Well what can I say? The Richmond Motor Club (Yorkshire) Ltd have excelled themselves once again by promoting what has got to be the best and most popular trials event in the UK calendar, the Scott Trial.

Trials Guru was there in the form of John Moffat who acted as start and finish field commentator, keeping the spectators and supporters informed, rider comments both at the start and finish and of course acted as auctioneer for the Scott Charity Auction on the Saturday night at the Richmondshire Cricket Club pavilion in the town. Over two thousand pounds was raised on the evening alone.

Ian Austermuhle was a popular winner and at the presentation he spoke highly of the club and John Lampkin of Beta UK for all the support he has had from the Silsden based importer.

Moffat had a pre-trial dinner on the Friday night, in the company of Trial Magazine’s John Hulme, Gas Gas UK importer, John Shirt and Scott winner (2012), Michael Brown at a local restaurant and it was a very informative evening indeed. It is quite different to have access to people at the centre of the sport in an informal manner and much was learned about the intricate workings of the sport from the in-depth conversations that took place that evening.

The trial itself was run in near to perfect conditions the course being covered very quickly by the top riders and it came as no surprise that local rider, Jonathan Richardson was first home to set standard time, the bench-mark from which all other riders lost marks accordingly.

The Scott committee ensure that strictly no-one is aware who sets standard time and who has lost what, on observation until the results are read out in reverse order at the presentation.

It was Austermuhle that looked confident at the finish. Richardson doubted that he had saved sufficient marks for a repeat of his 2011 victory.

Doug Lampkin, always the 100% professional blamed himself for the mistakes made when interviewed by Moffat at the finish line.

John Sunter was well up on time, but knew he wasn’t fastest man as he was in the previous year.

James Dabill rode straight through the finish enclosure, spoke to no-one and promptly put the factory Vertigo straight in the van, walking briskly back to the Secretary, Diane Horner’s office, to hand back his riding bib without a word. It was a disappointing day at the office for Dabill finishing a lack-luster thirteen place overall. James would not be happy at that.

But it was a smiling Austermuhle that hoisted the Alfred A. Scott memorial trophy aloft on the Saturday night to much applause and cheering by the knowledgeable crowd who filled the Cricket Club in Richmond, victory after nineteen years of trying was finally his.

All we can say is, roll on Scott Trial 2016.

Scott Trial 2015 Top Ten results –

Winner: Ian Austermuhle – Time: 3 Observation: 39 Total: 42

Runner-Up: Alexz Wigg – Time: 6 Observation: 40 Total: 46

Third: Dougie Lampkin – Time: 24 Observation: 25 Total: 49

4th – Jonathan Richardson – Time: 0 Observation: 61 Total: 61

5th – Ross Danby – Time: 19 Observation: 43 Total: 62

6th – Richard Sadler – Time: 20 Observation: 45 Total: 65

7th – Sam Haslam – Time: 7 Observation: 62 Total: 69

8th – Jack Price – Time: 23 Observation: 47 Total: 70

9th – Iwan Roberts – Time: 26 Observation: 58 Total: 84

10th – Guy Kendrew – Time: 20 Observation: 64 Total: 84