A Gobsmacked Winner

Bill McLeod Memorial

There was plenty of variety for riders taking part in the annual Bill McLeod Memorial 2 Day Trial Event held over the weekend.

Day 1 at the Hamilton was a quarry situation so  rocks, big banks and hill climbs were the order of the day.  This venue is notorious when wet but the weather was perfectly dry so several riders opted to ride a higher grade than normal - all good prep for the up-coming New Zealand Trials Champs next month.

Day 2 was different . The Grayling property in Oropi, Tauranga, also has its share of rocky sections plus streams and clay banks.  Warwick Merriman had set out sections that allowed for the conditions. The sections were fun but a challenge and designed to test but not hurt.  Once again, riders opted to ride up a grade but the situation changed when the rain started and the slippery clay banks, in particular, became a real mission to negotiate.

But it was still fun, with the big smiles at the end of the day the proof.  It was a weekend, in fact, that Bill McLeod himself would have enjoyed.

The feature of this event is that the grade of the rider does not count, it is the combined total of points for the 2 days that designates the winner.

The 2011 winner was the very surprised Tauranga club member and clubman rider, Wayne Pennington from Katikati.

"I was totally gobsmacked! It totally threw me!" says Wayne, pictured above with the Cup and his son Spencer. " I hadn't realized that it was all classes thrown in.  I did an easier course because I 'm in a lower grade but it's the loss of marks that counts!  Winning the cup has put me on a real high and given me an incentive to keep going." "My picture's going to be on facebook all across England", he laughingly adds.

John Ravenscroft from Auckland, another clubmans grade rider, was runner up.

Bill McLeod's son Paul and grandson Ben are pictured at left competing in the event and continuing their family's motorcycling heritage.

Go to the gallery for more photos.

For the full day 1 results click here.

For the full day 2 results click here.