Fine Weather but Wet Feet

North Island Trials Champs R 5 & 6

As expected, Jake Whitaker cleaned up the Expert grade in rounds 5 and 6 of the North Island Trials Champs in the Wellington area last weekend.  He’s in a league apart, losing only 33 points during the two day event whereas the second placed contestant lost over 100.

Local riders acquitted themselves well.

 

The sections were toughish and testing but well thought out and enjoyable. The first day was in the bush east of Paraparumu with lots of tree roots, negotiation  of the rocky river and ups and downs of loose metal banks. The second day was east of Plimmerton and involved riding up and out of a couple of rocky narrow guts.

”I like to wobble a bit so I wasn’t exactly in my forte” says Warwick  Merriman (pictured on right). “I won day one in the President’s Grade but only managed 7^th on day two which gave me 3^rd overall”.

“There were about a dozen South Islanders competing which was great because it boosted the numbers, however, it also meant they took home some of the trophies”, he laughs.

He also reports that the weather was good but that it made little difference.  As the sections were all set around rivers, everyone got wet feet.

In the Expert class John Haynes(pictured at top), still a junior and on a 125, was competing against the big boys on their 250s.  He finished a creditable  4^th on both days. Similarly, Phil Shilton was 6^th on both days.

In the Intermediate Grade, Jacob Gundry, another promising Junior, was competing against his dad, Kevin. Both lost points for taking too long. Kevin (5^th) pipped Jacob (6^th) on day one but  Jacob’s 2nd place on day 2 was his best result ever. “He whipped me dead”, says Kevin, who finished 6^th on the Sunday. “Day 2 was one step up and a lot harder but I really enjoyed it”.  Ben McLeod is another local junior setting himself a challenge. He placed 7th equal and 8th.  Tom Evans was 9^th and 7^th respectively.

In the President’s grade, Paul McLeod was 5th the first day but happy with his 4^th on the more challenging day 2. Gabby Gundry finished mid pack in this same grade. She does not figure in the official results, however, as the President’s class is for the over 40 year olds. Gabby, aged 17, is using the practice as a stepping stone to the Intermediate grade.

In the Clubmans Francis Sydenham was 6^th on day 1 and 1st on day 2. “The Saturday wasn’t so good but the  Sunday sections all suited me and a got a lot of cleans. In fact, it was a ripper of a day”.  Click here for Francis's full report. Lisa Shilton (at left) was 10^th on both days.  Mike Gundry was 11^th on day one but had a DNF on day two.

Bay of Plenty riders dominated the Junior class with John Haynes 1^st, Jacob Gundry 3^rd and Ben McLeod 4^th on days one and two.