Tag Archives: Lochaber

Rodger Mount

January 19, 2022 bigjohn2014 1 Comment

FORT WILLIAM’S FINEST

For a few years now I have been pestering a resident of Fort William to tell me about his trials riding days. Initially this fell on deaf ears – all the excuses were dragged out, such as “I have a terrible memory” and “nobody will remember me riding now”. I was undeterred, however; this man had been the Best Scottish Rider in the Scottish Six Days Trial in 1971, 1972 and 1974, I had to get his story. Finally, during a vacation at the luxury accommodation at his Fort William establishment, I wore him down over a perfect breakfast one morning. The proviso was that if he gave an interview, I had to be finished by eight o’clock at night as he is an early riser. Lochaber in North West Scotland has produced many fine trials riders over the years, and also several Scottish Trials Champions. This is possibly due to the Scottish Six Days Trial being run on their doorstep, where the terrain ensures a steady supply of ground to hone trials riding skills. One such man is Rodger Charles Mount.

Words: John Moffat (This article was written for Classic Trial Magazine and first appeared in Issue 38).

Pictures: John Moffat/Trials Guru; Alistair MacMillan Studio, Fort William (permission of Anthony MacMillan) – John MacDonald, Fort William – The Mount Family, Fort William – Alan Vines/Yoomee Archive – Eric Kitchen – Some images: Yoomee Archive.

Rodger Mount (247cc Montesa) on Loch Eilde Path in the 1972 Scottish Six Days.

Born in the March of 1951 in Inverness and raised in Fort William, Rodger was the oldest son of Charles and Elizabeth Mount. Rodger’s mother and Farquhar ‘Fachie’ MacGillivray were siblings, which makes Rodger Mount and Alastair MacGillivray, who was Scottish Trials Champion in 1974 and 1979, first cousins. Rodger was the oldest of three brothers, followed by Kenneth and the late Colin Mount.

Royal Marines

The Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, “In memory of the officers and men of the commandos who died in the Second World War 1939–1945. This country was their training ground.” – Photo: Yoomee Archive.

Rodger’s father, Charlie Mount, and business partner to be Mike Beacham, arrived in Fort William as Royal Marines in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War. Charlie was brought up in Birchington, near Margate, Kent and was a time-served bricklayer, as was Mike Beacham. Originally deployed on the Orkney Islands, when the commanding officer realised both men had a trade they were directed to the engineering deployment and began laying the foundations for the Army Nissan huts and buildings at Achnacarry Castle, the home of the famous ‘Commandos’ from 1942, based in Lochaber, which was to be their training ground. Most of the big houses in Lochaber were commandeered by the British Army for Commando training, including the ‘secret’ base at Inverailort Castle, close to ‘Piper’s Burn’ and the home of Mrs Cameron-Head, a supporter and landowner of the Scottish Six Days in later years.

Charlie Mount struck up a friendship with Mrs Cameron-Head, doing building and renovation work on her property after the war years in exchange for shooting rights on her property. When the war had ended, both Beacham and Mount had met their intended spouses in Fort William so they returned to make their home and livelihoods in the Lochaber town. They formed their builder’s partnership, ‘B&M’ – Beacham & Mount, which lasted for several years until Charlie Mount decided to go on his own and formed ‘Modern Builders Limited’ who had their base in Fort William’s North Road.

Schooling

Young Rodger was to be educated at Fort William Primary and Lochaber High schools.

Mount: “I couldn’t really be bothered with school, I wanted to leave as soon as I could; so at fifteen, I packed in school and began a bricklayer’s apprenticeship with my father’s firm, Beacham and Mount in Fort William.” Rodger worked hard at his apprenticeship and by the time he was ‘time-served’ he could lay up to one-thousand bricks or three-hundred blocks per day, and made a good living out of it.

Modern Builders Ltd yard in North Road, Fort William – Photo: John MacDonald, Fort William Collection.

First Taste of Off Road

When he was fourteen and still at school, Rodger and his good friend Alister ‘Queerie’ Weir were allowed to take turns riding around on Ali McDonald’s BSA C15T at the back of McDonald’s shop in Alma Road. McDonald was, along with his brother Hugh, an accomplished trials rider and had ridden the Scottish Six Days many times with their friend Ron Thompson. Rodger was quite taken with the little BSA and reckoned he could get good at this trials lark, so at the age of sixteen he bought a 250cc Greeves from local rider K.K. ‘Kimmy’ Cameron in 1967. He can’t remember exactly which Edinburgh-organised trial that he first entered, but he did pick up the ‘Best Novice’ award at his first attempt. At the next event he took the ‘Best Non-Expert’ award and soon rose to the ranks of a ‘Scottish Expert’. He learned his craft on the Greeves but soon needed something a bit more up to date.

Rodger Mount on his first trials machine, a 250cc Greeves bought from friend, K.K. ‘Kimmy’ Cameron. – Photo: Mount Family Collection.

Rodger was becoming a more forceful rider; being a bricklayer kept him physically fit and he was as strong as an ox. He was stockily built and was a rider who took charge of his machine. He favoured the state-of-the-art ‘knees bent outwards’ style of riding similar to Malcolm Rathmell. Mount was known to throw himself around on top of his machine to maintain both balance and forward motion, and refused to take a dab unless absolutely necessary!

Practice Makes Perfect

Rodger had joined the local Lochaber and District MCC, and his eye was firmly set on riding the big local trial, which of course is the Scottish Six Days. He entered the 1969 event, aged 18, on a new 247cc MK1 Montesa Cota and was issued with riding number 112. The Montesa was bought for Rodger by his father, who had taken a keen interest in his eldest son’s sport. The machine was supplied by Donald Buchan of Perth and registered LES711G.

Rodger Mount on the first of his 247cc Montesa Cota machines in the 1969 Scottish Six Days Trial – Photo Alistair MacMillan Studio, Fort William

Mount: “I had a new machine every year without fail; that way you had less effort to keep it running spot-on and I had a good wage packet from working for my father. I practised a lot back then, in fact I was never off the motorcycle, they were well used. Starting in 1968, for three years we had sixty council houses to renovate for Highland Council in Kinlochleven.”

Rodger Mount on the first of his Montesa Cotas at a Scottish national trial in 1969.

“I would ride the trials machine from Fort William over the hills and Mamore Road to Kinloch, timing myself for the journey. Then at lunch time I would go practising on some sections near the village, then ride home again at dinner time, then go out for another hour on some sections near the house after dinner.” Rodger found the handling and power characteristics of the Montesa Cota much to his liking and far superior to his second-hand Greeves. His first SSDT was uneventful but disappointing, as he failed to finish.

