I traveled down with Kevin Pinfold.  To make Kaikoura by late afternoon we had to leave Ashhurst really early. I didn’t wake up until we were parked in the ferry terminal waiting to board.  And then, as we drove off the ferry in Picton, I went back to sleep! Sorry Kevin, not a great traveling companion.

Almost everyone was staying at the Alpine Pacific. I was sharing a room with Emily and, on Saturday morning, I went out to the trial with her.

I know that  the Kaikoura grades tend to be set a little easier than those at the NI and NZ champs so, always looking for a challenge,  I entered Expert for the first time.  The idea was I could always drop down to Intermediate but, after looking at section one to make sure that I wasn’t completely out of my depth, I decided to stay with the orange line.

Most sections were about the same level as the Intermediate line at the North Island champs. There were a couple of bits that were NI A-Grade, but only a couple.

I started the day with Kevin Pinfold and Colin Downs. A few obstacles looked daunting but most of them rode pretty easy. But I was never fully comfortable with the rock on section nine.

The first metre was vertical, then it slopped up for another two metres. It had lots of grip but you needed to give it heaps of gas to get up; this isn’t always my strong point. Kevin went first and mucked it up.  My nervousness got the better of me and I fived it before I even got to the rock.  Thankfully David Trewin, Jules, & Kevin convinced me to try the rock anyway. Jules and David went to the top as catchers and I closed my eyes and dropped the clutch. I honestly can’t remember going up the rock. I just remember giving it heaps of gas and then being at the top.

For each of the next three laps I managed a three on this section every time and I can see how, with a little more effort, I would have cleaned it. Thanks guys, I wouldn’t have done it without your encouragement.

In the meantime Colin Downs was having trouble with his bike.  During the lunch break Colin and Kevin decided to get to the bottom of it. I waited with them a while but eventually abandoned them and joined up with Josh and Jules as they started their third (and my second) lap.

This lap was awesome. I’m not sure if it was because I had my head in the right place, or if it was because I really didn’t want to stuff up in front of Jules, but I got a lap of FIVE!!!

Unfortunately, despite still riding with Jules and Josh, my third lap turned to shyte.

On my last lap I joined back up with Kevin and Colin, with Colin on a borrowed bike. Because we were a lap behind everyone the sections were being picked up as we went.

I had an awesome day.  Josh normally finishes in front of me and today I just pipped him. And I was also only eight points away from Stef Downs, although she had a few crashes and it didn’t sound like she had a great day.

Emily also had a successful day. She got four points all day and won Clubman B.