The 2015 Scott Trial Programme features James Dabill who won the Centenary Scott in 2014 – Photo credit Joe Burn.
Here is a very special preview of the much awaited 2015 Scott Trial Programme, which this year, is again a full colour edition.
Programme Editor, Julia Robinson would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped in any way over the last five years, as she retires from the Scott Trial Programme Editor Role.
Programmes will be available from the usual outlets from the 3rd of October – Richmond Petrol Stations; Richmond Garage Services; The Food Weighhouse; Cross Lanes Stores; Smith and Allan in Darlington; Piercebridge Farm Shop and the usual Reeth outlets for £5.
You can also order now by emailing Julia at: scotttrial100@gmail.com (£6.50 including postage).
Julia Robinson enjoys a nice glass of wine after completing her fifth Scott Trial programme. Photo: Laura Robinson, Richmond.
Trials Guru met up with Julia Robinson, the editor of the Scott Trial programme for the past five years.
Trials Guru: OK Julia, how did you first get involved with the Scott Trial, who asked you and how did you find the time to do it?
“My husband Paul, a trials rider joined the Scott Trial Committee in 2010 and duly went to his first meeting, when he came home he looked a little sheepish “what have you volunteered for?” I asked. “Nothing” comes his reply “I have volunteered YOU to do the programme, don’t worry, you can still observe and really there’s nothing to it!”
I didn’t think that after my first two full days of trying to make the all the wording fit round Eric Kitchen’s perfect photograph of James Dabill, that front cover was definitely the hardest of all.
That first year in 2011 was definitely tough work, Bernadette Tennant and Barbara Walker, my predecessors, helped me stay afloat with advice and encouragement, it’s always good to have the experience of others, they give you the confidence and knowledge to succeed.
I’ve said many times in my five programmes that it was and remains an honour to be involved in the Scott Trial, with its huge band of volunteers and the Scott trial Committee who work tirelessly to put on the event. As a family it fills us with pride as my late father-in-law would have been so proud of us all, The Scott is like a good glass of ‘prosecco’, you always want a bit more!
I have been honoured to share some great stories with our bright future riders, world champions and Past stalwarts of the sport of trials, its such a buzz when your Inbox has names like Sammy Miller and Dougie Lampkin popping up. Letting everyone read their experiences, pain and endurance is the icing on the cake. Also working with some of the best photographers, not just the traditional names but others who have just shown a natural talent for taking trial photographs like John and Sylvia at Digital Swaledale and Joe Burn whose fantastic photograph is on the front cover.
Working with all these riders, photographers and also those that advertise is just so rewarding, you are always thinking about those who have collected the Scott programme from the year dot, you want each years to be fresh but still traditional, it is a hard but fulfilling task.
The time I have spent has always been fun (except the last two weeks to deadline). But when you see that final proof and share it with those who are Scott specialists, it just fills you with pride.
Unfortunately though it is now just a time thing, I have a new day job that is very busy and is mainly thanks to The Scott as it is in charity work, which is also rewarding but demanding. It is just the right time to hand over the reins and give someone else the chance to taste and share Scott History!
Trials Guru: Many thanks to you Julia for taking time out to talk to us and we all wish you all the best in your new day job and thanks for the effort you have put in over the last five years to the famous Scott Trial programme, a publication that is always sold out and highly sought after by trials enthusiasts the world over.
Trials Guru will be at the Scott again. Here John Moffat has a quick chat with Emma Bristow at the 2014 event at the start field at Marske, near Richmond, North Yorks. Firts man away at 09:00 riders leave at 20 second intervals. – Photo: Trial Magazine.
Remember that the famous Scott Trial takes place on Saturday, 17th October.
Scott Trial Souvenir Programmes will be available at all the usual outlets from the 3rd of October onwards:
Richmond Petrol Station, Richmond Garage Services, The Food Weigh-house, Cross Lanes Stores, Smith and Allan in Darlington, Piercebridge Farm Shop, AG Bikes at Low Row, priced at £5. You can also order now by emailing Julia Robinson, programme co-ordinator at scotttrial100@gmail.com (£6.50 including postage).
All surpluses as usual will go to The Scott Charities.
Councillor John Blackie, leader of Richmondshire District Council is an enthusiastic supporter of the Scott Trial. Photo copyright: The Westmorland Gazette.
Last year the Scott Trial celebrated its’ centenary and the event was started by local councillor and leader of Richmondshire District Council, Mr John Blackie from Hawes. Cllr. Blackie is a very enthusiastic supporter of the Scott Trial and has been official start flag man for some years now. Cllr Blackie is always made welcome to the Scott Trial start field, which is just off the Reeth to Marske road.
The Scott is a fantastic event, where fastest rider sets standard time, so if you have little to do on Saturday 17th October, the Scott Trial is the event to be at!
See you there!
Information provided by Julia Robinson, Scott Trial Programme Co-Ordinator/Editor.
Rob Edwards on Blackwater in 1977. One of a number of photographs from Iain Lawrie that have never before been seen. Exclusive to Trials Guru. Copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
Trials Guru friendly photographer, Iain Lawrie from Kinlochleven has just unearthed a number of photographs taken at the 1977 Scottish Six Days Trial. Many thanks to Iain for allowing Trials Guru to publish these.
