2nd September 2018, Saunders Farm, Harding Road Wharepapa South

Results (Series Results)

Mum and dad had to go to a cross country so, after Saturday’s trial, I went with Kevin Pinfold to stay at Ciolin Down’s house.

Sundays trial, run by the Hamilton club, couldn’t have been more different from SDaturday if they’d tried. There was grey skies all day and it was raining on and off, sometimes heavily. All the sections were om very rocky farmland. One to six were also on the siode of as hill.

We started on section seven. There was a bit of drama over one of the rocks. It was vertical and looked like it could be slippery and, on the other side, about half a metre away, was a flat rock. Either one of them would have been easy on their own but, together, looked like an A Grade line.

Eventually Colin Downs, who set most of the sections, changed it to the relief of everyone who didn’t want t go ocver the handlebars.

On the first lap I rode like rubbish. Ater that I upped my game. Obviously I still had plenty of room to improve but despirte the rain, I really liked the sections, and was enjoying myself a lot more than Saturday.

The section I foundd most rewarding was twelve. On the side of a hill you had to jump off of a rock, in a vaguely downhill direction. I fived it on the first two attempts because the boundary tape was a tad close to the rock and quite hard to avoid going over.

Just before I did it the last time Daniel Herbert showed me a different line off the rock and I got through for a one.

I had a great day and, most importantly, didn’t come last.

26th August 2018, Dave Prins property on 184 Dartmore Rd Puketapu Taradale

Results

They didn’t think that there was going to be many people at the trial so they just set six sections, in no particular order.

I rode around with Carl and Paul Simmonds and, despite the event being rather relaxed, or possibly because of it, it was the best t6rial I’ve been to in a while. I rode inters but included as many of the A-Grade lines as I could. I even, on a few sections, practised the hard bits in -between attempts, treating it more like a practice day than a proper trial.

Carl and Paul were gertting me to do bigger obstacles and, on the fiorst lap, I felt a bit over-whelmed. After lunch I really started to have fun and rode better.

My favorite section was six. The basic layout was over a rock at the start, not particularly hard, but their was a tricky rock after that took me until the last attempt to get for a clean. Then there was a very large rock. On the first attempt I went over the top on the back wheel and had to jump off at the top. Luckily I didn’t fal;l back down the rock. For the second and third laps I got through the section for a three. On the fourth lap i got over both of the hard rocks for a clean. This was pretty cool but, annoyiongly, I dabbed on a lesser rock that I had been cleaning all day, just before the end flags.

Still, it was a good way to end the day, even though, when we got back to the carpark, we found out that it was only three laps so my awesome ride wasn’t put on mototrials.

Hisilicon K3

Hisilicon K3

Hisilicon K3

Maddix Park, 1st September 2018

Results

Mum, dad, and I stayed at Sean Clarkes, with the Herberts, on Friday night. Sean’s place is in Tokoroa, about an hour away from the trial so we had to leave his place at 7am.

The trial was at Maddix Park. It was the second time I’ve rideen a trial there. The sun was out and we had blue skies but it had been raining during the week and all the sections were under trees and hadn’t dried out.

The intermediates started on section one. It didn’t look too bad. Jason Day was the first to ride it and he got a two. That was the best score on section one for the day. No one else got better than a three and I fived it all day.

I reckon one was the hardest section but most of the others weren’t far behind.

I rode terribly. It was a hard trial and my lack of practice was very noticable. I got 47 points on each of the first and second laps. I improved a little bit on the third lap when I got a couple of cleans but it wasn’t enough to save me from being dead last.

I’m not in an unbiased enough position to say whether the trial was any good or not but I personally didn’t have a great day. The one positive about Saturday’s trial was that I found out that I really didn’t like coming last.

Gorge Quarry, Woodville

Results

Sunday morning I was feeling sick and it was a toss-up whether to go to the trial or not. Obviously, since I’m writing this report, I did go.

The trial was at the gorge quarry. I quite like riding there – it’s a nice change to farmland. Not that I don’t like riding on farmland.

When we got to the trial I was feeling a bit better and was able to get through the first half of the first lap in relatively good spirits. After that I started feeling queasy again and didn’t enjoy the trial as much as I would have if I hadn’t been feeling yuck.

