perce

Riding number 203

pictures will not load on the front page so I've added them here. Saturday should see another epic renewal of The Scott Trial. Clerk of the Course Bruce Storr & his helpers have been out all week flagging the 85 mile & 76 section route & hopefully they will have made all the finishing touches before dark tomorrow night. The weather looks set to be fair but the last couple of nights here have seen a down turn in temperature so we're expecting a frosty but bright start to Scott morning. Having been frequently asked for a viewing guide here's one I did for last years event with the odd alteration for this year. The start field is sign posted from the centre of Richmond, it's on the road from Richmond to Markse. OS leisure map #30 is ideal for the area. Programme with map is available on the start field & most local shop / garages etc. Get to the start field for 8 ish then you'll get a good look round. or hell lets loose at 9.00am when the first man sets off & they then go at 20 second intervals. There's then several ways of doing it, you simply can't see everything as it all happens fast so making a plan & sticking to it is a good idea. The amount of traffic on the day stops you going everywhere, parking can also be a nightmare This is also how I see things, so not all will agree! Plan 1 Underbanks - first real vantage point of the day. Basically a staircase which has good viewing & good parking. By leaving the start field by 9:15 you'll get a good vantage point here. Great place to go for a first Scott view as they come up here in convoy with 5 or 6 bikes in the section at once. Stop here until all the stars go through as they're starting to cut through the stragglers by now. By Pass - You'll have a fair bit of time to get here so there's time to stop at Reeth for toilets etc. There's a good pie shop just up the road from the Buck. You'll be able to see some later runners here in petrol check 2 then cross the road to see the early men into petrol check 3. There's normally 3 sections in this group with either the 2nd or 3rd usually being the best hazard. just follow the beck until you find something good. Last year the second section here was a right sod longish walk up the Ghyll but worth it. Shaw Gutter / Bridge End - It'll be a mad rush to get here, the congestion will be awful, so if you can't do with hassle I suggest going to Reels Head which is the same parking as Underbanks. Shaw Gutter is a longish walk for a good spectacular Section, it's a bit like Witches Burn in the SSDT. Basically you'll see the flags on the left side of the road, just follow them back. Bridge End is right next to the road after the petrol check, not as good a section but not so far to walk. To avoid going back into the traffic follow the road to Bd Castle, then take the turning to Barningham, then follow the road to Newsham. You've now got 2 options, first go back to the start field where you can watch them finish or walk down through the fields to the last section, follow the road towards Richmond & turn off after Kirkby Hill towards Feldom Ranges. Option 2 is to hang a right in Newsham, head towards Helwith/Holgate, you'll cross the flagged route on the hill top near a cattle grid, then go down to the cross roads & take a right. There's a building about 300 yds on, park up & walk down the road to Goats Splash, you'll find the course flags so turn left & follow them to the section. This is a fairly tough climb which gets worse as the day goes on. If you walk the course back 10 minutes or so from here you'll find another section, Hell Holes, which is in a beck. You can't get from here back to the finish to see the top lads finish so hang around a while & cheer on the also rans, most lads are buggered by here so a bit of encouragement means a lot. Plan 2 Start Field Surrender - Leisurely ride up from the start field as the first man isn't due until 11 ish. Hang a left in Markse & then right onto the main road up to Reeth, miss all the traffic at Underbanks. After Pies & Pees in Reeth follow the Swaledale road to Healaugh, turn right at Sunterville & take the narrow road up to Surrender, this will be well sign posted & the only access to Surrender on the day. There's going to be 2 sections at Surrender & if you want a bit of walk follow the course back 10 minutes or so & you'll find Roys Rocks. Surrender is the Scott icon & probably one of the best spectator hazards. If you feel like a bit of a walk out Richies Revenge is probably a 15 minute walk up the track after the Surrender sections, it's worth the walk as it's a fairly tough section. Whaw Bridge - These 2 sections are right next to the road side on the road heading to Tan Hill. Fairly steady but usually slippery as sin & take marks all day. Now head back towards the start / finish but take in Reels Head first. Reels Head - decent section which will get harder later on, fair walk from good parking on the Fremington / Marske road. if you want to see the good lads finish you can stay here a maximum of 1/2 hour. The Scott isn't just about the stars though so this would be another place to stay on & encourage the lads out for a tough days sport. The spectator groups I haven't mentioned in my 2 plans:- Sleeper Bridge - snotty climb up green rocks, not a lot to look at but takes marks all day long. Look out for some aggressive rides. Rawcroft - beck section that's under trees so it's usually pretty slippery, although I'd expect a lot of cleans. Grand Canyon - good section which takes marks, gets progressively worse so don't expect many cleans after the first dozen or so. Tank Trap - looks absolutely nowt but takes marks, again get's worse as the day progresses. Black Hills - Absolute nightmare for anyone after the first dozen get through. If it's a very wet day it isn't so bad but if it's dry the mud gets dragged up, it's hell! Long gully with 2 or 3 sections in it so worth the walk. Where ever you go enjoy your day, park with sense & take all your litter home. Then go down to the Cricket Club in Richmond to bid on all the auction goodies & have a beer. Then you'll be ready for the results sometime about midnight. Talking of parking with sense I've attached some photos that a Club official took last year at Surrender. These bikes are parked where they shouldn't be, this is an ancient monument & on no account should you consider it as a parking zone, leave your bike next to the road & walk to the sections just like everybody else does. Selfish behavior like this does nothing for our reputation & unfortunately the efforts of a mindless few will kill our sport. Club officials will also be keeping an eye out & also challenging those people who we feel shouldn't be on the course other than on foot, we are fully aware that there are people who have marshal bibs etc. for their own use not ours. For the continuation of this historic event access the sections & the surrounding moor lands on foot.