Multiple World Trials Champion, Adam Raga has signed for TRS, the trials machine developed by former World Champion, Jordi Tarres. Photo: TRS Motorcycles
TRS Motorcycles UK have released the following information 14th September 2015 –
“TRS Motorcycles UK are delighted with the news from the TRS Factory and Jordi Tarres that Adam Raga has signed a contract to join the team as their number 1 rider.
Adam needs no introduction as former multiple World Champion, and recently confirmed 2015 World number two, he is a brilliant rider and ambassador for trials and the brands he represents.
Adam’s first UK appearance on the TRS One is likely to be at Sheffield indoor on January 9th.
All of us at TRS Motorcycles UK wish the team a successful 2016 season”.
Trials Guru: This is exciting news as Adam Raga was the protege of Jordi Tarres back in the late 1990’s. The 33 year old six times World Champion from Ulldecona, Catalonia, Spain will be a force to reckon with given his performances in the 2015 world series on a private Gas Gas machine, finishing runner up to Montesa/Honda rider Toni Bou. The UK importer for TRS is 11 times British Trials Champion, Steve Saunders.
From the left: Rainer Heise; Mick Andrews & Felix Krahnstover – Photo: Kurt-Patrik Beckmann, Hanover.
Recently, Mick Andrews held a trials school near Celle, Lower Saxony near to Luneberg and Hanover in Germany for the local ‘Celler Trial Club’. Some old friends also showed up in support, none other than Felix Krahnstöver, former 10 times German national champion and Montesa and KTM factory rider.
Jill and Mick Andrews have a look at Rainer Heise’s photos with Felix Krahnstover. Photo: Kurt-Patrik Beckmann, Hanover.
Accompanied by Rainer Heise friend and trials rider and was the photographer of Fahrerlager (Paddock) and Trialsport magazine from the beginning of the 1970’s to 2000.
No longer competing, but still an enthusiast Krahnstöver is still dedicated to the local club. Felix is still selling and dealing in trials machines and was editor of Trialsport Deutschland when it began in 1977. The magazine is still going now run by Hans Greiner based in Freudenberg-Ebenheid.
Rainer, being an enthusiast of the sport and a keen photographer, brought along his fantastic photo album for Mick and the other enthusiasts to look at.
Two of Rainer Heise’s photos showing Malcolm Rathmell and Peter Gaunt back in the 1970’s. Photo: Kurt-Patrik Beckmann, Hanover Original photo images copyright: Rainer Heise, Celle, Germany.
Trials Guru has been in contact with Rainer Heise and shortly we will be featuring a selection of some of his work from the early 1970’s through to the 1990’s. So we have created a “Rainer Heise – Trials in Germany” page specially for this.
Yamscot was the Competition and Racing section of Aberdeen’s Shirlaws dealership in the 1970’s.
The annual Highland Classic Two-Day Trial for 2016 will be held on 11/12 June and will pay homage to Yamscot, the competition part of Shirlaws Motorcycles, Aberdeen back in the 1970’s.
The brainchild of the late managing director, Leslie Shirlaw, it was created to promote Yamaha off-road and racing in Scotland. At the time Shirlaws were a Yamaha dealer, nowadays they are main Kawasaki dealers.
It is hoped that a glittering display of Yamaha trials machines will be at the event as well as some of the original Yamscot supported trials riders.
Yamscot were involved in trials, motocross and racing over a ten year period.
The event, promoted by Inverness & District Motorcycle Club Ltd will be held on the Alvie Estate, near Aviemore and the identity of the Guest of Honour will be announced nearer the event.
The trial itself was over-subscribed in 2015 and entry forms will be released for the 2016 event on 20th February.
2016 will be the 11th time the event has been run as a two day trial, the first year, 2004 was a one-day affair.
Previous Guests of Honour at the Highland Classic include Yrjo Vesterinen (2013), Dave Thorpe (2014) and Bill Wilkinson (2015).
The event is open to ACU,SACU & MCUI trials licence card holders and cater for both Pre’65 & twin-shock trials machines.
Stop Press: 2016 Guest of Honour – MICK ANDREWS
Roddy Taylor’s generously sponsored Yamaha TZ racing machine from 1987 (Yamscot) | Photo copyright: Ronnie Weir, Edinburgh.
Don Morley riding his ex-works 250cc Greeves Anglian in the 1995 Pre’65 Scottish Trial. Photo Copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven, Scotland. When Don Morley was made aware of this very image, he was keen to obtain a copy and willing to pay for it. Iain Lawrie immediately provided Don with a copy with his compliments!
Words: Trials Guru
Photos: Don Morley; Iain Lawrie & John Knight
Trials Guru recognises the talents of a man from Redhill, Reigate in Surrey who has brought literally thousands of wonderful and exciting colour sporting images into magazines, periodicals and books the world over. His name is Don Morleyand what’s more he’s a trials rider! Well actually, Don is a frustrated road racer at heart as he didn’t have the funds available to race when he was a young man, so took up trials riding instead, being the less expensive motorcycle sport option!