All the same, it isn’t quite an excuse for my score. The only good thing that you could say about it was that ity went down marginally throughout the day.

Even though I was feeling sick and my score was terrible I thought the sections were quite good. They were challenging, not particularly dangerous, and flowed nicely.

Sections one, two, and seven were under pine trees, and three, four, five, six, and eight were in the quarry.

My favourite section was one. It was basically tight turns on a hill, around trees. On the first two laps I got a one, each time in a different spot. The next two laps I got threes.

The most challenging section was six. I got a three on it every time though, on my last lap, I rode it a lot better. It had three main obstacles. The first was a bank that you came up over the top of on the back wheel. It took me until my last lap to not dab at the top. The second one was a slippery log at the bottom of a slope – tricky to get the front wheel up and over. The last one was a tight turn before going up a small rock step.

It was a struggle getting through the day but I’m glad I rode and was even happier to hope in the van at the end of the day and find dad putting the results in.

Gorge Quarry, Woodville

Results

Sunday 19th August was the gem in a rainy week, and 19 riders turned out in the sun  to tackle the sections Kevin and Phil set out at the Gorge Quarry. MOMMC club members were boosted by two scotsmen (John and Dave) and 3 expert riders from Ixion, Kim from Hawkes Bay and a father and son brand new to trials. We also had a few spectators, a busy bustly day for a MOMCC trial.

Dylan, Matt and Carl had to add some expert splats to the A line on the day and provided some impressive riding for the specators and budding young (and not so young) trials riders. A vertical boulder on section 6 had me holding my breath as they line up at the bottom, preparing mentally for the jump to the top, with the catcher precariously balance on the top ready to catch or get out of the way. I don’t like heights, so this heightens the drama for me.

I rode around with Barry Bailey, who I’ve ridden with before down in Wellington. He has recently moved to Whanganui and has been busy with their new house, so dropped back to sportsman, through lack of recent riding and MOMCC’s reputation of setting a harder trial. He out rode me as usual, much steadier and better at keeping his momentum up through the obstacles. He found sportsman a bit easy, but found the quarry rock a mental challege as Ixion trials are generally more wet and greasy, more bush and farmland. He took the clubman line on section 1 on the last lap, which gave him a 5, which would have been another clean on the sportsman line.

I was also often riding with Vinnie Veltman, our 9 year old neighbour. He came to his 1st trail in February at Hunterville, enjoyed it but found it harder than it looked. This trial he rode all the sections, completed all laps and helped de-arrow at the end of the day. Section 7 on the last lap he rode really well over the sleepers and up and over the knob, only getting caught out by the hairpin turn to ride the track out to the end. He overcooked the turn, got his front wheel too high and rolled back a short way, he insisted on giving himself a five, when there was leeway in the call. He started the day studing his front wheel and finished looking like a budding champ.

William (9) the brand new trials rider started the day with a nervous tumble, riding over the first hump into the pine trees on section one.  Gave it a handful of trottle lauching the bike into the air. We all cringed, but dad picked him up and he kept riding, picking a few sections to have a go on, consistedly cleaning section 2,3, and 4, getting his confidence. I asked him if he liked it and he was amped, having a lot of fun.

My day had plenty of frustration at silly mistakes. Why can’t I pull the clutch in sooner when I’m nervous and fumbling around, this happened 5 times in a row on lap 1 (really).  As the day progressed I looked up and rode over those bumpy rocks and around those trees and rocks, stopping me from straight lining the sections.

Section One was my favouite, I started on it and only did a silly comfort dab on the purple arrow part, an off camber corner down and then up around a tree, there was a stump in the middle of the track and a small gap around the end of a log and another tree to negotiate, was worried it looked hazzardous but I rode for a 1 and didn’t dab at that spot again. I don’t know why I dabbed in the other places on laps 2 and 4 duh! Should have cleaned this flowing slightly tricky section more than once.