it's also front page now with some updates & some information.

pegs might not bend but the hangers do

Aye, ******* about in a war zone must be easy street compared to the harsh realities of life on Teesside. Times are so tough on Teesside they are thinking of organising a time and observation trial with the money raised going towards local charities. I've probably told you this before but did you know that the original benefactor of the Scott charities was St Dunstans I think we still should give them something. Also how many other sports governing bodies do not allow competiton on Armistice Day? Long may it continue.

Aye, ******* about in a war zone must be easy street compared to the harsh realities of life on Teesside.

There is a telly in a separate bar to the main function room.

There's been a few Scott's when seeing the hole in the fence at the bottom of the start field has been difficult, so it just adds to all the fun.

How you know from aross the Atlantic that the type of mechanical ineptness i was refering to was perce's shows considerable insight copemech. Whilst I am in possesion of Geography o level the intimate knowledge of the dales has escaped me, they all look beautiful to me, and very similar. You're only allowed to post Swaledale views if you can actually name where the photo was taken. Can you? Top of Kearton Lane, next to Hilltop Farrm. Where do I collect the prize? You're barred, no insider trading. Do you think the pot of gold is somewhere along Scaba Wath?

A rumour spreading round Richmond tonight is that Deejay has now got off the reserve list & moved onto the start line. What with him flying Fuji over to advise exactly how hard he can go with his special Fuji mapped bike we could see a new fastest ever Standard Time. Look out Doug you've got a real challenger now.

Funny that but I've just got Northallerton's Bilsdale Trial Regs today & they state 'tsr22b - NO STOP'

A) TSR22 A - No Stop

http://www.justgiving.com/ssdt_scott_team I really do think that this should get up to at least

What's the other 3 tonnes of crap in there for then?

Sorry but you're doing it an old way. Dabster is 100% right the tyre beader sold by Yommee, Sauders etc etc etc is the only way to go. A beader along with cheap & cheerful compresser will blow a tyre on with nominal effort everytime, you can do then with the valve in if you feel like it & it still works.

How you know from aross the Atlantic that the type of mechanical ineptness i was refering to was perce's shows considerable insight copemech. Whilst I am in possesion of Geography o level the intimate knowledge of the dales has escaped me, they all look beautiful to me, and very similar. You're only allowed to post Swaledale views if you can actually name where the photo was taken. Can you?

--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John.B @ Oct 13 2007, 11:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Perce, what happened at By -pass 2 with Dougies minder, we were observing By-pass 3 last year and that was a real cracker of a section. Jake shouted right instead of straight up & Doug virtually jumped up out of the section onto a very green & slippery spot, only a stunning ride got him back on track. A lot of the course marshalls were there so Jake got a fair bit of stick.

He's Wiggy's water boy for the day 'cept based on Dabsters total ineptness at reading a map, zero ability to recognise anywhere he's previously been or understanding basic directions given to him I very much doubt Wiggy will see him any time between 9:54:40 when he sets off & the 5 1/2 hours or so later when he rides up the finish field.

