Tuesday October 16, 2012 at 4:21pm
Ninety eight years on, two world wars, and just one cancellation, caused by the foot and mouth epidemic in 2001 while the Kaiser and Adolf Hitler accounted for the other nine. That is a very brief summary of one of the most famous motorcycle events in history. The Richmond Motor Club event, staged also by the Darlington club and by the trial that bears his name, Alfred Scott, roamed in Wharfedale and Nidderdale in the early parts of the last century.
On Saturday at Feldom Moor one hundred and ninety eight competitors will ride almost eighty miles of moorland, tracks, hills and dales, against the elements, the clock, and about the same number of observed sections. Penalties are awarded for time taken over and above the fastest finisher. In 1996 Graham Jarvis stopped the clocks in a mind boggling 5hrs 56mins 40 seconds. The longest time since records was retained. That was a physically shattering day for every competitor.
On Saturday morning six Scott Trial winners will compete. Dougie Lampkin, Wayne Braybrook, Phillip Alderson, Michael Phillipson, James Dabill and 2011 winner Jonathan Richardson. Thirty eight riders will be newcomers, including Chloe Richardson, sister of Jonathan. Twenty nine contenders will be under the age of twenty one. Four females will start, world and national stars Emma Bristow and Katy Sunter, and Robyn Alderson whose father Phillip won the trial on four occasions.
The illustrated eighty eight page programme, priced at just £4.00, lists every competitor and all their details. All the sections that can be visited are listed. It must be emphasized that the entire trial route travels over private moors and land which will be patrolled by officials and gamekeepers at all times. The sections are well known, Goats, Underbanks, Shaw Gutter, Whaw Bridge, Black Hills, Grand Canyon, By Pass, Surrender, Roys Rocks, Rawcroft, Sleeper Stones, Reels Head and the finale a mile from the finish – Clapgate, is the last and most welcome section.
The competitors travel from all parts of the British Isles, the Isle of Man, Ireland and the Ulster Province and France. One rider who will not travel any great distance is Richard Ridley who actually lives on the course near Hurst. The first rider starts at 09.00.