1970 SSDT on the 247cc Montesa, Rodger Mount tackles ‘Pipeline’ – Photo: Alistair MacMillan Studio, Fort William.

At this time he was riding in all the Scottish national events along with Lochaber stalwarts Allie ‘Beag’ Cameron, Archie MacDonald, James McManus and his cousin Alastair MacGillivray, known locally as ‘Ali MacGill’. The following year, 1970, Rodger entered the SSDT on a MK2 Montesa Cota and was allocated number 118. He came home a very creditable 37^th place, beaten only by fellow clubman Archie MacDonald who had his best ever placement in 32^nd place. Best Scot that year was Allie Cameron, also on a Montesa, with Mount fifth-best Scotsman. This made Rodger even more determined to better his score and final position.

Front Cover

In 1971 Rodger’s photo appeared on the front cover of the SSDT official programme, but not feet up; he was captured in a position where the front wheel had connected with a large boulder and was set to go over the handlebars on the famous ‘Grey Mare’s Ridge’.

Watched by Billy McMaster Jnr, Sammy Miller and SSDT Secretary, Jim McColm (on the far right), Rodger Mount comes to grief on the Grey Mare’s Ridge, this photo adorned the cover of the 1971 Scottish Six Days official programme.

However, 1971 was to be Rodger’s year, on yet another Montesa Cota, but the model with the much smaller and lighter alloy hubs. He was to win the Allan Hay Memorial Trophy for the Best Scottish Rider, in 12^th position, and that made RC Mount the highest ever Scottish-born finisher since 1935 when Bob MacGregor won the second of his SSDTs. This record he held until Les Winthrop finished in ninth position some 19 years later. The headquarters for the ‘Scottish’ at that time was the Highland Hotel in Alma Road, Fort William. The daily results were posted up manually each evening and Rodger was astonished to find he was lying in 12^th position. A local man who frequented the hotel bar ‘acquired’ the leaderboard sheet that night, and it is one of Rodger’s prized possessions from 1971 to this day.

One of Rodger Mount’s prized possessions, the hand-written Day 3 results taken from the master scoreboard which was at the SSDT headquarters at the Highland Hotel in 1971, (Photo copyright: John Moffat/Trials Guru)

Rodger also claimed the Scottish ACU Trials Trophy, wrestling the crown from his rival, Kenny Fleming. This was Rodger’s first title, just five years after taking up the sport, and he went on to dominate the series, being Scottish Trials Champion in three successive years 1971 to 1973. He relinquished his crown to his ever-improving cousin and travelling companion, Ali MacGillivray.

Mount: “I literally handed the 1974 Scottish Championship title to my cousin Ali MacGill. I had met my wife Dora in 1973 and spent some time with her when she was a teacher at Gracemount Primary School down in Edinburgh and I couldn’t be bothered competing in the final two championship rounds, and that gave the title to Ali!”

Alastair MacGillivray seen here in the 1980 SSDT on Cnoc A Linnhe, was handed the 1974 Scottish Championship by cousin Rodger Mount – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven

Bitter-Sweet

1973 was to be a bitter-sweet season for Rodger. He had bought a new Montesa for the SSDT, but he failed to secure an entry in the dreaded ‘ballot’. This greatly frustrated the reigning Scottish Champion as he had a good chance for not only the Best ‘Scot’ award but perhaps an even higher finishing position, having finished in 20^th place in 1972 as a member of a Montesa team, but still no ride! Rodger approached the Yorkshire-based Dalesman concern through Competitions Manager Bill Brooker, who agreed to let Mount ride in the official works Dalesman team. This was the first time a reigning Scottish Champion had not secured an entry in the Scottish Six Days, the Scottish trials community was rather surprised at the time and the tongues were wagging.

Rodger Mount on the works Dalesman-Sachs in the 1973 Scottish Six Days – Photo copyright: Eric Kitchen

Mount: “I thought Jim Sandiford might have entered me in the official Montesa team as I had remained loyal to the brand, but his teams were by then full – Jim was a gentleman and couldn’t put someone out when he had already agreed a place. Bill Brooker came to my rescue and gave me a 125 Sachs-powered Dalesman that had been ridden by Peter Gaunt. It was quite a good machine really, but we couldn’t get it to respond correctly when we got it home to Fort William. I contacted my friend Ron Thompson who was a good engineer and mechanic, he played about with the carburetion until he got it running crisper.”

Grim determination written all over his face, Rodger Mount makes a concerted effort on ‘Laggan Locks’ on the factory Dalesman in 1973. Photo copyright: Eric Kitchen

Rodger weighed the little Dalesman into the Gorgie Market sheep pens in Edinburgh on the Sunday and noticed that the rear wheel had only one security bolt. He spoke to Bill Brooker, who said it would be fine as it was only a 125 and wouldn’t be a problem. He started off the week with some good rides and was in front of his two team members. On the Friday, however, the security bolt sheared, and it is not an item that riders usually carry or an item that support crews carry in vans either! Rodger had three punctures as the wheel kept pulling the valve into the rim, and he became two hours over the allotted time and was excluded.

Mount: “When Bill Brooker heard what had happened, he was not only horrified but very apologetic, it had never happened before!”

Montesa

With the bitterness behind him, Rodger switched back to his Montesa after the Scottish and bought another new Montesa Cota towards the end of the 1973 season, which was to become sweeter. The final round of the Scottish Championship was to end in a nail-biting finish at the Edinburgh St George Club’s Colonial Trial at the ‘Hungry Snout’ near Gifford in East Lothian, a four-hour drive from Fort William. Two riders had gathered enough points to win and were level-pegging going into the final round. They were Mount and rival Ernie Page, who had by then established himself as a British Trophy International Six Days Team rider. Page was the Ossa distributor for Scotland, Mount was on the Montesa. The Scottish ACU Championship was an 11-round series in those days and Rodger was keen to take his third Scottish title.

Mount: “It was a tension-filled day, I can tell you! Ernie wanted to be Scottish Champion as he had won a Scottish Scrambles Championship a few years before and this would have made him the only Scotsman to win both Scrambles and Trials titles, but I was riding well and wasn’t going to give in.” The final scores were tallied, RC Mount was proclaimed the trial winner on 33 marks lost, and the title went to the Fort William man once again. Ernie was runner-up on 46 marks. Rodger finished on the championship on 77 points, runner-up was Ernie page on 76, Alastair MacGillivray was third on 61 and Allan Poynton fourth on 53. MacGillivray was title winner the following year and Poynton became Scottish Champion in 1976. Rodger married his sweetheart Dora Black in 1976 after a short engagement and they had three children: daughter Laurie was born in the April of 1977; Roger, who became Scottish Youth Trials Champion and latterly Scottish Premier Trials Champion in 2004, was born in January 1982 and Steven, also an exceptionally good trials rider, was born in April 1983. Son Roger served an electrical apprenticeship with Archie MacDonald, another trials connection.

