After 4 rounds of great weather for the Summer Series, the final round at Omihi was somewhat wet. But as true martyrs to our ‘art’ we all took it in our stride – or several strides as I saw some riders having to resort to.

Section 1 proved to be a slippery number and got worse as the day went on. I did see Ross Bristol execute a fine clean ride on lap 3, however I then saw Mr. Bristol do a fine Superman impression over the logs next on Section 2 for an impressive 5.

Section 3 required dodging the sheep carcass in order to enter the section – a cunning plan on my part to upset the more squeemish amongst us. The hill climb for Intermediates/Experts caused problems all day and I only managed one clean on it all day.

Section 4 and 5 held up well all day but it was the descent to the end pegs on Section 6 that took a fair amount of points. The slope got more and more slippery as the day went on making the exit over the log quite tricky.

Section 7  was well protected in the trees and for Intermediates/Experts the tree stump required just the right amount of throttle/speed to get up over it then stop to make the left turn down the bank.

Section 8 took two 5’s off me and one of them nearly resulted in me having my right testicle as a handlebar ornament when I got hung up the final two logs (much to the amusement of Messrs Bristol, McKay and Delis).

Section 9 was a straight up and down hill climb. The Experts had to go a fair way up the hill but seemed to cope okay, although I did hear that the downhill turn was a bit of a ‘sphincter clencher’.

And to end it all, Section 10, which was a good points taker all day.

Despite the weather, there was a good turnout and a great effort from those that travel quite a way – ie Temuka and Wanaka. I’m picking this must have almost been a local trial for the Trewins from Kaikoura. There were a couple of new faces, Andy Dimond for one, who bought my GasGas last year, it was his first trial ever and he was still smiling at the end of the day. So we must be doing something right.

A big thanks to Rob, Mike and Andy (Virg) for helping me peg the sections on Saturday………when it wasn’t raining……….!!

See you all next month.

Cheers All

John

Summer Series 2010 Overall results.pdf (39.02 kb)

Summer Series Round 5 Omihi Mar 2010.pdf (40.20 kb)

We can now confirm that the next round of the South Island Champs will definetly be held in Alexandra in May. Better get in and book your accommodation now. The 1st of May will be here before you know it.

Another glorious day, another great trial. Eddie Graham "The Hobbitt" had organised us another new property at Western Valley.

Shane, "Virg' and "The Hobbitt" had set out all the sections along the river bank under the trees, something we were all grateful of as the temperature nudged 30 degrees. The sections were a good mix of slippery rocks, banks, tight turns and even a few logs thrown in for good measure. There were 8 sections to be riden 4 times by everyone.

I decided to have a go at the expert sections for this trial and thought they all looked pretty ridable for me. However after setting off with Mr. Rat and Shane I soon discovered that some of those small rocks, branches and clumps of grass were in fact "red arrows" put there by mother nature to make the tight turns tighter and force us to practice our hopping techniques. As expected Mr Rat cleaned up with about a third of my final score. Still I was happy enough with my efforts and it was only on the last lap that the soaring temperature and those "Imaginery Red Arrows" took their toll and my score blew out.

In the Intermediates John Regan continued his good form on the new Beta to win that class again and "Captain T" Mike Elliott again dominated  the Cubman A Class. (I see yellow arrows in your future Mike). Clubman B was a split decision with Peter Dunn and newcomer Nathan R sharing top spot and in the Presidents class Dick Gardiner edged out John Philp.

A couple of things we need to address for the next trial however. Firstly no-one should be riding on their own! Apart from the whole score card thing there's a very real safety issue here. And secondly please don't practise on the sections untill everyone has finished. Having said that it was great to see our young riders, Bradley and David, having a go on the experts sections after the trial. Way to go boys.

The day was rounded off nicely with some "Refreshments" and some "Lie telling" at the Little River Pub. Thanks again to The Hobbitt and his band of helpers for and awesome day.

Derek Scott

Summer Series Round 3. Pareora Gorge Road. Timaru.

Drove up from Dunedin with my wife Maureen on Saturday afternoon (took my boys stuff to his new flat….last year at Uni… Ye-Ha).

Arrived at Pareora Gorge road around 7:30 pm, found the gravel road but no pioneer sign so the doubt set in!! Stuck the truck in 4 wheel, caravan in tow, and off up the hill we went……Fork in the road….. Intense moment of uncertainty …..Did what any “Hobbit” worth his salt would do………got the hell out of there!! Headed a bit further up the Gorge road just to make sure there were no more gravel roads, turned round and headed back towards St Andrews camp ground thinking ”She’ll be right in the morning”!! Passing “the” gravel road we spotted an “Alan Honeybone-looking-Pajero coming down it………confirmed we’d got the right spot…….Invited us to camp up for the night by the batch they were staying in down by the river…….sorted. Thanks guys…….no the blinds weren’t rattling in the night…….that was me snoring!!

Sunday

Cloud cover provided a welcome respite from the heat of the previous day, perfect trials weather in glorious surroundings!! Another new venue with so much potential and the first trial down Timaru way in twenty years! Thanks for the efforts of Mike Rowley in putting it all together. The eight sections were set out on the hillside so they were all pretty much visible from the car park area. Mike, being a “wheelchair pilot”, was able to enjoy all the action of the day from one spot……wicked or what!!

Santa must have come late for some ‘cause it was like the 2010 New Bike Show at warm-up…….new Gassers, Sherco’s & Beta’s everywhere!!!! There was a side bet going as to whether Andy’s new 300 Gasser would rip his arms off……It didn’t………. he did start dancing a funny little Jig though which I still find myself laughing at every time I picture it!!

Riding Clubman A with Mike Elliot (Capt “T”), Mel Banks, Paul Aubrey (came up from Wanaka… solid effort!!) and Don (forgot yer last name sorry Don) we had a heap of fun as usual on some great sections. Nice mix of rocks, grassy hills, off cambers and enough twists & turns to keep you concentrating. The Intermediates and beyond had sections 7 & 8 set way up on the top of the limestone bluff…..impressive from below in the car park......more impressive when you are up there……..exposure……

Paul Aubrey had a close encounter with a prickly thing on section one! Just as he was lining himself up for the climb a hedgehog walked right across the track keeping him balancing until it got clear………strange thing to witness!! I’m told Kendall had an enjoyable day, riding well and managing to keep all his toys in the cupboard!! A few of Andy’s toys fell out though on section seven with a “Captain Turrets” style outburst ………(if that bloody ‘Hobbit’ hadn’t ridden through it before him he might have cleaned it)..…!! Captain “T” was notably quiet dropping only one “fkingbstardbgger” point for the day. ‘Young’ Mel must have decided snorkeling was boring and took it to the next level giving a fine performance of the handle bar front dive with double twist and forward roll perfectly executed….well done!! Bradley gave a fine after trial display of “Crusty Demon” jumps. What a great day out!! Don’t know what the poor people were doing eh??!!

Thanks to my missus for sitting in the car for six hours contemplating her “Inner Princess”, any longer and her “Inner ogre” would have appeared!!

Great to see Timaru riders on the twin shockers enjoying the day too, hopefully we’ll have more trials down this way again, John Philp drives up from Timaru for all our pioneer trials so there’s no reason we can’t do this more often. After seeing the great turn out I reckon it’s no problem. Thanks to the guys who came down from Kaikoura and thanks to all involved in organizing a great trial.

Graham(Eddie)Slee

AKA the laughing Hobbit (not gnome…… they just sit around in gardens fishing for what??!) …….

”To the Shire and beyond” !!!

"The Hobbit" in full flight.