Section 3, involved riding up onto the road gradings (maybe 2m above the road) , I felt nervous about climbing up there, but the bike did it effortlessly. I felt a little exposed up there, with the big drop down  the quarry on the left, but I wasn’t even close to the edge, the track along the top was comfortable wide and straight except for a little ride around a large rock, and it had a mini rollacoster along it before dropping back to the rough road edge, that was the end of the social line. I regret not walking this again, because it was doable and I should have prepped better. I think it would have been fun to ride if I got it together and stopped dabbing.

Section 5 was my best improvement, I fumbled the climb into the section and stalled the first time, because I undercooked it, then over compensated the 2nd time. I cleaned it on my final round, by riding steady and looking ahead, trusting I wouldn’t get bumped off by the rocks I rode over, because I had enough mometum and miraculously by balance improved.

My big fails. Section 7, that small slippery log that you approach on an angle and had to turn on to, was so frustrating. It wasn’t a big scary log but I kept failing it by getting my back wheel stuck on it. On the 3rd attempt I fumbled over and got going to almost finish the section, but stalled on the downhill corner at the end of the section.  8 a loose turn over rocks almost completely flat, so slightly downhill at the end of the turn. Still freaked about fallin in on these turns with the bike landing on top of me. This never happened because I walked the bike around it every time. I loved riding over the rubble at the end of 8, easy but fun. I wish I’d sought some advice on 7 & 8 to get these sections, Left to my own devices I didn’t solve my problems.

Good weather, good sections, good company, so glad to be out riding.

Ixion Trial, 5th August 2018, Judds (Pauatahanui)

Results

Kevin had planed to pick me up sometime between half past seven and eight, which would have given us plenty of time to get down to Ixion. At eight though Kevin called to say that his alarm hadn’t gone off and he was going to be half an hour late. In the end we got there just as riders briefing finished.

I don’t think being late affected my riding. I had a bit of a practice while Kevin was getting ready and, even though we started a bit behind everyone else, it wasn’t so far that we were worried about falling behind.

Kevin and I started off on section two. I had a few first section nerves and was a bit wobbly  but still managed to clean it.

There were a few tricky sections but three was the only one that really looked nasty. Quite early on in the section there was a drain to jump over, then you turned down to the right into a boggy bit, where you then turned tight left, hook third gear, and then go back up the hill. I had to push so got two points. On the second and third laps it got greasier and I fived it.

My first lap was quite good. On the second lap it had gotten slipperier and my riding had gone downhill. The only part of my riding that I was happy with was on section ten. The main challenge was a hill climb. With no run up at the start it went up three meters onto a muddy track that you had to cross at an angle to get up the next four metres or so. On the first lap I lost a few points but got round alright. The second lap was noticably muddier. Kevin told me to put the bike in third and give it heaps of gas. I was a bit worried that the bike wouldn’t pull third but took Kevin’s advice and made it to the top.

My third lap was worse than my second so I don’t feel a great desire to go into it in detail. It was just bad.

My score was going UP noticably throughout the day and I didn’t get a great placing but I liked the sections and was riding better than I have been at the last few trials.

22nd July, Coppermine Creek

Results

It was technically a practice trial so we only had to pay half price for our entry fee.

Our 15 entries was a much better turn out than the eight competitors at our last trial.

Everyone had to get to the trial early to help set up.

Mum and I set section 1. According to Hugo it waas the best section for the social line.

My favorite section was three. The best I got on it was a one. It was quite tight with a couple of banks and a hill climb, all under pine trees.

After the first lap my day felt like it was going downhill. My second lap was actually the best score-wise, but I was fading.

On my third lap I ripped my pants on my mudguard, then I fell off trying to get up a bank. I landed on my back on top of a small stone. This was painful enough. Then my bike fell on me!

All of the sections were quite challenging and despite my crash, not dangerous.

Sunday 1st July Andrew Clements, Opunake

Results

I stayed at Andrew Clements Saturday night. (Vivian’s kitten was so cute!)

Sunday’s trial was on his farm so I got more of a sleep in than I normally do, which is always a very major bonus.

When I went out for a practice ride in the morning there was light rain and quite a strong wind. Thankfully it mostly disappeared for the first lap.

The first lap was quite good, The sections had plenty of grip and, for the most part, I managed to stay on the bike in them. I even got some cleans.

The second and third laps were a completely different story.

