slapshot 3

On Saturday morning my Dad, Duncan Young a long time member of the Stevenson Club, suffered a Stroke as we were packing up ready to leave at the end of the day. He's okay and was moved from Fort William back to the local hospital in Ayrshire today. I'm really happy to say his condition is improving in leaps and bounds. This post is purely a huge thanks to the members of the trials fraternity who have passed their best wishes and messages of support back to us by phone, email and every other method possible since Saturday. It's probably impossible to contact everyone again so on behalf of the whole Young family THANKS I asked the boss if it was okay to put this in here, it seemed apt.

A spectators view.... I'm not qualified to speak as a rider, Ive never ridden, I've only tackled bits of them moors on occasions but I can comment as a spectator after my 37th or 38th Scottish (lost count and I've more on my mind right now). Monday was vicious, Leanachan looked about spot on for openers but Lagnaha ( ) was horrific and would have been in the dry never mind the torrent flowing down it, it was horrible. Tuesday, decided to go and see the whole entry through Forest Gate, real tough sections but from seeing the entry through they were definately rideable by the whole cross section of the riders. Wednesday: Rubha Ruadh was the same as always straightforward if you got them right, hard if you didn't. First step is rideable by nearly everyone these days but as that slot wears away the second step catches many riders out. Saw a couple of other groups from the roadside but definately tough. Thursday our off day so didn't see anything Friday: WD's very rideable and Trotters is Trotters Saturday, I didn't see anything apart from half a dozen riders on the Town Hall Brae. On the whole this year appeared harder in the early part of the week predominantly, as already aluded too, the feedback from riders and mates outlined that. When you see riders keeping going on stubborness, lucozade and adrenaline by lunchtime on Wednesday, you know it's tough. I've seen other years much harder and others more straightforward in many variable weather conditions so maybe the balance was nearly right. My only real negative comment would be that I was surprised to see the THB so tough, that was a bit of a shock, many look forward to that section as their clean at the end of the week and maybe the toughness of that sums the week up for many. All in all I think it was a great week trials wise, it always is.

have to agree, John was compulsive listening last week, the Jamie Reid Interview was priceless, nice one john

Apologies to all the Mont and Sherco 4 stroke riders but the Beta's looked and sounded amazing last week, quiet and efficient and I'm not sure but was Pasquet riding a bigger capacity Beta, his sounded really special. Just my opinion....

And the award for stating the bleeding obvious goes to... That's why I sign on as official press (as did Bigfoot and Matt). It gives me/us the benefit of insurance. Unlike the retards who just take their bikes where they fancy... ....and I'm hacked off i didn't have the camera to my eye when either Dan or Ben Hemmo gave Bigfoot a front wheel slap at Forest Gate on Tuesday

Nothing new folks, still looking dodgy Sunday into Monday and Tuesday, looks like an improving situation through Wednesday & Thursday with Friday and Saturday likely to be the best days of the week, sorry folks. I've emailed HL a couple of links, if she'll let me I'll take a look mid week

Vinnie.... or if we are being honest Trialero13, Carles Casas is due this year,

You're just a big feartie... ..... You know that Anne WILL find you on Friday that's why you're being coy, now that would be fun to watch.

There is loads of interest every year but they won't give any information away prior to the trial to ensure they sell as many programmes as possible you can understand their intentions. The last time there was anything published prior to the event was when the tMX published the programmes. I've tried sweet-talking Anne Gordon for an entry list to laminate the last couple of years but she won't bite even though she knows I'll buy half a dozen programmes anyway......(I'm a sad boy but you lot know that anyway)I think I've got every P65 programme

You must be talking about our 'Master of Champions' series on ABC? either that or Judge Judy

Ive tried to be a bit cagey about the weather for next week because basically we have not been confident about the forecasts beyond Sunday, believe it or not our customers place a lot on the "confidence" we have in forecast. How we figure that out is looking at the range of models (mathematical not glamour unfortunately) we use if they are similar then we can be reasonably confident about the pattern, if not less so. Over the last day or two none of them have matched very well however they are starting to come together and it's not great news. As you have no doubt guessed this don't look so great anymore, Friday and Saturday will still be fine for the pre65 but going into Sunday, it looks increasingly likely that the settled weather we've had will start to break down. At the moment we are looking at a band of rain crossing the North West of Scotland later on Sunday, a dry parade is touch and go, then showery for the next day or two after that out to Wednesday at the earliest, Thursday on it should start to dry out and warm up again. The only good thing is that it'll probably change again before the weekend. Sorry guys, come prepared for a "normal" Scottish. Hope Ishy packs the Goretex and hopefully this turns out completely wrong

