Home Town:                               Hamilton

Age:                                             32

Number of years racing:                 16

Number of Enduro entered:              140

Current Bike:                                  2005 KTM EXC 250/2

First Bike:                                       1986 Kawasaki KX 125

First Race:                         8^th April 1990 (Shiplaw Enduro, Peebles)

Best Scottish Championship Result:    
4th Expert Championship 1996, 2002
3^rd Clubman Championship 1993

Best British Championship Result:     
5^th Clubman 250cc Championship 1993
10^th Expert 250cc Championship 1996

Best World Enduro Result:             
15^th  125cc Class – Selkirk 1998

ISDE Results:                            
Italy 1997
98^th  250cc Class
13^th Club Team (Best British Club Team)

Portugal 1999
Retired – Ignition Failure

How I got started 1990

I got my first off road bike in the summer of 1989, a Kawasaki KX 125, when I was 15 and used to ride around the land at my parents house.  I met up with Stan Peterson who introduced me to the pain and suffering of the Enduro.  I went practicing with Stan most weekends and he taught me how to jump ditches and tackle the other nasty obstacles found in Enduro. 

I started competing in the Clubman Class in 1990 (if only there was Sportsmen then) with my first race at Shiplaw.  I managed to complete one lap which took about two and a half hours, being lapped by pretty much the entire field, about three times. I did wonder at the time what I was doing in the middle of a forest stuck in every hole and ditch I came across. 

Clubman Class 1990 – 1993

I entered a few more events that year and eventually managed to finish a couple later in the season.  After four years in the Clubman Class riding alongside Stan, Bruce Hogg, Murray Thomson, Andrew Maben, Graeme Muir, and others, I moved up to the Expert Class for 1994 finishing 3^rd in the Clubman championship to Murray Thomson, and Andrew Maben. 

Expert Class 1994 to present

It was a bit of a shock moving to the Expert class and it took a couple of years to get used to the higher pace on the going with little rest at the checks. 

I also started riding the British Championships in 1994 finishing 5^th in the Clubman 250cc class, and moved into the Expert class for 1995.   I was lucky enough to be selected for the under 23 Enduro Training Squad run by the A.C.U., with coaching from Geriant Jones, Rob Sartin, and Wyn Hughes.  It really brought me on a lot riding the British Rounds. 

ISDE Italy 1997

In 1997 I was asked to go to the International Six Day Enduro in Italy which turned out to be a fantastic experience. I rode for the Grampian MCC Team with Derek Little, and Richard Hay.  Every day there was at least nine hours riding ahead in temperatures of up to 35^oC.  It is very rocky in Italy and you had to adapt to large rock steps and drop offs as a normal part of the going.  The Italian special tests, were normally high speed, flat out and as dangerous as possible.  The most memorable time in Italy, however, was a river crossing on the first day.  At about 4.00pm, for each of the first four days, it rained.  We are talking serious rain, thunder and lightning.  The river crossing that was six inches deep on the first lap was now four feet deep. There were riders all over the place when I arrived.  Some had tried to ride across but had been washed down the river.  Richard arrived next, and a bit more used to these situations just switched his fuel off and pushed his bike into the middle of the river. The bike went straight under and both were being washed downstream.  Derek, who had just arrived, and I jumped in and we carried Richard’s bike on our shoulders to the other side.  With the river still rising and logs and branches banging into us we carried the other two bikes over – Teamwork or what.  Back at the finish it was all everyone was talking about.  That was my introduction to the six days.  The rest of the event wasn’t too bad in comparison.

Future (Enjoy Riding my Bike)

Now married with a wee sproggy, I don’t get much of a chance to practice much, and generally ride in the Scottish Championship these days.   The Scottish championship is one of the best in the UK and there is plenty of competition.  I still love riding and hopefully I can do a lot more fitness training over the winter.

Results

My highest place finish in the Scottish Expert Championship has been 4^th place in 1996 and 2002, however, there is always room for improvement.  My results have not been the best over the last fee years (not fit enough)so I need to get my finger out and try a bit harder.

My goal for 2006 is to be much fitter and finish in the top 5 in selected individual races.