This month’s trial was held at Chris Morrison’s property at Whanganui. Chris had been busy all week nutting out sections for us, and did a great job. The trial followed a stream gully with nice steep sides, crossed with stock tracks. It was a good mix of downhills and uphills with tight turns.
3 and 4 were on open farmland, the ground was hard and dry, it had been pugged up during winter by the stock, so was no bowling green, especially my line on section 3, for me it was a good element to deal with. The rest of the sections were sheltered under mature pines, with plenty of tree roots to add to the mix. A root on section 5 gave me a surprise 5, because my back wheel slipped sideways and down.
There was a good turn out, considering we clashed dates with Ixions’s classic trial. The Herbert’s came down from New Plymouth and new member Nick Longstaff travelled from Dannevirke to compete at his 1st trial, riding Kevin’s Vertigo he cleaned up clubman. Kevin and Nick were still riding after everyone else left.
In A grade Kevin was on form on his Ossa, he pulled a win against Warrick and Daniel and put on a good show for the many young spectators.
Daniel had a good number of cleans, but unfortunately too many fives too. It seemed an all or nothing day for him. Daniel and Hannah have been chosen for the Oceania Team, exciting but also putting on added pressure for them to ride well at the Nationals coming up on Labour Weekend.
There were a good amount of spectators, a family from Bulls, who are pretty keen to get into trials and Chris’s neighbour with his dirt bike riding kids and their friends who came over to watch in the afternoon.
I was riding with Barry, a local ride for him since he’s recently moved to Whanganui. He stepped up and rode clubman, I stayed in sportsman, which is just as well considering my high score. Thanks Merv for adding those purple arrows at the start of the day.
It was pleasant spring weather and a great days riding.