So why did Rodger Mount stop riding trials at the ripe old age of 25?

Mount: “The family came along and that took up a lot of time, I was still working for my father’s firm and, in 1978, he had bought the Cruachan Hotel in Achintore Road which is the main A82 trunk road. I had won the Scottish Championship three times, so I reckoned I had proved myself. It was a busy hotel, and I built the main extension, which doubled its size. I was also the breakfast chef, so I’ve been cooking full Scottish breakfasts for nearly 40 years! My Dad said I missed my vocation, I should have been a chef. I ran the Cruachan with my brothers for two years then I wanted out, so they bought my share in the hotel and I bought Myrtlebank to run it with Dora as a guest house. Then a few years later we bought the property next door, which had been hotel owner Ian Milton’s house and doubled the accommodation of the business. I was just too busy to ride trials. I had another go when I treated myself to a new 349 Montesa in 1979, but I had lost my edge and I don’t like coming anywhere other than first! I did the Scottish on it that year, but the gearbox broke and I was out due mechanical failure.”

Rodger made a return to trials in 1979 with this 349 Montesa Cota, watched here by his mother, Elizabeth and infant daughter Laurie Mount – Photo: Mount Family Collection.

Business Life

Rodger and Dora have built up a successful guest house business which is regarded as one of the best in Lochaber, all done through sheer hard work and maintaining high standards.

Rodger Mount hard at work as ever in the kitchen of the Myrtlebank Guest House, Fort William – Photo copyright: John Moffat/Trials Guru

Mount: “Quite a few of the people I rode in the Scottish with stay here at Six Days’ time; they have stayed here for years and so have their children, who now compete. We are usually fully booked for SSDT week and I start the breakfasts at 06.00am, so that the early riders have a good breakfast in them for the daily run – that is important! My oldest son Roger is a keen fisherman like myself and he also took a liking to the trials, so I bought him a machine and he was a natural at it. He became Scottish Youth Champion and then won the Scottish Trials Championship in 2004. He should have ridden for longer as he was particularly good, but then work and children came along.”

SSDT 2000 – Roger Mount – Gas Gas – Cameron Hill – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven

“Steven was also an exceptionally good rider, he also had a natural talent for trials, and he too should have ridden longer. They both fancy riding the SSDT together next year – if they get through the ballot, of course.”

1971, left to right: Allie ‘Beag’ Cameron, Kenny Fleming, Rodger Mount and Alastair MacGillivray

On asking Rodger if he had ever been paid for riding or winning trials he smiled and replied: “Only once, Hugh McDonald told me that if I beat Kenny Fleming in the Scottish Championship to win it, he would give me 100 pounds. This was at the time when new Montesas were around 400 pounds to buy new. Well, guess what, I did beat Kenny and Hughie paid me the 100 pounds in cash.”

The time had flown by and it was now close to nine o’clock in the evening. True to form, Rodger took a yawn and said: “Right, it’s past my bedtime; see you in the morning!”

1971 SSDT with Rodger Mount at home on the 247cc Montesa on ‘Laggan Locks’

Alistair MacMillan & West Highland News Agency:

Whenever the 1970s SSDT photos are looked at when pulling together an article, photos emerge with the copyright of Alistair MacMillan or West Highland News Agency stamped on the back. Alistair, affectionately known in Lochaber as ‘Scoop’, was a journalist and photographer. He initially reported for the Highland News, covering news and pictures in the Lochaber area to the extent that the local newspaper: ‘The Lochaber News’ was born. He also covered articles for the Press & Journal, playing a significant role in increasing circulation locally from six copies to around three thousand, as well as national papers and radio stations.

Mr. Alistair MacMillan of West Highland News Agency was a great supporter of the Scottish Six Days Trial and made every effort to contact the daily newspapers with photographs and reports from Fort William and Lochaber during SSDT week each May.

The Express called him ‘Our man on the mountains’ due to the number of mountain rescue reports he covered! Alistair reported extensively on the Lochaber & District Motor Club and the Scottish Six Days Trial from the early 1960s, for both the Lochaber News and the Press & Journal. He also took footage of the events for Grampian TV, BBC and STV news as well as performing radio interviews for BBC Radio Scotland. A lot of skill and bulky equipment was required to do this back in the day! A trials magazine used his dark room to process their photographs and would take their prints, still wet, to the nearby telephone exchange for a wire-man to transmit them to make it for that week’s edition. Again, a far cry from everything being done from one device at the touch of a button and being instantly accessible. However, it was his forward thinking that meant he was the first to photograph all competitors of the Scottish Six Day Trials at a specific section, which gave riders the opportunity to purchase a copy at his office at 101 High Street, Fort William and later at the Milton Hotel, the Trial Headquarters. Alistair MacMillan’s images are now copyright of his son, Anthony MacMillan, who has given permission for Mr. MacMillan’s work to be exhibited on Trials Guru website.

Watched by local man, Archie MacDonald, Rodger Mount (247cc Montesa) in the 1972 SSDT – Photo: Alistair MacMillan Studio, Fort William.

With thanks to C.J. Publishing Ltd, this article on Rodger C. Mount was written specially by John Moffat for their Classic Trial Magazine in 2021 and first appeared in Issue 38.

Back issues of Classic Trial magazine available HERE

For more articles on Scottish trials riders, go to Great Scots on Trials Guru: HERE

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Alastair Macgillivray

January 15, 2017 bigjohn2014 4 Comments

Alastair Macgillivray

Words: Trials Guru

Photos: Jimmy Young – Iain Lawrie – Kimages/Kim Ferguson

2014-03-07_12 — **Alastair Macgillivray in 1978 – Photo: Jimmy Young, Armadale**

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’.

Ali MacGill and Alan McD - Kimages — **Alastair Macgillivray shares a joke with Mallaig man, Alan Mcdonald at Lagnaha in 2015 – Photo: Kimages/Kim Ferguson**

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.

alistair-mcgillvray-cnoc-a-linnhe-1981 — **Alastair Macgillivray (Bultaco) on Cnoc-a-Linnhe in the 1981 SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven**

He is the cousin of Rodger Mount, himself a three-time Scottish Trials Champion (1971-1973).

aillie-mcgill72 — **Alastair Macgillivray on his Bultaco Sherpa 250 in 1972 at the Kinlochleven Spring Trial (Now Ian Pollock Memorial) captured by Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.**

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.

