Balancing acts
Even in his wildest dreams, as Edinburgh MCC secretary Campbell McGregor received entries for the first ‘Scottish’ in 1909, he couldn't have imagined the event would gain such worldwide acclaim. Punctuated by two world wars, Foot and Mouth Disease and now Covid-19, the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) remains ‘the event’ for many trials riders and enthusiasts. What could be better than a week’s holiday in the Highlands, competing, watching or officiating on the most scenic trials sections in the world, against backdrops which have inspired thousands of artists and poets.
Over the years, many SSDT histories have been penned – rather than repeat them, here’s a few highlights to set the scene.
1909 (July 1): Twenty-six entrants assembled at Murrayfield tram terminus, Edinburgh, for the start of the first Scottish – a five-day event. In common with other period trials, there was no outright victor, and such was the event’s severity, only Messrs Salveson and Thomson were awarded gold medals.
• 1910: Just 19 entrants lined up for the start of the second Scottish to ride the full six days, making it the Scottish Six Days Trial. The only rider earning a gold medal was J Holroyd (1¼hp Motosacoche) who later described all other events as ‘mere picnics’ compared with the SSDT.
• 1919 (July 21): Due to postwar difficulties, from an entry of 72 only 50 started, of whom nine were awarded gold medals.
• 1926: The system of tallying marks was categorised under four headings: brake tests, daily condition of machine, hill climbing and
