Thumbs Up For Ben

Twilight Trials

maddix park mx

Nothing much used to happen in the local trials world over the summer holiday period until Ben McLeod came along.

Ben is the 15 year old passionate trials rider who, for the second year running, is the sole organizer of the Twilight Trials Series that runs throughout January on a Wednesday evening from 6pm until dark.

“I’d been thinking about it for a while “says Ben, “and last year decided to give it a go. It all went off well so I’m doing it again this year. The twilight events fill a gap, keeping the riders interested and giving them practice before the next year’s programme kicks in, usually in February.  Thanks to the Brawn family, the club has a good property to use in Te Puke.” 

“I just set out the sections”, he adds modestly.

Just setting out the sections takes a good part of a day. Ben does more than that; he organizes the lot, even down to the chilly bin of drinks that round off the ride.

In a normal trial there are 10-12 sections but because of the limited twilight hours, Ben organizes a shorter version with 3 laps of just 6 sections.  However the sections are changed each week and there are different lines for different grades.

At 15, how did Ben acquire the experience and the knowledge to take on such a job and responsibility?  “I’ve been tagging along behind my Dad, Paul, and the other Bay of Plenty Trials Group members since I was young.” says Ben. “I guess it was just a natural progression but I’m learning more as I go.” 

There is a slight suspicion it might also be in his DNA – Ben is, after all, a 4th generation committed trials rider following on from his dad, Paul, his grand dad Bill and his great grandfather Roy.

The Wednesday evening competitors come from Te Puke and Tauranga  but also from Hamilton and south of Rotorua.  They are most appreciative of Ben’s initiative.

“It’s great” says trials perennial Warwick Merriman. “Ben does a great job and the evenings are friendly and social but pretty competitive and very successful.  The standard of the sections is well thought out but, because it is a fun social event,  people can test themselves by riding up a grade.  The “clubbies”, for example, can try the green line.  There are lots of hill climbs under trees and “nagery”.”   

Note to the uninitiated: “Nagery” means tight turns through trees!

Phil Shilton, one of the Tauranga riders who have competed, reckons the twilight trials are a great idea too. “They’re good for us townies”, he says. “It gives us the chance to have a ride during the week.  Everyone enjoys it.”

Bravo Ben.  Thumbs up. It’s fantastic to see such pro-active initiative in one so young. 

Click here for more details on the Twilight Trials

Click here for the Twilight Ride Results Round 1  Round 2  Round 3

 
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