JY - Ali M — **Alastair MacGillivray (Bultaco 325) at Scottish Experts & National Trial, Achallader, Bridge of Orchy 1978 – Photo: Jimmy Young**

He acted as a ‘back-marker’ official at the SSDT for many years after he ceased riding regularly in trials.

JY - Alastair MacG — Former Scottish Trials Champion, Alastair MacGillivray from Fort William on a 325 Bultaco at a very wet Forfar trial around 1980. He has the benefit of having an earlier air-box fitted which helped these bikes, but they were bad for taking on water! – Photo: Jimmy Young

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.

Jy - Alistair MacGillivray — **Alastair McGillivray Scottish Trials Champion in 1974 & 1979 (Fort William) seen here on a 200c Fantic at the Lanarkshire Valente Trial in 1981 – Photo: Jimmy Young, Armadale**

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.

1971 group — **Taken around 1970 – From left: Allie ‘Beag’ Cameron; Kenny Fleming; Rodger Mount & Alastair Macgillivray**

The Premier Trial Sport Website for photos, articles, news and the history of motorcycle trials

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SSDT 2017 – Open for business

October 12, 2016 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

SSDT open for business!

The online entries are now open for the 2017 Scottish Six Days Trial – Monday 1st to Saturday 6th May.

The organisers request that the entry notes republished below must be read before completing the online entry form for the annual “Sporting Holiday in the Highlands”.

The riders are allowed to nominate one riding companion ‘Riding Buddy’ whereas in previous years the Edinburgh club allowed up to three riders to compete in consecutive order.
Entries close on Wednesday, December 7th, 2016 and applications must be complete in every detail. The expected entry fee is £460.00 for the 2017 event, which is centred in and around Fort William and Lochaber and nets a cool £1.6 million to the local economy during the week of the trial.

Back at the helm for the 2017 trial is Clerk of Course, Jeff Horne and Event Secretary, Mieke De Vos, the trial is expected to be once again over-subscribed.

The event website is: www.ssdt.org

As a guide/information only, the online notes read as follows (taken as at 12/10/2016, the date entries opened), but please refer to the event official website mentioned above, as items may be varied from time to time by the trial organisers, prior to the event:

Note 1 – ENTRY FEES:

The entry fee for the 2017 SSDT has been set at £460. This includes your entry, your fuel for the week and your lunch for the week. Edinburgh & District Motor Club retain the right to apply a surcharge to this entry fee if the cost of fuel rises significantly before May 2017. Do NOT send your entry fee when you submit your online application.

Note 2 – LICENCE:

All entrants must be in possession of a valid licence. This must be one of:

A current SACU licence (Scottish riders);
An ACU registration card (English and Welsh riders);
An MCUI licence (Northern Irish riders);
A full international licence (all other riders).

Note 3 – RIDING COMPANIONS:

You can elect to ride alongside one other rider. You can list only one name on the entry form. In order to be sure of riding together your nominated companion must also name you on their entry form. You will get a chance to change this once the ballot has been drawn in the event of your selected companion not being successful in the ballot.

Note 4 – ROAD TRAFFIC ACT INSURANCE:

All riders must ensure that their own insurance covers them for use of the machine in competition on the road for the duration of the trial – this is not provided as part of your SACU/ACU membership.

The Club will provide third-party RTA insurance for the duration of the trial and details of this will be sent out with your entry pack. If you opt for your own insurance cover rather than that provided by the club, it is a condition of the acceptance of your entry that you provide the name of your insurer and your policy reference where indicated on the entry form and it is your responsibility to ensure that your insurer covers this type of event.

Please note that most insurers have an exclusion clause if your machine is being used in competition or trials.

Note 5 – REPATRIATION INSURANCE:

Riders affiliated to the SACU/ACU have Personal Accident Insurance provided under their membership and riders with a full international license have Repatriation Insurance included as part of their license.

MCUI riders are required to obtain a Release Form from their FMN or alternatively provide evidence of FIM insurance cover, which must be sent to the Secretary before the trial. If you do not provide evidence of the necessary insurance then an additional charge may be made when you register your entry on Sunday 1st May.

Note 6 – FUEL:

The fuel supplied to you during the event will be the type of fuel selected in the Bike Details section of the Entry Form. Should your fuel requirements change between the completion of entry submission and the trial itself, you must inform the Secretary immediately.

The online entry form should only be completed after reading the notes and any subsequent amendments thereto as they appear on the event website.

SSDT Online entry form: HERE

Scottish Six Days Trial illustrated history of the event: Click Here

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Responsible Land Use – The facts

July 22, 2015 bigjohn2014 1 Comment

Responsible Land Use

Kinlochleven - Loch Leven - Susan Black Photo — **Kinlochleven, Argyll a beautiful place and one protected along it’s Leven Valley by a SSSI – Photo: Susan Black, Prudoe**

Many words have been spoken, but little written about, responsible land use in motorcycle magazines and periodicals. One could ask the question – Is this a taboo subject?

Not taboo as such, but it is complicated and a very thorny subject that has provoked spirited debate.

The primary intention of this article is not to create further debate, but to be educational and informative for the benefit of the sport of trials, to create a better understanding of not only responsible land use but to recognise what controls it.

Motorcycle sport’s governing bodies such as the Auto Cycle Union, have endeavoured to address and promote responsible land use for well over thirty years, evidenced by its membership of LARA (Land Access & Recreation Association) in 1986. It works with its affiliated clubs through its own Land Access Advisory Service.

Part of the problem appears to be lack of proper understanding of the subject matter and that is probably caused by either people not being able to find relevant factual information, or don’t fully understand it when it is discovered. Perhaps some of the terminology is alien to some of us?

It’s possible to view website forums and dialogue which covers the subject in threads such as “where to practice riding skills” and similar subject matter.

However many of these forums are locked, only viewable by members with passwords or by subscription and for good reason. It is an attempt to stop people abusing the privilege of using land, made available by landowners under certain conditions.

This locking or restriction to access however does give the impression that perhaps something subversive is going on, whereas that is not the case.

Providing details of where to ride legally off-road is outside the scope of this article, so please, don’t get over-excited.

There are however many areas in the UK, specifically set out for legal trials practice for competition training and for leisure trials riding. With full landowner permissions in place, membership fee requirements, codes of practice, restrictions of use and insurance, perhaps even owner/operated, this is without doubt a responsible and sensible approach.

