Dougie Lampkin continues his magical relationship with the World famous Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT), having just taking the victory at the historic event for a record extending fourteenth time at the age of forty-seven years old. Dougie first won the SSDT back in 1994 and has enjoyed a special association with the century plus old competition ever since, despite being absent during the height of his World Championship winning years due to his then hectic schedule.

Nowadays Dougie rides very few competitions himself, with his time now being split between supporting his two sons. His youngest Frasier is already making a name for himself on the enduro scene, whilst his eldest Alfie is starting to carve out his own career in the World of trial. With seventeen-year-old Alfie making his SSDT debut on board a 125cc machine this year, 2023 was always going to be a memorable Scottish for Dougie, irrespective of his own performance, as he shared a week in the highlands with his first child.

Having now had a couple of days to reflect on his latest achievement in a career that has stretched more than thirty years, Dougie explained what last week meant to him:

“This year’s SSDT was always going to be different for a few reasons. Obviously, the biggest change for me was having Alfie ride with me, as normally I just take care of myself and don’t have to worry about anyone else. Also, the lead up to the event was different too as I had done nowhere near the same amount of riding before hand because of being at British and World trials with Alfie in the months beforehand.”

“Heading up to Fort William I wasn’t too sure of where I was up to riding wise, as although on the few times I had been on the bike I had felt OK, having seen the likes of Billy Green and Jack Peace riding in Spain and Portugal just before the SSDT I knew their level was very good.”

“I am a Lampkin, so I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think I might be able to win the Scottish again before I set off on the first day, but I also knew Monday was going to be important and would show if I was able to be in the mix or not. Before the trial started, I would have settled for a decent result and to make sure Alfie made it to the finish, though once the flag dropped it’s hard not to think about anything but winning.”

“The week was pretty much drama free apart from a small mechanical issue going into the last day, which I managed to sort. It was a strange week compared to normal due to the new routes, although there were just great new sections most of the other ones were very familiar to me, and that’s where my experience started to count.”

“Alfie rode out of his skin all week with some great rides, his result could have been even better if it wasn’t for a lack of power in some places, as he’s a big lad to be riding a 125. To finish inside the top thirty on his debut and beat Emma (Bristow) is excellent.”

“All the young lads did fantastic on their 125’s, Harry Hemingway finishing seventh with Jack Dance just behind him in eighth and local lad Jamie Galloway inside the top fifteen, is brilliant for the future of the event, especially once old guys like me have finally hung up their boots after I have helped Frasier around his first Scottish in a few years’ time.”

“Going into the final day with it all still to do is something I am used to and for some reason I still seem to like that kind of pressure. I’ve been involved in a few Saturday showdowns over the years, and thankfully I have a knack of coming out on top most times, which was the case again this year. Billy (Green) rode really well all week, as I expected him to, and he will be disappointed to have missed out, but his time will definitely come, and the same for Jack Peace too. Fair play to Michael (Brown) sneaking on to the podium come the end also, as he’s another old part time rider like me these days.!”

“I love the Scottish, and always will do, it’s been a part of my life ever since I was a kid, so it’s great now to have one of my kids able to ride it with me, whilst I am still capable of winning it. I will be back next year, body permitting as it’s definitely protesting right now after what I put it through last week.”