Hard Out Across the Country
Tarawera 50 - Bel Ray - ATV Champs - 2011 Nutbusters
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Cameron Forlong, pictured, was one of many local off road riders competing in events over the weekend. He made a feast of his first foray into the world of cross country racing with a 2nd place on the Saturday in the Tarawera 50 and a first place on the Sunday at Round 1 of the Bel Ray Series. Cameron absolutely loved it. Cross country is a new thing for him, something different to do on a bike, although it highlighted skills that he is yet to acquire - think tree roots.
Tarawera 50
Cameron came a close second to Josiah Natzke in both the 11-14 years class and the overall standings in the Tarawera 50. At the end of the 2 hour race, there was only 1 minute between the two riders and then a lengthy 10 minutes back to 3rd placed Taylor Grey. Josiah got the hole shot with Cameron 4th but Cameron held the lead at times. However both riders – like everyone in the race – had their turns at falling off. Cameron really enjoyed the race and is pleased with his result and glad his fitness is back. He’s not quite so happy about the blisters on his hands. Next time he might use palm savers.
It was 11 year old Josh Tredinnick’s second time at the event. He finished 5th just behind Blake Cheesman. “The track roots were slippery”, says Josh. “I was in front of him (Blake) until I crashed into a log in the second lap. I caught up to him again but he beat me to the line by 100 metres”.
Jack McClymont, in the same class, had a pretty good first lap, clocking in just 6 minutes behind the frontrunners. However, lap 2 saw him hit a big root and hit his head as he crashed. “I felt a bit dizzy and wanted to puke”, he says, “but I felt better when I took off my goggles to get some air”. He finished the race in 21st place out of a field of 33 riders. Alec van Lierop was 3 minutes back in 25th.
In the 8-10 Years, Josh McClymont found the track quite different to the last time he had done the Tarawera 50.”It was fun but very tricky with lots of ruts, stones, logs and greasy corners”, he reports.”I fell off twice in the first lap and 5 times altogether”. Josh came 4th ahead of Harrison Forrester-Moore in 7th..
The track had some tricky bits for the little 50ccs also but was a good challenge. Dylan Tredinnick managed consistent 34-35 minute laps in spite of running into a fence at one point and finished 5th in the 7-10 Years Beginners class. Cameron Graham was 6th in the same class. Cameron had a big crash out back and went over the bars. His parents wondered where he had got to, but he turned up in the end and still thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Full results are on the Tarawera website and pictures are promised.
Bel Ray Series Round 1
Cameron Forlong’s race at the Bel Ray was slightly shorter, only 1 hour 45 mins with a winning margin of a mere 7 seconds over the second place getter in the 14-16 years age group! But a win is a win and a good one after the physically exhausting race the day before. Next on the buy list is a camel pack.
Thomas Forlong competed in his first cross country in the 12-13 years age group and finished 8th. He was a bit nervous after the preliminary look lap but as the race laps went by, his beam got bigger and bigger.
Rhys Henry was 7th in the Expert Under Class, Paul Ritchie was 4th in the Expert Overs and Whakatane’s Andrew Schuit was 3rd in the Vets 45-49 years. Rhys liked the track which was a lot tighter than normal with a bit of everything in it. One section even involved a one kilometer ride up a stoney creek bed. Rhys had just picked up his new 2012 RMZ250 the day before so the race was in some ways a "getting to know my bike better" time.
Full results are on silver bullet. Video footage is on You Tube
National ATV Champs
Ian Ffitch is the new ATV National Champion however Tauranga riders provided creditable results in all classes. Top performer was Emma Goldstone who secured second place in the Women's class. Rob Hunt and Mark Goldstone finished 6th in the Vets and Premier ATV Champs respectively. Nathan Hunt was 7th in the 250cc Production class.
Full results are on the MNZ site.
2011 Nutbusters
A hardy team of seven North Islanders followed Sean Clarke down to the Mainland for the last weekend of October to take part in the 2011 Nutbusters Extreme Enduro. Five out of the 7 came back with trophies. Jason Davis and Greg Delatour took 1st and 2nd in the Expert Class, Sean Clarke and Mark Delatour took ist and 2nd in th Experts Vets and Jesse Clarke was 2nd in the Intermediate class.
The two that didn’t suffered bike problems; Mike Sheely’s were throttle problems. “You wouldn’t want to be scared of heights”, reports Mike. “We went up rivers and waterfalls from Traction Hill Junction and up to the snowline of the Alps, going through tussock and rabbit holes. Then the expert riders’ track just dropped from the snowline direct to the Waimakariri River in one single downhill ! In parts, you just had to stall the motor and slide.”
“But it was a good track”, he adds.
Full results are on silver-bullet.