It is important to understand that there is no such thing as ‘waste ground’.

All land in the United Kingdom, including common land, is owned by someone, be it an individual, group of people, company or other legal entity. However, its ownership may not be clear or be a simple task to establish who the owner is.

Let us attempt to clarify matters by examining factual information, in an understandable way, in an attempt to remove any mystique which surrounds such a complex subject.

Hopefully this article will be sufficiently informative, without going into the fine detail of legislation, insurance and such matters.

To explain in simple but factual terminology and restrict it to parts of the United Kingdom and confined to motorcycles, but equally this can apply to other areas in the UK and four wheeled vehicles also.

Also it is important, perhaps crucial, to understand that trials riders do not have any legal right to ride their motorcycles off-road.

Why is this so, what does the law say?

The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Section 34) clarifies it as follows:

Section 34 – Prohibition of driving mechanically propelled vehicles elsewhere than on roads.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, if without lawful authority a person drives a mechanically propelled vehicle—

(a) on, to or upon, any common land, moorland or land of any other description, not being land forming part of a road, or

(b) On any road being a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway, he is guilty of an offence.

So, there we have it, any motorcycle activity performed away from, or off the public highway without lawful authority (permission) is recognised as ‘illegal riding’.

We won’t probe, evaluate or discuss matters concerning the legal penalties or remedies, as that would be down to a court of law to decide as appropriate.

For clarity, let us examine a specific example of a sizeable piece of land to assist in the demonstration of how this works and what restricts or even forbids the casual use of land by off-road motorcyclists.

The area is fairly well-known to the trials sport community let us look at one specific area. After all, this is a trials based website and the rationale could be easily be applied and compared to other similar areas in the country.

Billy Tiffen 1954 - RB — 1954 – Billy Tiffen from Carlisle on his Velocette, crests ‘Martuim’ in the Scottish Six Days Trial, now part of the West Highland Way and part of the Leven Valley SSSI. Photo: Ray Biddle, Birmingham

The area is in Northern Scotland, known as the ‘Leven Valley’ this name may not be instantly recognisable to the reader, but with further examination its mappings reveal: Pipeline; Blackwater; Corrie Odhair on the south of the River Leven and Loch Eild; German Camp or even Leiter Bo Fionn on the north side, then it will appear familiar. This land whilst appearing to be wild, rugged and fairly remote is actually very closely managed.

German Camp - 2015 — ***German Camp / Leiter Bo Fionn entrance in 2015. The old SSDT section is on the Leven Valley SSSI. Photo copyright Trials Guru – 2015***

The name known to trials enthusiasts as the ‘Blackwater Path’ is actually the ‘Ciaran Path’ which is very popular with recreational walkers, hikers and mountain-bike riders, who incidentally do not require express permission to traverse it.

Manel Soler 1981 - JY — ***SSDT 1981 – Former Spanish Champion, Manuel Soler on his 325 Bultaco tackles Pipeline, part of the Leven Valley SSSI – Photo Copyright: Jimmy Young, Armadale, Scotland.***

Access to the countryside was increased by statute with the creation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 for England and Wales and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, in Scotland, these rights exist only if they are exercised responsibly, as specified in the Scottish Outdoor Access code. Some will know, or have heard of the Ciaran Paths’ famous catch net, constructed by members of the Scottish Six Days Trial committee in the late 1960’s with the prime intention of prevent riders competing in the event and their machines from falling into the deep gorge as they climbed the path towards Blackwater and beyond.

The Blackwater (or Cairan Path) catch net, constructed by members of the Scottish Six Days Trial committee in the late 1960s. - Photo Jock McComisky — **The Blackwater (or Cairan Path) catch net, constructed by members of the Scottish Six Days Trial committee in the late 1960s. – Photo Jock McComisky**

Access to the countryside requires responsibility, sometimes this is absent.

Glen Etive - Rubbish — *“… Access to the countryside requires responsibility, sometimes this is absent.” Photo Copyright: Mark Shona, (Glen Etive the dirty truth)*

The construction was simple, perhaps even crude, but very effective, being fashioned from scaffolding pipes cemented directly into the bed-rock on the edge of the gorge.

No doubt there have been many wayward hikers and bikers caught by its netting since its construction. Whilst this has most probably gone unreported it was a useful safety addition to the Ciaran Path for many of its users since its construction some forty years ago.

**The Leven Valley is covered by an SSSI – Photo: Neil Mackenzie, Inverness**

This is an area with an industrial heritage and history. These paths and the German Prisoner of War encampments were constructed to provide the manpower to build the various dams, culverts, penstocks and conduits in the area together with the associated infrastructure for the development of the aluminium smelter.

***Bernard Cordonnier from Belgium with Kinlochleven and the Leven Valley visible in the background – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.***

These paths do erode over time, due to the severe winter weather in the area and by the constant use by walkers and cyclists. Parts of the Ciaran Path are already eroded, undercut in places and in need of repairs.

**Leven Valley is an area dotted with traces of industialisation, here is the ‘Conduit’ carrying water to Kinlochleven from Blackwater Dam. – Photo: Neil Mackenzie, Inverness**

Prisoners of War were used during their interment during the First World War, to construct many of these paths and there is a display within the Post Office in Kinlochleven which gives more information on this. These paths have been established for more than a century. Here ends the history lesson.

All these places described above are on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI, usually referred to as Triple- SI). In Northern Ireland the designation is ‘Areas of Special Scientific Interest’ or ASSI.

Pipeline - IL — Pipeline is one of the world’s most iconic of trials sections. It is however on an SSSI named ‘Leven Valley’ which requires various express permissions and careful management for legitimate use – Photo Copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

The reader would be astonished to learn how much of the SSDT route makes legal use of SSSI’s. Many will have watched, observed or even ridden in this particular area.

Many hours are spent each year in meaningful discussion and negotiation between trial organisers and both the local land agents and SNH personnel.

**Blackwater Dam, high above Kinlochleven. The Leven Valley SSSI stretches right up to the dam face – Photo: Neil Mackenzie, Inverness**

What statutory instrument created SSSI’s and when?

Originally notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, SSSIs were re-notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Improved provisions for the protection and management of SSSIs were introduced by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (in England and Wales) and (in Scotland) by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2010. (Source: DEFRA).

How many sites and how much land is controlled by SSSIs?

