highland lassie

I'm five miles along the road and offered already....but you turned your nose up, so bugger ya, you can stuff your own envelopes.

She does indeed! As far as the number plates go, both the organisers and the police recognise that a fully legal number plate is not viable on a trials bike...even if we could get them fitted, they'd be off first section on Monday morning! Woody's right - we compromised by working with the police to find a plate that they agreed was large enough to be read by other motorists, whilst we agreed it would last the pace out on the hill. Working with the police is definitely the way forward rather than seeing them as a hinderance to our sport...half of them are bikers of some form or another themselves! As far as checking licenses, insurance, tax discs and other legal bits and bobs....anybody who has stood in the Milton on that Sunday morning will tell you that registration lasts long enough as it is without all that additional work! On top of that, remember we've got riders from over twenty different countries - if there's anybody out there that can read insurance documents in a wide variety of languages and knows the rules and regs for the EU and beyond, they're welcome to give it a shot... It is solely the rider's responsibility to ensure that they and their bikes are fully road legal and comply with the relevant Road Traffic Acts. When they enter the trial AND when they register that Sunday morning they sign declarations confirming that they and their machine are fully road legal, so be warned - the Club won't be taking any flack for those who choose to risk everything. Now is as good a time as any to highlight something to those of you riding this year - you may have your own insurance, but if you look at the small print you'll probably find that you're not covered for competing on the road. Most insurers class this as road-racing, so we supply additional insurance that can be used in conjunction with your own policy, and covers you for competing on the road for the duration of the trial. You'll get details in your entry packs, but it might be worth having a wee look at your documents just now so that you're not caught short in May!

You lot should be ashamed of yourselves.

Apologies folks - some of you who got an entry to this year's SSDT will have received entry confirmation letters asking you to pay your entry fee of

Forgot that bit!

Once again folks are keen to forget that this site is run by one guy at his own expense and in his own time. He's making a 600-mile round trip just so that you lot can get your pictures - he's paying his own fare, paying his own accommodation, using his own photographic equipment, his own computer and his own phone bill to get these over to you and all you can do is complain that they're not up within fifteen hours of the event finishing? Oh - and he texted the results over so that they could be posted on the live chat and the forums as soon as it happened. But maybe you thought he should be sending the entire scoreboard plus a breakdown of the sections with one hand whilst photographing the event with the other. Maybe you fancy doing it all next year?

Bou first, Raga second and Fuji third. Details on Doug requested....may or may not follow depending on whether or not the roving reporters have hit the bar yet!

Latest update is that Doug is still in the lead....nowt more than that though. Don't worry - I'm bugging them to the best of my abilities!

Doug's winning after the first lap....more updates as Andy can be bothered sending 'em.

I think they're in the ten squillion envelopes that were blocking my door tonight.

Just a reminder for those of you that don't read the front page...SSDT entries close on Friday. If you're sending a form in this week, it must be with us by Friday, as the ballot will be done over the weekend and late entries will be too late....no excuses accepted! If you've posted yours and are dubious about whether or not it will arrive by Friday, email ssdtoffice@ssdt.wanadoo.co.uk - that way I'll make sure your name is included in the ballot so that you don't miss out. Good luck to those of you who have been organised enough to get your form in on time!

I use it and have had absolutely no problems. In fact, I'm getting less spam through now than I ever was before.

I agree - he's a 14-year old lad who has never been on here before and probably has no idea how much time, effort and money goes into organising these events. I'm sure we've all come out with the odd bit of bravado in our time, so give him a break! Better to give him a quiet nudge in the right direction rather than tear the boy to pieces. That's not the way to welcome new members to the site, surely?

That's him!

Here was me thinking you were bursting into a rendition of Happy Birthday!

Geez a clue aff ye?

And that was a joke, before it starts an anti-ballot frenzy...

Too right! I know who you are now!

Outdoor, I meant. In recent years the SSDT has fallen just before one of the far-flung rounds too, which doesn't help, but you're right - it's the risk of injury that's the main concern.

Clashes with the indoor rounds these days.

Nobody would be more delighted than me if we got bang on 270 entries....I'd get a year off being public enemy number one! Only time will tell, but I've had nothing from the factories, sponsors or importers yet, and that's where the bulk entries tend to come in. I suspect we'll get less than previous years but will still be oversubscribed...I'm guessing we'll get about 380 entries in total. Anyone any other guesses? Free SSDT sticker to the closest!

Although going on the average organisational skills of a trials rider, I'm guessing there's plenty forms still to come in.... I've just checked the forums on the SSDT website and we currently have two entries more than we had on this day last year! However, we're closing entries a week or two earlier this year, and that's what will make the difference. Remember guys, any forms arriving after 15th December will be binned on the spot - if they're not with me by then they're not in the ballot (assuming that there is one!) so don't waste time unnecessarily!

I'm a pro at all that crap - you know where to drop them off!

Dad and Bill both despatch riders, but not old enough for WWII....well, not quite! Sounds like a question for Big John...