AtomAnt, write to JD and let him know your feelings. I did and he responded. I won't go into detail but its fair to say he doesn't feel there is much to be done until a legal case is put forward, whilst I do not doubt he will assist in the legal case I think he is very much missing the point. The overwhelming support is what will drive this fight forward. In response to Dabster I do not think any particular organisation is co-ordinating things. Y & G Club does seem the obvious choice as they must have an established relationship with Mr Fothergill. I did.....he's not commenting on my comment shall we say....

You'll be forever known for that piccy John ...man at c&a I'll get my T shirt eventually, just cos you got one first. Wednesday sounds good be nice to put a few more faces to names A rare photo of a Scotsman with his hand in his pocket ;-) I'll see you lads in the west end Wed 7.30pm Hand in pocket to prevent money escaping...a trick handed down through the years, I believe its also a hereditary trait in Yorkshire

You'll be forever known for that piccy John ...man at c&a I'll get my T shirt eventually, just cos you got one first. Wednesday sounds good be nice to put a few more faces to names

I am......... , well P65 anyway, still like a pop at one or two of these muppets mind you

i bet your granny would never have suggested such a thing It's true, I watched a couple of folk at the bottom of Mamore Road a couple of years back trying to keep people out they just got ignore and in one case pushed out the way, it's a joke. Don't know what the answer is, you can appeal to them but the reality is thye'll do waht the hell they like.

Depends how lucky you get during the week mind you the burds might expect you to buy your own Andy.....

Ah well time for the abuse to start... Pre 65 and first weekend is looking pretty good from the Pics below 4th: Dry long sunny spells, 15 to 18 degrees light winds 5th: As above 6th: As above but a little warmer, 17-19 degrees 7th: Again as above but warmer again 18-20 degrees its a pretty settled pattern and the longer it stay that way the better however the latter part of the week doesn't look that great at the minute but remember that's nearly two weeks away. It's likely things will start to break down Wednesday/Thursday wet becoming cooler and showery after that.....more to follow before I leave on Thursday.

Flood the engine trying to start it, one last almighty kick and pour all that fuel in to the exhaust, leave it in your silencer for a few minutes and wait for the black tar-like muck to trickle out of the pipe........

Neo, Atom, you're just a pair of cynics (looked this up in the dictionary it said Sherco rider ???? ). There are awkward bits of maintenance, the same as any other bike, yeah they leak fuel but it can be sorted (granted the factory should have done this by now) but for some of us they are a superb trials bike. Neo, the support in this country is absolutley second to none. Do you understand the concept of dillusional behaviour PS Oi Ian, you coming to Gods Country next week or not?? We'll get Passport control set up specially for you

Problem is where the bolt terminates Neo, it's just in line to pick up every bit of crap the back tyre can throw at it, no matter how hard you protect it. I've filled the gap with silicon, see if that make a difference

Good vid......pity about the dodgy facial hair....

...And if they don't say hello to the observer at dubh lochan on Friday there will be trouble.....or a 5...

well said steve! but i would rather be playing toronto than anahiem. I know where to look for sympathy Steve, it's between sh!t and Syphillis in a dictionary (Queens English, i know you guys have some funny thoughts on spelling ) At least it'll give you Canucks fans a pointer for where to look next week. bit of clairvoyance going on there methinks.....I've just read six emails from my best mate, one after every goal the Scumbags scored and then one at the end. I need to chose my mates more carefully. Schwing........clonk, inagine the sounds of the golf course

Is one allowed to be English these days? I thought the correct terminology was British. One wouldn't want to make any non-English Britons feel uncomfortable, it wouldn't be politically correct. B*****ks ! That politically correct enough for ya I Feel uncomfortable as a non-English briton