Scotland has over 1,400 sites designated as SSSIs, representing approximately 12.6% of the total land area of Scotland. Approximately half of these sites are located in the lowlands and uplands area. There are over 4,000 sites in England, covering around 8% of the country. (Source: Scottish and UK Government).

Let us look more closely at this area of land and in particular its SSSI status, with the help of resources freely available in the public domain.

In the Site Management Statement issued by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Leven Valley (Site Reference 927) is denoted as being a SSSI.

Here are some details:

The Leven Valley SSSI forms part of a larger 3000 hectare woodland grant scheme and the interest lies in both trees and rock formations, so described as: Upland Birch Woodland and Dalradian rock, but the scope is of course much wider, covering the flora found in that area.

To give an indication of the extent of the SSSI it is approximately 10 kilometres in length and 6 kilometres wide, so it is very large indeed.

There are no less than eleven specific activities that require not only the landowners’ permission, but permission from SNH, which is funded by the Scottish Government, its purpose being to care for Scotland’s nature and provide support to those who manage it.

However, this consent is not required if the organisers have been given prior ‘planning permission’ from the local authority, under Part III of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

For motorcycle events such as the SSDT, the Pre’65, promoted by Edinburgh & District Motor Club Limited plus any other localised events organised by Lochaber & District MCC who promote the annual Ian Pollock Memorial Trial in the Leven Valley area.

IL photo - Loch Eild Path — The Leven Valley area is one of beauty and home to many plants, wildlife and industrial history. Its use is controlled. Here a rider competing in the annual Pre’65 Scottish in 1998, rides one of the many paths in the area. Photo copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

The specific requirement to apply for consent from SNH is under reference number 26: ‘Use of motorised vehicles likely to damage vegetation’.

Why do we need to legally protect these areas described as SSSIs, why is this particular area deemed sensitive, why is it important and why is it necessary to have such controls?

Private research reveals that the Leven Valley SSSI is home to many different mosses and liverworts, collectively known as bryophytes. Some are very rare, dating back to pre-historic times.

Bryophytes play a part in protecting us, as these soft plants form a huge sponge on the valley floor, slowing down the flow of rain water from the surrounding hills which runs into the burns and eventually the River Leven.

This water slowing effect protects the Kinlochleven area from potential flash floods, given the high annual rainfall locally.

Thinking about it logically, conversely this explains why there are so many flash floods in residential areas nowadays. The ground has been waterproofed by buildings, structures, roads and footpaths so that rain water now planes off faster, causing localised flooding and worse. Flooding can affect us all.

The beds of mosses, blanket bogs and wetlands found in the Leven Valley SSSI area also absorb and effectively lock up, many tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, potentially for thousands of years, into the peat below. That is providing that they are not disturbed, depleted or destroyed, hence the protection provided by SSSI status.

Depletion can occur through invasion by non-native plants such as the Rhododendron, which can spread rapidly, is difficult to control and covers large areas of ground. Similarly, animals such as deer, sheep or cattle roaming free or even inappropriate use by vehicles, can cause damage if not properly controlled or managed.

Now we can see the rationale for protection of this and other areas like it, we can begin to fully understand and appreciate why these areas are deemed sensitive and significant.

Protection does not automatically mean total exclusion of all activities, hence the continued use of the area by major trials events, but this is only achievable by proper application for permissions, negotiation and mutual agreement.

The SSDT has been running since 1911, the Pre’65 since 1984 and the Ian Pollock under its former title ‘Spring Trial’ since the late 1950’s. These events make legitimate use of the Leven Valley.

This does not however give their promoters any legal rights to continue using this ground, purely because of the length of time the events have been in existence.

Most of the ground described above and used in these motorcycle trial events is under the current ownership of Rio Tinto Alcan, a multi-national company whose principal office is in Montreal, Canada.Rio Tinto Alcan is the result of many company mergers and take-overs over the years, tracing its roots back to the British Aluminium Company in 1894 the entity that originally purchased the ground in what is fundamentally the Mamore hill range for the water rights, thus ensuring sufficient water to create power generation for the Aluminium smelter based down in the town of Kinlochleven itself.

Pipeline Alcan — ***The pipeline under construction. The Leven Valley has an industrial history. Photo copyright Glasgow University Archive (Rio Tinto Alcan)***

The SNH Site Management Report in 2008 stated:

“During monitoring in 2002, the SSSI was found to be subject to a number of detrimental influences, the most important being: the spread of rhododendron; grazing/browsing pressure (due to deer and, probably to a lesser extent, stray sheep); annual burning; and motorcycle scrambling”.

In the above statement, let us simply replace the words ‘motorcycle scrambling’ with ‘off-road motorcycle activity’ for additional clarity, for that is what the report eludes to.

By giving cognisance to the above information, we can now begin to appreciate and understand what legislation event organisers have to consider and address fully when promoting a motorcycle trial in this area.

This is why such organisers stipulate that no unofficial following of the event by motorcycle is permitted or condoned, as only insured riders and officials may take machines onto the ground as allowed by the owners and ultimately SNH.

Similarly this is why all event officials must ‘sign in’ with the event control so that they are accounted for, have contact details and are insured under the governing body’s insurers for the permitted event.

Are things now falling into place?

During the research for this article, we spoke with Cathy Mayne, the locally based Operations Officer with Scottish Natural Heritage and the person charged with the task of negotiating with the motorcycle clubs.

Cathy explained: “In terms of use, there is no assumed permission for this, or any other off-road area for motor vehicles. Prior permission from the landowner and where relevant, consent from SNH, would be required for any trials rider accessing any area off the public highway.

There are some issues with casual use on the SSSI, as we have for other areas of land that is so designated and a focus of trials or other off-road vehicular use.

Hence the sensitivity of these areas. Permission for events such as the SSDT, the Pre’65 and Pollock trials are given only after careful consideration, planning and negotiation, with quite a few restrictions and stipulations put in place”.

We have used a land example from Northern Scotland, but of course there will be thousands of similar examples dotted throughout the country.

The Scott Trial, another event over 100 years old, held in the North Yorkshire National Park is another where planning permission is required and for a finite period at that.

Scott Trial action from Sid in 1974. Photo Alan Lampkin Archive. — ***Scott Trial action with Alan Lampkin (Bultaco) in 1974. The Scott is run in the North Yorks National Park and requires very careful management and permission – Photo Alan Lampkin Archive.***

So, we as riders of trials motorcycles do not have any rights to roam, unlike walkers and cyclists, but express permission is required from landowners and even governmental bodies to enable us to ride off-road.

Consider these matters, as illegal riding does directly harm our sport.

