May
08
Challoner off the pace in SSDT centenary
It has been hard to miss all the attention surrounding this year’s Scottish Six Day Trail (SSDT), and for good reason; 2011 marked the centenary of this iconic event and in celebration hosted an abundance of famous faces and celebratory activities throughout the week. Over 250 riders from all corners of the globe flocked to the highlands of Scotland, competing on a combined route of over 500 miles spread over the six days. With all riders eager to beat their personal best results – at the front of the pack there were over three separate leaders throughout the six day competition. But it was the factory Beta frontman, James Dabill who came out on top after a nail biting battle with Alexz Wigg (Sherco) on the final day of the competition. Wigg, who was the victim of a broken chain in the final section of the week, was unlucky to miss out on a podium finish – instead it was Michael Brown (Gas Gas) and Graham Jarvis (Montesa) who stood alongside the Beta rider from Leeds at the end of the gruelling six days.
Miton Top Trial Team frontman, Jack Challoner, came to event looking for nothing less than a win but was unable to deliver the goods as he struggled to adapt his riding style to the more traditional technique required to do well at this event. The Relentless rider was right in the mix after the opening day of the competition on just six marks, the same as former British Expert champion, Joe Baker who had a brilliant week, finishing in 11th just two marks ahead of Challoner who concluded the competition in a disappointing 14th position.
Challoner first showed signs of struggle on Tuesday where he finished the day on twelve marks after receiving a unlucky five mark penalty in the second of three sections at Group H (Allt Coire ant Seilich) when he over-judged the loose boulders.
However, as usual, Jack gave the crowds a demonstration of his fighting spirit mid-week as he strung together two exceptionally good days on Wednesday and Thursday scoring three and one mark days respectively. Unfortunately, the weather worsened and Jack’s (269) late starting number meant he was an early runner for the final two days, giving him no advantage to follow proven riding lines, as such he finished on 12 on Friday and 13 on Saturday..
Challoner commented on his SSDT effort after the trial, “Of course this week has been disappointing, but it has also been a great lesson. I came here looking for the win, but right from the off I struggled to adapt my riding style which cost me heavily. The trial has been great, and I am very happy to have been a part of this 100 year celebration.
“I was in a great position starting the trial, the weather was good and my late number meant that I could see many the lines other riders had taken. Wednesday and Thursday were good days where I felt a lot more in control, unfortunately I had a high score on Friday as did so many of the riders which made it very hard to finish within the top ten.
Concluding the interview, “I’ve got to take my hat off to James here, what a ride, he kept his cool and was consistent all week and thoroughly deserving winner. I have got to say a massive thanks to Michele Bosi, who rode the entire trial with me. Also, John Lampkin and the whole Beta team were sensational; looking after all those Beta riders all week can’t be easy, but they did an absolutely brilliant job, and it paid off with James managing to finish on the top step of the podium”.
Challoner having started this year well winning both the opening round of the Italian and European championships finished his SSDT performance in 14th. Jack, like many of the top ten riders at this event will be travelling to Germany later this week to compete in the opening round of the 2011 SPEA FIM Outdoor World Championships where, for he debut’s in the Championship Class.
1) James Dabill - 13
2) Michael Brown - 16
3) Graham Jarvis - 19
4) Alexz Wigg - 19
5) Gary Macdonald - 32
6) Sam Connor - 33
7) Ian Austermuhle - 37
8) Ben Hemingway - 39
9) Alfredo Gomez - 45
10) James Lampkin - 45
11) Joe Baker - 45
12) Sam Haslam - 46
13) Tom Sagar - 46
14) Jack Challoner - 47
15) Ben Morphett - 51
Miton Top Trial Team frontman, Jack Challoner, came to event looking for nothing less than a win but was unable to deliver the goods as he struggled to adapt his riding style to the more traditional technique required to do well at this event. The Relentless rider was right in the mix after the opening day of the competition on just six marks, the same as former British Expert champion, Joe Baker who had a brilliant week, finishing in 11th just two marks ahead of Challoner who concluded the competition in a disappointing 14th position.
Challoner first showed signs of struggle on Tuesday where he finished the day on twelve marks after receiving a unlucky five mark penalty in the second of three sections at Group H (Allt Coire ant Seilich) when he over-judged the loose boulders.
However, as usual, Jack gave the crowds a demonstration of his fighting spirit mid-week as he strung together two exceptionally good days on Wednesday and Thursday scoring three and one mark days respectively. Unfortunately, the weather worsened and Jack’s (269) late starting number meant he was an early runner for the final two days, giving him no advantage to follow proven riding lines, as such he finished on 12 on Friday and 13 on Saturday..
Challoner commented on his SSDT effort after the trial, “Of course this week has been disappointing, but it has also been a great lesson. I came here looking for the win, but right from the off I struggled to adapt my riding style which cost me heavily. The trial has been great, and I am very happy to have been a part of this 100 year celebration.
“I was in a great position starting the trial, the weather was good and my late number meant that I could see many the lines other riders had taken. Wednesday and Thursday were good days where I felt a lot more in control, unfortunately I had a high score on Friday as did so many of the riders which made it very hard to finish within the top ten.
Concluding the interview, “I’ve got to take my hat off to James here, what a ride, he kept his cool and was consistent all week and thoroughly deserving winner. I have got to say a massive thanks to Michele Bosi, who rode the entire trial with me. Also, John Lampkin and the whole Beta team were sensational; looking after all those Beta riders all week can’t be easy, but they did an absolutely brilliant job, and it paid off with James managing to finish on the top step of the podium”.
Challoner having started this year well winning both the opening round of the Italian and European championships finished his SSDT performance in 14th. Jack, like many of the top ten riders at this event will be travelling to Germany later this week to compete in the opening round of the 2011 SPEA FIM Outdoor World Championships where, for he debut’s in the Championship Class.
1) James Dabill - 13
2) Michael Brown - 16
3) Graham Jarvis - 19
4) Alexz Wigg - 19
5) Gary Macdonald - 32
6) Sam Connor - 33
7) Ian Austermuhle - 37
8) Ben Hemingway - 39
9) Alfredo Gomez - 45
10) James Lampkin - 45
11) Joe Baker - 45
12) Sam Haslam - 46
13) Tom Sagar - 46
14) Jack Challoner - 47
15) Ben Morphett - 51
