Dabill leads the way
By TMX Archives on 11th May 07
At the back of the 268-rider entry, topped Monday's leaderboard as Scottish weather struck with a vengeance for the opening day of the 2007 Scottish Six Days Trial. The Future-Montesa rider held a two mark advantage over eternal runner-up Ben Hemingway who in turn was just one mark ahead of fellow Beta rider Michael Brown and local ace Gary MacDonald (who dropped two on time) on the Sherco. Pre-trial favourite Graham Jarvis was languishing in an unusual, for him, eighth place, ten marks adrift of the leader following a torrid time in the final group of sections at Lagnaha that cost the four-stroke Sherco rider dear.
Heavy and persistent rain saw water-levels in the rivers and streams rise visibly and covered the rocks in many sections with foaming white water, meaning that competitors were riding blind, not knowing where the rocks and holes were lying in wait. The water-level situation was so bad that two subs in the river at Coire Mhoraire, near Kinlochleven had to be abandoned.
The nasty conditions contributed to the slow progress of many riders and time faults were many and sometimes high, even though a time limit of seven hours looked ample for the 70 mile route. Of the leading contenders, early starter Shaun Morris, riding number 17, saw a cracking observation score of just a dozen escalated to a massive 29 after signing-off 17 minutes late.
The day actually started out fine and most competitors made it through the opening two subs at Leanachen, at the Nevis Ski Range, bone dry. The second section actually caught-out Dabill for an early two as most leaderboard men cleaned with ease although Dan Thorpe and Marc Colomer were both extremely lucky to escape five mark penalties.
The morning groups, out on the moors, were in the main good honest sections causing the aces few problems but the flooded Coire Mhorair sections at the lunch halt in Kinlochleven put paid to that. Four riders, Ben Hemingway, Michael Brown, Graham Jarvis and Ian Austermuhle all made it clean to the 19th but no-one left on a clean sheet! There were cleans on that 19th section however, including those from Gary MacDonald, first-timer Alexz Wigg, Dan Thorpe, time-traveller Tom Sagar who flew in overnight from the World Enduro in Portugal, Shaun Morris, John Shirt, George Morton, Ian Shedden, Harold Crawford, Stuart Gaskell and Adam Norris.
The top sub at the top of the rolling rocks of Garbh Bheinn then took some cleaning with Mark Sunter, enjoying a cracking opening day, bagging one of a dozen or so cleans.
The big spectator draw of the day was Lagnaha, the closing group making a welcome return after several years but it was an extremely damp couple of hundred hardy souls who stuck around to witness the action in the foaming waters. The old favourite opening gully was not too bad but the remaining sections in the final gully were in evil form.
Dabill's clean ride through all seven sections was a real testament to both his skill and resolve and he fully deserved his first day lead on that superlative effort alone.
No-one else came close to matching that achievement although Scorpa's Sam Haslam, with four separate dabs in four of the hazards, showed sensible application.
The third from last saw just a handful of cleans for the spectators to appreciate from Dabill, Jarvis, Haslam, Paul Bolton, and first-timer and on a 125 Ross Danby.
And the final sub, up the steepest part of the gully, was just as bad. Worse, for the club riders, the alternative up the steep-sided slippery banking was even harder to get out of! Marc Colomer, sprightly veteran Phil Alderson, Spaniard Marc Terricabras and sailing ship captain (he was obviously at home) James Duxbury somehow matched Dabill's clean performance as a signing-off present.
So ended the opening day of the 2007 SSDT with James Dabill, the weather and the time-faults dominating the day. One thing is certain, this year's event won't be won on a single-figure score!
Teenager Alexz Wigg leads the Newcomers class by a country mile, sitting in a challenging fifth place overall following a very challenging day. He's such a polite lad too. After cleaning the first three sections at Lagnaha Alexz said apologetically, I'd love to stop and talk to you JD but I think I'm running a little bit late! His Minder' John Shirt had left Alexz behind and was already up the road!
It was very close in the Ladies contest with Iris Kramer on 75, Donna Fox 77 and Katy Sunter 80. Early starter Becky Rennison was on 109 but should roar back into contention on Tuesday with a nice late start time.
The big Veterans class is also sure to be a close-run thing with Phil Alderson (34) Scot Ian Sheden (36), Nick Shield (43), Gavin Johnston (47) and Ulster's Harold Crawford (48) at the front of a highly competitive pack.
Don't miss next week's T+MX for the full SSDT report including, as ever, Eric Kitchen's matchless pictures.
2007 SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL
Results Day 1 Monday
1 James Dabill (Montesa) 8
2 Ben Hemingway (Beta) .10
3 Michael Brown (Beta) 11
4 Gary MacDonald (Sherco) 11
5 Alexz Wigg (Gas Gas) 14
6 James Lampkin (Beta) 15
7 Joe Baker (Scorpa) 17
8 Graham Jarvis (Sherco) 18
9 Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 21
10 Chris Pearson (Sherco) 22
11 Sam Haslam (Scorpa) 22
12 John Sunter (Montesa) 22
13 Tom Sagar (Scorpa) 23
14 Jordi Pascuet (Beta) 23
15 John Crinson (Sherco) 25
16 Ian Austermuhle (Beta) 26
17 Richard Gaskell (Beta) 26
18 Mark Sunter (Scorpa) 27
19 Dan Hemingway (Beta) 29
20 Shaun Morris (Gas Gas) 29
21 Stephen Dixon (Scorpa) 29
22 Marc Colomer (Scorpa) 29
23 John Shirt (Gas Gas) 30
24 Tommi Ahvala (Montesa) 30
25 Andy Huddleston (Montesa) 31