There are many other organisations committed to individual and group off-road motorcycle activity other than organised events, for example the Trial Riders Fellowship of England and Wales who make use of BOATS (Byways Open to All Traffic) and UCRs (Unclassified Country Roads), so their members don’t actually ride off-road, they encompass forty-two regional clubs. But in the example we have examined, permission is granted for organised events because of the level of controls afforded by an event and the frequency of such events.

We hope that the reader will now have a more detailed knowledge of this issue and a better understanding as a result.

Do you now understand more about land use restriction and the rationale than before you read this article? If so, then this article has been worthwhile.

Article copyright: Trials Guru/Moffat Racing/John Moffat – 2015

Photograph and Image Copyright:

Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven

Jimmy Young, Armadale

Alan Lampkin Archive, Silsden.

Neil Mackenzie, Inverness.

Susan Black, Prudoe.

Glasgow University Archive (Rio Tinto Alcan)

Mark Shona

Acknowledgements and Research Sources:

Scottish Natural Heritage (website): www.snh.gov.uk

SSSI general and specific Information for Scotland : www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/national-designations/sssis/

Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC): http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com

Statute: Road Traffic Acts 1988

Auto Cycle Union website: www.acu.org.uk

LARA(Land Access & Recreation Association) website: www.laragb.org

Flood Information (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)

Map of Leven Valley SSSI 927 – Registers of Scotland:

Trail Riders Fellowship: http://www.trf.org.uk

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SSDT 2015 Nevis Radio Coverage

April 21, 2015 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

The annual Scottish Six Days Trial starts on Monday 4th May until Saturday 9th May in Fort William and surrounding Lochaber and down into Perthshire.

The event which has been organised by the Edinburgh & District Motor Club Ltd since 1911 is always over-subscribed and covers some 600 miles during the week long excursion.

Dubbed many years ago as the ‘Sporting holiday in the Highlands’ it is far from being a holiday for most of the riders as it is still regarded as a fairly hard event to compete in.

The clerk of course is Jeff Horne from Perth and he has found some interesting new hazards for 2015.

There is a new event secretary, Mieke De Vos, a Dutch born mathematics teacher who lives not far from Edinburgh. Mieke has been around the SSDT for a few years now and was the finish marshal at last year’s event.

Mieke De Vos H&S — Mieke De Vos is the new SSDT Secretary for 2015

Nevis Radio will once again be covering the SSDT live every morning from the Parc Ferme situated in Fort William’s West End. Nevis Radio is the only media group covering the event. You can listen live on your mobile device or home computer. Coverage begins every morning at 07.00 GMT.

The presenters will be Station Manager David Ogg, Si Abberley and The Moffster (aka Trials Guru – or John Moffat if you prefer!). Security will be covered by ‘Big’ John Weller another of the regular Nevis Radio weekly presenters drafted in for SSDT week!

NR team — The Nevis Radio Crazy Outside Broadcast Team for the SSDT – From left: David Ogg (The Oggster); John Moffat (The Moffster) & ‘Big John’ Weller – The Security Man!

The coverage will once again be sponsored by Michelin Competition and Trial Magazine, Britain’s foremost trials only full-colour magazine.

Keep tuned to NEVIS RADIO during Scottish week, whether you are in attendance or at home working!

Nevis Radio

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Great Scots – Ian Pollock

April 4, 2015 bigjohn2014 2 Comments

In deepest Argyll, nestling among stunning scenery and mountains, lies the town of Kinlochleven. Many books have been written about the area, one of which is ‘Children of the Dead End – The Autobiography of a Navvy’ – By Patrick McGill – this book is exactly what the title says, it’s the story of an immigrant manual worker or ‘navvy’ as they were called. This book which is rated as one of the best 100 best Scottish books of all time, describes the times when the Aluminium smelter and factory was being constructed at the end of the 1800’s. Kinlochleven flourished as a direct result of the creation of the Aluminium factory which employed around 1,000 workers and produced high quality aluminium for the world. These employees came from far afield and settled in the town, one such settler was Ian Murray Pollock, who was originally from Falkirk, Stirlingshire. Pollock had been through the second world war, having served in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders regiment in Palestine. When he was effectively demobbed from the British Army, Pollock was fortunate to secure employment with the British Aluminium Company Ltd at their Kinlochleven smelter. The ‘BA’ as it was universally known, was a major employer both there and at their Fort William operation, which exists to this day.

Pollock started his career as a ‘fitter’ but quickly progressed through the ranks to become a shift foreman at the plant.

1950 - J D Williamson - Mamore - WST — **1950 – Jack Williamson from Newtongrange, Midlothian (347 AJS) on Mamore, watched by Ian Pollock (white paper in pocket) – Photo: W.S. Thomson, Fort William**

Being an active young man who had forged many friendships in the locality, Pollock took an interest in the annual Scottish Six Days Trial which made use of the hills near to Kinlochleven during the ‘Sporting Holiday in the Highlands’. Pollock had amassed quite a knowledge of the local paths, bridleways and rough country high above the town. This was to eventually forge a strong bond between him and members of the Edinburgh & District Motor Club, who promoted the Scottish Six Days Trial.

Ian also became involved in local events, eventually becoming a central character in the Kinlochleven Motor Cycle Club, which he helped form.

Pollock in association with his good friend, Lithuanian refugee, Paul Kilbauskas discovered there was more land available to the SSDT than perhaps the organisers were aware of!

1959 - Paul Kilbauskas - Glenogle - JDavies — **1959 Scottish Six Days Trial – Paul Kilbauskas with his 500 Royal Enfield – Photo: John Davies**

The SSDT up until the late 1960’s, made extensive use of main and secondary roads, proper foot and bridle paths, sheep paths but very little open moorland. It wasn’t until Jimmy Mulvie became Clerk of Course that the SSDT made use of open moorland stretches.

It was Pollock and Kilbauskas that investigated the possibility of going out over the hills from Kinlochleven back over to the Fort William area other than by the original Mamore Road, which is the water bound surface that is still used by the SSDT and Pre’65 trials to this day. It stretches from Mamore Lodge across to Blarmafoldach, just outside Fort William and links into the Achintore Road.

Pollock and Kilbauskas were both energetic men, they liked the outdoors and they both jointly and severally, explored the many trails, paths and rocky burns and outcrops that littered the hills high above Kinlochleven. They also knew all the local keepers, shepherds and landowners, so permission was never a problem. Many of the hills surrounding the town had been purchased from estates at the end of the 19th century primarily for the water rights. This enabled the factory to operate and ensure plentiful supply of water via the Blackwater area, high above Kinlochleven. Pollock and Kilbauskas were trusted individuals and it helped the SSDT greatly by having reliable people such as Pollock and Kilbauskas on hand.