Don Morley aboard his 1949 ex-factory Royal Enfield (HWP731) – Morley is an acknowledged expert on the marque. (Photo supplied by Don Morley for this article from his personal collection)
Described as the ‘Godfather’ of sports photography by Fast Bikes Magazinein the article they ran on Don in their September 2010 edition, Morley is respected the world over by riders, athletes and team managers because of his uncanny ability to press the button just at the right moment.
Raised in Derby, Don started taking photographs for a living in the 1950’s when it was all glass negatives, progressing to processed roll film. He began his motorcycle photography as a staff photographer with Motor Cycle News in 1957.
Morley is a 100% professional sports photographer, joining forces with Tony Duffy’s “All-Sport International Photographic Agency/Don Morley” in the 1970’s, his images of sporting events and competitors are highly sought after around the globe.
Puiblished by Osprey, Don Morley’s book on Classic British Two-Stroke Trials Bikes is a much sought after publication. Truly a collectors item now.
Don is also an accomplished author, writing several books which include: Classic British Trials Bikes& Classic British Two-Stroke Trials Bikes; Spanish Trials Bikesand Trials: – A Riders Guide, to name but four!
Published by Osprey in 1984, Don Morley’s Classic British Trials Bikes book was a top seller. Original copies fetch high prices to this day.“TT – In Camera”, One of the many titles written by Don Morley over the years, with foreword by Geoff Duke.
Morley has photographed many events, not just sporting events, witnessed the Munich Olympic Games terrorism atrocity to name but one major international incident and much, much more. He has had a varied and interesting life as a sports photographer.
Don has owned several ex-factory trials machines in his time as a rider, including the Johnny Brittain Royal Enfield 500 Bullet HNP331 and another ex-factory Enfield, LUY86. He appeared in the BBC TV series, ‘Perpetual Motion’ in an edition which covered the Royal Enfield and Enfield of India story in 1992. Morley is an acknowledged expert on the Royal Enfield marque. He built a few special trials machines including a BSA B40 and also wrote a series of articles on the development of four-stroke trials machines for the ‘Classic Motor Cycle’.
Don Morley (right) recieves his chain of office from Chairman, Ken Brady – Photo: John Knight (former British Trophy team member ISDT)
Don was one of the first to take up Pre’65 trials competition back in the early 1980’s on an ex-Brian ‘Tiger’ Payne AJS.
The one thing you notice about Don is his serious nature, he is a professional after all, he took photographs to make a living, but he does have a good sense of humour as well.
Trials Guru’s John Moffat met Don Morley many years ago at the Pre’65 Scottish at Kinlochleven, initially it was a frosty meeting as ‘The Guru’ intimated that Don had made a “slight mistake with a factory registration number” in one of his books! After a good frank chat, it was all ended very amicably, as this was merely an amateur enthusiast correcting a professional. Let’s face it EVERYONE can make a mistake. Happily, from that day on ‘Trials Guru’ and Don Morley have been good friends, their paths crossing occasionally and they are always happy to meet each other.
Don saw the funny side of the argument and said jokingly: “John, that’s OK, as long as you don’t want Osprey to reprint my book to make a correction!”
Morley once took a photo of ‘The Guru’ on his G3C Matchless with the great Gordon Jackson standing alongside, at Kinlochleven, the machine which was loaned to Jackson for the 2000 parade at the Scottish Six Days. The image has been a prized possession of ‘The Guru’ ever since.
Photo copyright: Don Morley (All Rights Reserved)
So, the next time you see a photo credit as “All-Sport/Don Morley” under an image of a racing bike at speed, you can say that this image was taken by a true enthusiast and … a trials rider!
Don Morley, Reigate, Surrey, England. – Trials Gurusalutes you, because you are an enthusiast as well as a photographic professional. – Thank you also for the kind permission to use one of your wonderful photographs on this website.
Beyond the call of duty! – Don Morley was lying on his side taking this shot of racer Dennis Ireland on his RG500 Suzuki. Unfortunately the throttles stuck wide open, the machine went out of control just a split second after Morley clicked the button. Don suffered a broken leg, Ireland more serious injuries, spending five months in hospital, having eleven operations on leg, ankle foot and tendons. A truly evocative image taken by a true professional. – Photo: strictly not for reproduction without permission of Don Morley – All Rights Reserved. Worldwide copyright.
The intellectual property formerly of ‘All-Sport’ photograph agency is now owned by Getty Images UK.
Please remember, all Don Morley’s photographs and those of his company ‘All-Sport’ are world-wide copyright and must not be used without prior express permission.
The North-East based Bedlington Club organise the annual Alwinton 2 Day Trial. Photo credit: Colin Battensby
We recently brought all you trials enthusiasts a West Country (South West) trials page, now we have spoken to a couple of like minded enthusiasts in the North East of England who are happy for their photos to be shown on Trials Guru. So it’s a case of watch this space for North East Trials!
Details of photographers willing to share their photos to be announced shortly!
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