COOKRIDGE rider James Dabill put in a spectacular performance to win the Scottish Six Day Trial (SSDT), ending a long winning run by his rival, Silsden's Dougie Lampkin.

Dabill led the SSDT from start to finish and finished two marks ahead of Lampkin.

The trial, which Lampkin had won 12 times, takes place the Lochaber area of Scotland, featured 238 riders in total taking on a combination of rough moorland, rocky tracks and public roads in a Highlands weather.

Lampkin headed into the final day of competition at the historic event in the Scottish Highlands, which he has dominated for the last seven years, trailing week-long leader Dabill by two marks after 150 sections and five days in the saddle.

Lampkin did everything within his power to make it eight victories on the bounce and looked to repeat his last-day comeback as he had done 12 months ago, when he had managed to overhaul Dabill to take his 12th win at the 2018 SSDT.

Despite applying pressure, Lampkin could only match Dabill on day six as they both parted with a single dab through the closing 30 sections leaving Lampkin two marks shy of victory on this occasion.

Dabill forced the Silsden rider to play catch up from the first day as a single mark in the second group on Monday saw Lampkin trail Dabill, as two-time winner went clean on the opening day.

Lampkin was to fall further behind his main rival on Tuesday, as he fell foul to a super slippery section - unused for the last two years - on his early day.

Some solid riding by Lampkin on day three saw him close the gap on Dabill to three marks as the competition reached its halfway point.

An unusually easy array of sections on Thursday, often regarded as the toughest day of the week, saw the leading duo remain clean on day four and as they remained locked in battle for the top spot going into the decisive two days.

Lampkin ensured it was going to be a tense finale as he parted with one mark on Friday compared to the two-mark loss for Dabill, to move within two marks of the leader going into Saturday's showdown.

Unfortunately, it was to prove an unlucky 13 for Lampkin as he missed out on the main prize this year by the narrowest of margins.

Dabill said: "Wow what a week. To lead the Scottish Six Day Trial from start to finish and take my third win is an amazing feeling."

Lampkin said: "Firstly, I want to congratulate James, he has ridden well all week and has not put a foot wrong. To lead from Monday and to take the win will hopefully make up for him missing out on the final day last year.

"Obviously I am gutted as I came here to win and have given absolutely everything I had, so to miss out by just two marks especially after Tuesday is hard to take, but that's all part of riding the Scottish."

Dabill also spoke highly of Lampkin and the amount of respect the two trials riders have for one another.

"As soon as I’d finished Dougie Lampkin walked over with a bottle of champagne and two cups for us both," said Dabill. "He really is a true sportsman, gentleman, great rival but most of all a great friend.

"I’m already looking forward to be back next May to have another bash at it."

Lampkin added: "I have already started to think about how I am going to take the trophy back off James next year."