These explorations bore fruit aplenty, for the Pollock/Kilbauskas venture yielded many new sections in the form of ‘Loch Eild Path’; ‘Mamore’; ‘German Camp’; ‘Leitir Bo Fionn’; ‘Grey Mare’s Ridge’ and of course ‘Brump Brae’, later to be renamed ‘Pollock Hill’.

The ‘German Camp’, a first World War prisoner of war encampment on the banking of the River Leven high above Kinlochleven. Photo courtesy of Peter Anderson, Clackmannan

In the period 1955 through to 1959, Ian was listed in the official programmes of the SSDT as an observer, but Pollock was much more than that, he was the journeyman who discovered many of the iconic hills that would eventually unearth the most famous of them all, ‘Pipeline’ probably the most famous motorcycle trial section of all time! Alex Smith, from Bathgate, a former assistant Clerk of Course confirms that ‘Pipeline’ was first used as an observed section in the 1967 SSDT.

jdw - 1963 — **Jack Williamson (250cc Greeves) awaits the signal to start in the 1963 Spring Trial at Kinlochleven. Ian Pollock was a driving force in this event which was re-named in his honour after his death.**

‘Pipeline’ is just a couple of miles out of the town and is the subject of many of the most stunning motorcycle trials photos to come from the cameras of Nick Nichols, Eric Kitchen and photographers of their age.

Pipeline - PA — The Pipeline under construction, photo taken from an original glass negative, courtesy of Peter Anderson, Clackmannan

Pollock was an enthusiastic observer at the SSDT and when Johnny Brittain won the 1957 Scottish, his photo adorned the cover of the following year’s programme, the observer in the background watching intently being Ian Pollock. The original photo used on the 1958 SSDT programme front cover was a ‘Motor Cycling’ print which is now the property of Mortons Motorcycle Media, Hornchurch, but a personal copy still hangs in Pollock’s daughter Pamela’s home in Glencoe.

The 1958 SSDT Official Programme, with 1957 winner Johnny Brittain (Royal Enfield) being watched by Ian Pollock. The section is at the top of Loch Eild Path, one of the hills discovered by Pollock himself.

By 1962, Pollock was now listed as an Assistant Clerk of the Course and was held in high esteem by his peers and by the ‘Clerk’ himself, the late George Baird who described Ian as ‘our man on the spot’ in the official programme.

Paul Kilbauskas:

Paul Kilbauskas was also a ‘Tunnel Tiger’ who worked on the many hydro-electric schemes in the Scottish Highlands, he was an explosives handler during his time on these massive projects. He concentrated more on riding the Six Days on Matchless, Royal Enfield and BSA machinery, always a 500cc machine. He helped find a sizeable part of the route was in effect a ‘displaced person’ who had to flee his native Lithuania in 1947. His first port of call was Market Harborough in Leicestershire. Paul eventually settled in Kinlochleven, worked at the Aluminium factory for a period where he met and eventually married his sweetheart, Rose who also worked at the BA factory and was originally from the Orkney Islands. They had two daughters, Marina and Rachel. There is now a Paul Kilbauskas award in the SSDT in remembrance of the one-time course plotter and explorer for the event.

‘Mambrec’ was yet another of the sections discovered by Ian Pollock, a section that has been used in the Pre’65 Scottish Trial many times. Pollock was fortunate to strike up a good friendship with Johnny Graham who also became Clerk of Course SSDT. Graham would leave a trials motorcycle at Ian’s home to give him something to explore with. One such machine was the ex-works 350cc Matchless registered ‘OLH722’ of Ted Usher and another was the ex-factory BSA of Brian Martin registered ‘BSA350’.

Lochaber April Trial 1959 — The Lochaber Spring Trial in 1959. Taken at Kinlochleven near the war memorial. From Left: Bobby Macleod (Francis Barnett); Ali McDonald (Ariel); Hugh McDonald (Royal Enfield); Ian Pollock (standing); Paul Kilbauskas (Royal Enfield); Tommy McNab (BSA – ex-works BSA 350) and Billy MacLeod (Ariel). The trial in modern times is known as The Ian Pollock Memorial Trial.

Pollock would regularly fire these ‘loan bikes’ up and take them up onto the Dam Road and into the hills to see what he could find.

In 1963 the SSDT committee honoured Ian by calling one of the sections ‘Pollock Way’, this was just off one of the many paths near the River Leven, that Ian and Paul Kilbauskas discovered on their explorations.

When the Lochaber and District Club was founded, they enlisted Ian’s help to organise their ‘Spring Trial’. This particular event was eventually re-named as The Ian Pollock Trial in his honour and is regarded as one of the best one-day trials in the Scottish trial calendar to this day.

Ian Pollock is survived by his only daughter, Pamela who married local man and trials rider, John MacGregor, they live in Glencoe and regularly watch the Pre’65 Scottish Two-Day Trial.

POLLOCK SHIELD 2008 — Pamela MacGregor (nee Pollock) presents the Ian Pollock Memorial trophy to local rider, ten times Scottish trials champion, Gary Macdonald in 2008. – Photo copyright and courtesy of: Iain Ferguson, The Write Image, Fort William.

John MacGregor was at one time himself an Assistant Clerk of Course SSDT and Pre’65 Scottish in its formative years.

So next time you climb up the ‘Dam Road’ to watch riders in either the SSDT or Pre’65 Scottish trials, spare a thought for the man who discovered many of these sections – Ian Murray Pollock.

TRIALS GURU

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SSDT 2017 – Open for business

SSDT open for business!

The online entries are now open for the 2017 Scottish Six Days Trial – Monday 1st to Saturday 6th May.

The organisers request that the entry notes republished below must be read before completing the online entry form for the annual “Sporting Holiday in the Highlands”.

Back at the helm for the 2017 trial is Clerk of Course, Jeff Horne and Event Secretary, Mieke De Vos, the trial is expected to be once again over-subscribed.

The event website is: www.ssdt.org

As a guide/information only, the online notes read as follows (taken as at 12/10/2016, the date entries opened), but please refer to the event official website mentioned above, as items may be varied from time to time by the trial organisers, prior to the event:

SSDT Online entry form: HERE

Scottish Six Days Trial illustrated history of the event: Click Here

Responsible Land Use – The facts

SSDT 2015 Nevis Radio Coverage

Great Scots – Ian Pollock

The Premier Trial Website – Recording the History of the Sport 'Established 2014'