The rain came back , a bit more than just light, and the wind was very strong andf gusty, especially on top of the hills. A lot of rain and a lot of riders combined to make the the sections very slippery. The only sections that were completely unchanged were one and two – because they were in the river.

I quite liked section one. On the first lap I was one of the few people to get a clean. On the second lap I stalled and got a five. On the last lap I managed to get through with a one. I was frustrated that I only cleaned it once.

On the upside, on section two, I did better as the day went on. My first lap was a very sketchy three. On the second lap I got a bit offline which, on rocks, is particularly undesirable but still managed to get through for a two. My third attempt was a bit bumpy but I kept my feet up and cleaned it.

Sadly, most of the sections went more in the direction of one for me – downhill!

I couldn’t quite get to grip with the slippery conditions and finished in the bottom half of the field.

Other people were also struggling in the bottom half of the field, literally. Namely John Lawton whose van had to be given a push at least four times. Mark Sidebotham won the contest for most spectacular exit from the carpark. The back wheels were spinning and, at one point, his vehicle was almost completely sideways.

Kevin and I got out of the paddock uneventfully. We then stopped by at Andrew’s house so that Kevin could have a shower before driving home.

30th June 2018, Grant McEwans, Durham Road, Inglewood.

Results

Mum, Dad and I stayed at my grannys in marton on friday night. Since our van was broken down and my uncles car was full of enduro stuff we borrowed the granny mobile to drive over to taranaki on saturday morning.

I didn’t really get a warm up before the trial. I got a couple of figure eights in but then had to go to briefing.

Intermedites started on section five. It was a fairly easy section and a few people cleaned it all day, sadly I was not one of them and started off with a one.

The next four sections were fives. I got through ten for a three then managed to get a one on eleven. I rode the first part of twelve beautifully if Ido say so my self. I then knocked out a flag and got a five. I fived sections one and two, then dabbed my way through three. Like twelve I had a really good ride on four, for the first part of it. I should have gone for a one but I was getting a clean and didn’t want to put my foot down. Anyway I ended the lap with a five and a broken front brake leaver.

John Lawton took some time out ofhis day and came to help me fix it.

On the second lap i startedon section one. I fived it again but on the plus side I got a spectacular three on two. There was a steep bank with a rock at the top. I gave it a little to much gas and came over the top on the back wheel and going a bit faster then was comfortable on rocky terrain. After a couple of metres it came down and I got through the rest of two without any more incidents.

On the third lap Wayne Thompson helped me out obn a couple of sections. I’d been struggling with eight all day so Wayne walked me through it. I still fived it on all the official attempts but Wayne got me to stay at eight until I got up the bank.

I was the last rider on the course but, luckily, didn’t get any time penalties. I finioshed third-to-l;ast but, despite my terrible score, I liked the sections and enjoyed the challenge.

17th June, Ana Akers (Telfords) – No 4 Line Pohangina Valley

Results

On Sunday morning  Uncle Robert dropped me off at Kevin Pinfolds place. I then went out to the trial with Kevin. It was a pretty poor turnout with only eight competitors.

There was some drizzle when we got to the trial but by the time we started riding it had stopped. It was still grey skies but we could see some blue in the distance.

My first lap was terrible. I had a slight headache and whenever I went to do anything my arms and legs turned to jelly.

After lunch things started to get better. The sun came out and Kevin told me to pull my head in and start riding properly.

My favourite sections were two and three. The main obstacle on section two was a bank at the end. On the first lap I didn’t give it enough and fived it. Second lap I was feeling better and wanted to get to the top really badly and so I did, for a clean as well. After getting up it seemed a lot easier but I still fived it again on the third lap because it had gotten slippery. I got a one on the last lap. I took a different line and got a clean on the bank but I dabbed on one of the lesser bits.

Section three had two tricky bits. A small slippery log with a tight turn leading up to it. My back wheel kept slipping and I didn’t clean it until the last lap. The other tricky bit was a tight turn on sand. I cleaned it on the third lap but that was it. I was annoyed that I couldn’t put the section together but I enjoyed the challenge.

I was disappointed that I couldn’t pull my head in, especially on the first lap. Hopefully the next trial will be better.

BTW, Vinnie was at this one as well.