Pre-65 Scottish

An early sporting victim to Covid-19, the Pre-65 Scottish was postponed. Enjoy our look back at some action from a few years ago.

This was to be about the 2020 Pre-65 but the coronavirus pandemic had other ideas. Instead, here's a look back over previous years.

Trials riding is generally an inclusive sport, making no distinction regarding age or gender and the deciding factor on success or otherwise is down to ability and practice.

This is the beauty of events such as the Pre-65 Scottish in Kinlochleven, which adheres to the old format of all riders tackling the same sections regardless. Yes, there are easy sections which everyone will sail through with few problems - the first part of Pipeline for instance and in order to lose marks something has to be very wrong or the petrol turned off. Then there are other sections which are designed to give the top riders something to think about.

Throughout the entry there are a multitude of 'contests' as riding buddies try to outdo each other regardless of where in the finishers' list they will be and it doesn't matter if they're looking for first, 21st or 101st, the thing is to ride the section feet-up.

From an editor's point of view there are always many more pies of an event than could ever be used in one feature, so with the 2020 Pre-65 Scottish being postponed until 2021, it provides the ideal opportunity to dig out some photos from a selection of Pre-65s I've ridden. They are all, bar one, taken by my other half who carts the camera to various sections while I ride the event to obtain valuable news and rider views throughout the two days ...

Toprovethe Scottishweather can be fine,there's this shot of Bonaccordmember Kenwhitakert,aken in 2007.Kenishalfofa father/sonteam inthe Pre-65,hisladmurrayisa regulartop three finisher. 1:A Scotisalwaysgiven the 'honour' ofthe No.1 plate... in 2008it wastom Mcbrideseen here on Uppermamore.

1: Familyteamsarecommon in the Pre-65though father/daughter combinationsare lesscommon. Vickigloverhasridden the trial severaltimes along with her dad Dave - hereshetacklespipelinein 2008.2: Diego Urretaisone of manyoverseasriderswho makethe trek to the Scottishhighlandsfor this trial. He'sjust crestingthe nastylittle step in the middle of Pipelinesection.3: When people sayto Petekirkbytheywantto 'belt up' what they meanisthey want one of hisbelt drive kitsfor their bike.

Delayshappen in trials when there is a section as long as Pipeline,the gathering at the start of the continuous double-sub in 2008 includes 110Lennart Franesjo,150joan Rovira,136rrafaeilsirvent, 172 Jim Pickering,132(wethink) Alan Nicklin, 162Martin ~,, Wilmore, 134Petersalt, 156Keith Gardener.