Six Days Trial prepares for its centenary

The sporting link which ties Pathhead, Edinburgh and Fort William together doesn't immediately make itself apparent.

But the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT), the world's oldest surviving motorbike trial competition, gets underway in Fort William tomorrow, and this year it celebrates its centenary.

Organised by the Edinburgh and District Motor Club (EDMC), the man responsible for pulling together the six-day test of endurance, stamina and skill, and which attracts many of the world's best trial bike stars, is Pathhead's Mark Whitham.

Whitham, in his overseeing role as Clerk of the Course for the SSDT, is only one of more than 100 volunteers who combine to make the event the global success it is. But he acknowledges it remains one of Scotland's best-kept secrets. "For some reason it's never quite captured the imagination of the general Scottish public," Whitham - who will oversee the efforts of 275 riders covering up to 100 miles and 30 sections of obstacles, including flowing streams strewn with slippery boulders, on each of the next six days - admitted.

"For trial bike riders, this is their equivalent of the Isle of Man TT Races. This is a major event in global trial-biking."

Many would argue it is only second in world status behind the FIM Trial World Championship, coincidentally also being held in Fort William later this year in July.

Riders from the likes of Australia, Israel and Norway, plus the traditional huge contingent from Spain and Belgium will take part in the Trial. While Yorkshire legend, 12-times world champ and five-time SSDT winner Dougie Lampkin will start as one of the favourites, local hero Gary MacDonald aims to become the first Scot to win since Bob MacGregor in 1935.