00 hours prompt.

Each rider, of which there is a maximum of 200, leave at twenty second intervals thereafter.

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Welshman from Ffestiniog, Iwan Roberts (Beta) on ‘Reels Head’ in 2015 – Photo: Barry Robinson

For spectators there is much to see, a must buy is the event official programme, this is on sale from local outlets two weeks prior to the trial and on the start field on the morning of the event. The price is £5.00 and the sale proceeds of which go to local charities.

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The front cover of the 2017 Scott Trial Official Souvenir Programme*

If you are not able to be in the area of the start field then you can buy one on line and this is available on the club’s website. HERE

The organisers spend a lot of time obtaining permission and because of this they ask that all spectators respect the fact that they are guests on private property.

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Two men whose names appear on the Alfred A. Scott trophy –  Jeff Smith MBE & Arthur Lampkin – Photo: John Hulme/Trial Magazine 2009

The official programme has full details of where you can see all the action, where to park, where to eat at the events’ caterers mobile units and just as important, where not to go.

A complete riders list is included at the rear of the programme so that you can find it quickly to identify the riders. This is no normal trial as on occassion more than one rider is in the section at the same time.

The sections are staffed not only by observers, but also ‘checkers’ whose job is to simply note each riders’ number as they enter a section. This acts as a double check to make sure no rider is missed going through. This means that more than the usual compliment of officials is required.

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60 years ago, Anthony H. ‘Tony’ Bisby (197 Dot) in the 1957 Scott – Photo: Charlie Watson, Hull

Please adhere to the organiser’s warnings and instructions, this will ensure the future of this very unique event.

Not all of the course is open to the public. There are specific areas where spectators should avoid as permission is given only for competitors and event marshals only by the landowners. There is good reasons for this as much of the land is protected.

If you have not experienced the Scott Trial, then you don’t know what you have been missing. So get to Richmond on 21st October and watch the Greatest one-day trial of them all.

For SATNAV users, the start field postcode is set as DL11 7LS.

Photographs Copyright and with permission of:

Barry Robinson, Ilkely

John Hulme/Trial Magazine

Charlie Watson, Hull

*The Scott Trial 2017 official programme is the intellectual property of the Richmond Motor Club (Yorks) Ltd.

Scott Trial 2017 Official Programme

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The 2017 Scott Trial Official Souvenir Programme, in full colour, will be on sale from October 7th, runs to 92 pages. It is packed with all the information you will need to spectate at the annual classic on Saturday, 21st October including a full rider list, course map and guide to places to watch. As well as being liberally enhanced with historical Scott photos and some features on the event landowners, past and present, there are points of interest which you can read up about when you are waiting for the first riders to arrive!

The programmes will be available at the start-field on the day and from the usual local outlets prior to the event. These include: Richmond Petrol Stations; Cross Lanes Store, Richmond; CJ Tennant & Estate Cafe, Richmond; Neeps & Tatties, Richmond; Smith and Allan, Darlington; Piercebridge Farm Shop; AG Bikes, Low Row etc. plus all the usual Reeth outlets. Priced at £5, all profits made from the sales, as usual, will go directly to The Scott Charities.

Not going to be at the start-field or in these towns? Why not pre-order your copy by post now, the cost is £6.50 including the postage and packing.   This can be done by e-mailing your request to: scotttrial100@gmail.com  Please make the subject line of your e-mail: ‘Scott Trial 2017 Programme Order’ – payment details will be made available by e-mail reply.

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