Top Contenders All Three

NZ Trials Champs 2014

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Trials riders from the Bay of Plenty seem well in contention for titles after the first two rounds of the NZ Trials Champs held at Pukekohe in April.

Perennial Warwick Merriman (Tga) won the President’s class on both days of the two day event,  John Haynes from Reporoa is on first equal points  in the Experts and Tauranga’s Jacob Gundry (pictured above) is leading the A grade.

Warwick (left) though the sections were excellent and really well set out.  “Day 1 had third gear dirt hill climbs and rocks in paddocks while Day 2 had tree roots and more rocks,” he commented.  “However, the biggest issue on the first day was the time factor.  There were 15 sections instead of the more usual 12 and points were lost as there was no time to recheck/inspect them.  Over one third of the competitors incurred late penalties.”

Jacob was one of those, losing 10 points on time, but still getting first for the day. “Overall the two days went well for me”, he reports, “but the competition was keen. Day 1, in particular, was a long hot day, very tight and quite a struggle. Day 2 was more technical, more my type of riding.”

John  won Day 1 and his co-points leader, Jason Baker, won Day 2 so the Experts class is particularly close.

All three riders are looking forward to consolidating their positions at the next rounds in the Manawatu in mid May. Warwick has been a top contender at more nationals than he cares to remember but what else is on the agenda for the new young guns, Jacob and John?

The answer is International competition. Jacob  and John have been selected along with Blair Fox and Matt Foster to represent New Zealand at the Trials des Nations in Andorra in September but will also compete in a Spanish round of the World Trials Champs while in Europe.  The other two members of the NZ team include Jacob’s sister Gabby Gundry as well as South Island rider Steffi x who will make up the Women’s team.

Jacob and his family went to Australia last month to watch the Australian rounds of the World Champs. Jacob would have loved to be competing himself, especially as some of the riders were ones he had beaten in the Australian Champs last year, but, unfortunately, at 16 years of age, he was too young ! It was fantastic watching the top riders and  interesting to see the new trials rule of “no-stopping” in application.

Click here for full details of points after rounds 1 & 2.

 
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