Being a lazy git I've found last years post & altered it a nadge for this year. The start field is sign posted from the centre of Richmond, it's on the road from Richmond to Markse. OS leisure map #30 is ideal for the area. Programme with map is available on the start field & most local shop / garages etc. Get to the start field for 8 ish then you'll get a good look round. or hell lets loose at 9.00am when the first man sets off & they then go at 20 second intervals. There's then several ways of doing it, you simply can't see everything as it all happens fast so making a plan & sticking to it is a good idea. The amount of traffic on the day stops you going everywhere, parking can also be a nightmare This is also how I see things, so not all will agree! Plan 1 Underbanks - first real vantage point of the day. Basically a staircase which has good viewing & good parking. By leaving the start field by 9:15 you'll get a good vantage point here. Great place to go for a first Scott view as they come up here in convoy with 5 or 6 bikes in the section at once. Stop here until all the stars go through as they're starting to cut through the stragglers by now. By Pass - You'll have a fair bit of time to get here so there's time to stop at Reeth for toilets etc. There's a good pie shop just up the road from the Buck. You'll be able to see some later runners here in petrol check 2 then cross the road to see the early men into petrol check 3. There's normally 3 sections in this group with either the 2nd or 3rd usually being the best hazard. just follow the beck until you find something good. From first man getting here you can stay for approx 3/4 hour, then move on. Last year the second section here was a right sod (Dougs chubby minder nearly cost him the trial here!) longish walk up the Ghyll but worth it. Shaw Gutter / Bridge End - It'll be a mad rush to get here, the congestion will be awful, so if you can't do with hassle I suggest going to Reels Head which is the same parking as Underbanks. Shaw Gutter is a longish walk for a good spectacular Section, it's a bit like Witches Burn in the SSDT. Basically you'll see the flags on the left side of the road, just follow them back. Bridge End is right next to the road after the petrol check, not as good a section but not so far to walk. Stop here only 3/4 hour max. To avoid going back into the traffic follow the road to Bd Castle, then take the turning to Barningham, then follow the road to Newsham. You've now got 2 options, first go back to the start field where you can watch them finish or walk down through the fields to the last section, follow the road towards Richmond & turn off after Kirkby Hill towards Feldom Ranges. Option 2 is to hang a right in Newsham, head towards Helwith/Holgate, you'll cross the flagged route on the hill top near a cattle grid, then go down to the cross roads & take a right. There's a building about 300 yds on, park up & walk down the road to Goats Splash, you'll find the course flags so turn left & follow them to the section. This is a fairly tough climb which gets worse as the day goes on. If you walk the course back 10 minutes or so from here you'll find another section, Hell Holes, which is in a beck. You can't get from here back to the finish to see the top lads finish so hang around a while & cheer on the also rans, most lads are buggered by here so a bit of encouragement means a lot. Plan 2 Start Field Surrender - Leisurely ride up from the start field as the first man isn't due until 11 ish. Hang a left in Markse & then right onto the main road up to Reeth, miss all the traffic at Underbanks. After Pies & Pees in Reeth follow the Swaledale road to Healaugh, turn right at Sunterville & take the narrow road up to Surrender, this will be well sign posted & the only access to Surrender on the day. There's going to be 2 sections at Surrender & if you want a bit of walk follow the course back 10 minutes or so & you'll find Roys Rocks. Surrender is the Scott icon & probably one of the best spectator hazards. If you feel like a bit of a walk out Richies Revenge is probably a 15 minute walk up the track after the Surrender sections, it's worth the walk as it's a fairly tough section. You can watch at Surrender for at least an hour before moving on. Whaw Bridge - These 2 sections are right next to the road side on the road heading to Tan Hill. Fairly steady but usually slippery as sin & take marks all day. You can stay here for an hour or so. Now head back towards the start / finish but take in Reels Head first. Reels Head - decent section which will get harder later on, fair walk from good parking on the Fremington / Marske road. if you want to see the good lads finish you can stay here a maximum of 1/2 hour. The Scott isn't just about the stars though so this would be another place to stay on & encourage the lads out for a tough days sport. The spectator groups I haven't mentioned in my 2 plans:- Sleeper Bridge - snotty climb up green rocks, not a lot to look at but takes marks all day long. Look out for some aggressive rides. Rawcroft - beck section that's under trees so it's usually pretty slippery, although I'd expect a lot of cleans. Grand Canyon - good section which takes marks, gets progressively worse so don't expect many cleans after the first dozen or so. Tank Trap - looks absolutely nowt but takes marks, again get's worse as the day progresses. Black Hills - Absolute nightmare for anyone after the first dozen get through. If it's a very wet day it isn't so bad but if it's dry the mud gets dragged up, it's hell! Long gully with 2 or 3 sections in it so worth the walk. Where ever you go enjoy your day, park with sense & take all your litter home. Then go down to the Cricket Club in Richmond to bid on all the auction goodies & get p****d. Then you'll be ready for the results sometime about midnight.

I also think that this is correct, I'll have to check up on it. Michael Brown rode in 2004, 2005 & 2006, it took him until 2006 to get a top 26 result. Talking of outsiders, didn't Trevor Willans get very close to setting Standard time one year only to be pipped by Harold Crawford? 2004 http://richmondmotorclub.com/cms/showartic...hp?articleID=48 2005 http://www.richmondmotorclub.com/pdf_results/spoons05.pdf 2006 http://www.richmondmotorclub.com/scott/2006/spoons.pdf

They're currently on sale in various shops / garages locally.

Too old, too slow. Dunno, I think Doug was 6th in first year.

Don't think he'll do that but I have him down as first man to Surrender, he was flying a couple of years ago until he ran into problems.

FFS Rabie our dog can spell better than you, can we have that in English please?

Suggested reading http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flashman-Papers-Ge...6473&sr=8-3 I did my first Flashman novel just before they went into Afganistan (try reading GMF's own WW2 service in Burma, it's a cracking yarn), it may be fiction but it's well researched fiction based on fact & has been repeated before our lads were ever sent in. They're p****** in the wind, brave lads are losing their lives for nowt, bring 'em home.