Trials Action

FITWC 07 St. Petersburg - Dougie Lampkin report

Sunday the 21st of January 2007 by jitsie

Dougie Lampkin recorded a disappointing fifth place at the second round of the current edition of the World Indoor championship held at St Petersburg, Russia. As had been the case at the opening event held in Spain last weekend, Lampkin looked to be on the pace and in with a chance of qualifying for the final, but once again an unforced error would cost him dearly and leave him out of the main running.

Scores were ultra low during the qualifying heat, with the course perhaps not offering sufficient severity for the status of the competition. Any kind of mistake was going to be a disaster, and whilst Dougie matched his counterparts through the observed sections, his performance on the high jump would ultimately seal his fate. The five marks incurred here not only put him out of the final, but also left him in fifth place behind his Japanese team mate Fujinami.

For the second event in succession it was Lampkin’s new team mate Antonio Bou who was the sensation of the evening, as he notched up his second clear victory in as many starts in the championship. In a reverse of fortune, this week it was Raga who suffered mechanical problems, which put him down in third place behind Cabestany, to allow Bou to open up a solid advantage in the overall standings.

Dougie’s latest result leaves him in a three way tie for fourth position in the series, with Fujinami and Fajardo both sharing the same points as the British multi World champion.

Very disappointed and slighted dejected, Lampkin commented on the events of the evening. “My goal was to be on the podium at every round, but so far I have not achieved what I set out to do, despite having clear chances which should have allowed me to. I need to be riding at my best to be even mixing with the younger riders, so it is really annoying when you have put in so much effort to be there or thereabouts and then you go and throw it away with a real clanger of a schoolboy type error.”

•