The hills of West Burrafirth recently played host to the second Shetland Two Day Trial (S2DT). The motorcycle trial saw competitors from across the country assemble in Shetland to tackle the 10-mile course.
Trialling sees riders ride from one skills test section to the next over unprepared natural terrain. Every section had a series of obstacles which must be navigated from start to finish without stopping and without the rider putting their foot on the ground for balance. Hoping to get a score of zero for each section, observers give riders points for each time a foot touched the ground.
Each section had colour-coded routes to separate the rider's skill levels and give everyone a challenge. The more advanced the rider, the more complex the route colour they compete in. Yellow for the novices, Green and Blue for the more seasoned riders, and the scary Red route for the advanced riders.
For this Trial, the lap set out ran to approximately 10 miles long and had 20 seconds on the first day and a gentle 15 on the second day. Two laps were completed each day for a total of forty miles and 70 sections over the weekend on a lightweight bike with no seat! The Trial is a serious test for physical fitness, rider skill and bike reliability.
Having run the Trial with great success for the first time in 2019, the original plan had been for it to feature on the trials calendar every two years. However, due to the pandemic, the Trial was postponed until this year. As a result, local trial riders spent the last few months laying the groundwork for hosting the Trial, which ran under the banner of the Bon Accord Motorcycle Club. The combination of support and sponsorship from local businesses, including Swinton Technology, made this event possible!
Cumbria's James Johnston took the top honours this year with a masterful display of riding over the weekend to win with only 83 points to his nearest rival Kevin Dignan, who had 109 points at the end.
Young local rider Hendrick Irvine took a notable win in the beginners class in his very first full Trial. Whilst at the other end of their riding careers, the Trial was blessed to see former Isle of Mann TT and GP winner Mick Grant travel to Shetland to compete along with 16 times British Sidecar Trials Champion Robin Luscombe.
