HAPPY HEYS
With the cancellation of the event due to the Coronavirus, we were left with the question: how could we publish our summer edition of Classic Trial Magazine with no coverage of a Pre-65 Scottish? Well, the answer was a quick flick through the Yoomee Archive to uncover some unseen, unpublished pictures from the 2010 two-day event and a copy upgrade. Lancastrian Paul Heys on his machine named ‘Stealth’ claimed his second successive victory by the narrowest of margins, as the first three finishers in the Kinlochleven-based classic event all finished on three marks lost. In excellent trials-riding conditions with just the odd shower spoiling the fun, the event followed its usual format to give the strong entry a Highland trial to enjoy after the atrocious weather had spoilt the fun in 2009.
Thirty-six-year-old Heys, riding his Triumph Tiger Cub painted black as a stealth bomber to confuse the opposition, was the only rider in the balloted 180-strong entry to go clean on the first day losing no marks. This skilful performance gave him victory over Davy Morewood on his Ariel and the 2007 and 2008 winner Tony Calvert on the Triumph.
WINES OF SPAIN
Sponsored for the first time in the history of the event by a foreign company, Wines of Spain,
the Edinburgh Club’s 26th running of the best-supported Pre-65 trial of the year was once again a resounding success, with riders and machines from many parts of Europe enjoying traditional Scottish scenery and Highland hospitality. Though Heys was the only rider to go clean on day one, there were six riders on just one mark lost. They were Morewood, Calvert, Scotsman Alan Crayk, who eventually finished fourth, Dave Thorpe, another past winner, Carles Casas from Spain and Eric McMeekin, which meant, that after 30 challenging sections, everything was very much still to play for on day two.
Riders set off from the Kinlochleven School playground to head off in different directions, with odd numbers going one way and evens the other.
The course predominately comprised a loop around Meall na Duibhe, across the front of the Blackwater Dam and back down to Kinlochleven in a clockwise direction before a quick ride out towards Glen Coe along the south side of Loch Leven.
Old hands at the Pre-65 trial remarked that there were some new sections in use, and rigid
stalwart, Clive Dopson, was in awe of the rock slabs at Choire Odhair used just five weeks earlier in the Ian Pollock Trial. He commented: “I looked at them and thought that if I don’t make it up there, I hope the machine lands at the bottom before me!”
In the end, the Norfolk automotive engineer had his Norton 500T in total control for four superb cleans. While many other riders emulated him, to achieve it on such an old original motorcycle was very satisfying to the regular Pre-65 campaigner.
Full Gas
If anyone thinks the Pre-65 Scottish is an easy trial, then don’t let the scores fool you, as it is anything but.
“I had a three on Pollock Hill” said ninthplaced Norman Shepherd riding in his second Pre-65 trial.
“I should have given the James full gas, but I tried to ride it steadily and had a big three. You can’t afford to waste any marks in this trial” he said. Indeed, those were his only marks for the day and effectively cost him fifth place come the end.
Pollock Hill is a loose descent into a gully with a couple of twists. It provides for fascinating spectating as those watching on the hillsides can relate to the section as one that many think they could clean. But like other loose hazards in this trial, it changes with the passing of every rider, and for many, it is simply a case of good or bad fortune as to whether or not you achieve a good ride on such sections. Experience comes into much of this trial, and it is a pleasure to see some older riders still able to come back at the end of the day with some low scores.
Dave Thorpe is a multiple winner of this trial, but his one-mark loss on Friday was exceptionally classy for a rider whose walking
ability is now outclassed by his riding! Equally, for a rider in his mid-70s, Peter Gaunt’s loss of just ten on day one was superb as he remained ‘feet up’ until he was a yard from the ends-cards on the dreaded Pipeline sections.
Dry weather, but with a chilling breeze, made it ideal for riding on both days, although spectators may have felt differently. While scores were relatively low on Friday, the trial as a whole was much tougher on Saturday.
CLOSE CALL
By his own admission Paul Heys had not slept well overnight: “Leading the trial knowing you have to match that type of ride again if you are to succeed is definite pressure” he said on Sunday afternoon, as he reflected on his second win. And with a chasing horde all eager to notch up another or a first win, Heys really had his work cut out.
A significant number of riders all posted single-figure scores for day two, and the results say that the lowest were the two marks recorded against the names of Morewood, Calvert and Len Hutty. However, Davy Morewood considered himself fortunate as he could have lost more: “But that’s trialling” he said. “At some trials, you are scored more than you think you may have lost and at others less, and today was one of those days when the decisions have gone in my favour”.
Multiple Scottish Six Days Trial winner from 1988–1991 Steve Saunders was riding his first Pre-65 trial on a 350 Triumph, and many considered he would be a potential winner. Having made few mistakes, Steve took fifth position, but such is the competitiveness of the event that every single mark lost is crucial. Saunders only lost five, but it was enough for fifth place on the tiebreaker.