Hi all    Some reading for the weekend............                                                           

Jim

A word from the commissioner on the NUMBERS of GRADES in Moto Trials. 

At present I am fielding a reasonable amount of anguish regarding the so called large number of ‘Grades’ that we have introduced to our sport and there is belief that you made yourselves well heard at the recent NZ champs regarding your ‘plight’.  I do hear you!           

However, equally loud have been the advocates for the extra ‘lines ‘that have evolved over the years.            

Recently we have added the green ‘line’ and not so long ago, the orange ‘line’.            

The addition of the ‘green line’ seems to be irking more than it should. Those that ride the ‘green line’ are mostly very happy with its introduction [and that is a reasonable number of riders]. These are riders who are more content in this ‘line’ than in either the ‘blue’ or ‘yellow’ line. This would suggest to me that it “works”.           

I hear also: More trophies are needed. More pegs are needed. And we [MNZ] could have sorted the issue better by rearranging existing grades.           

Much discussion was had before we introduced the new ‘green’ line [the only one initiated in my time as commissioner]. The need for more trophies is unfortunate, although this ‘line’ originally complied with a championship grade which would mean MNZ assistance. The need for more pegs was met with the requirement that only one or two pegs extra per section be used.            Then there is the ‘argument’ from riders who are adamant that we should not have a limit on numbers of ‘green’ arrows [per section]. To them my rebuttal is that to allow an indefinite amount of green arrows would not only add to the burden of section setting it would tend toward a complete separate line that could end up as similar to the ‘yellow’ line. To put it another way I would concede that primarily, in the average section, there is probably only room for  ‘blue’, ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ divisions with ‘green’ and ‘orange’ being ‘add ons’ [as often as not the green arrow is placed beside a yellow one].However I do believe that this is a document that will not convince all.           

In summary. What is really hurting? Are you grieved because you have to carry 2 green arrows per section? Perhaps it is the difficulty ‘setting’ the green arrows? Is it because your club has to buy 3 more trophies? Is it because of the confusion that has occurred when a rider is in one grade at one Trial and another grade at the next? Or are you grieved because you believe we could have made different changes i.e. easing ‘red’ and easing ‘yellow’*. And to those who want more arrows…..If the section is not challenging enough with the introduction of one/two arrows maybe consideration should be made to move to the next level?

[* for those who are interested on my thoughts re different changes read section at the end]            

We [I did not make these decisions alone] put much thought into your contentment and I think we struck a “happy medium”. Indeed I see mostly contented riders at championship events. I ask you to think hard and long about what is really making you unhappy about the numbers and levels of grades and give me a constructive reply.           

Just remember these things:

-         Not everyone can end the day with a loss of only 20pts. Some need to lose 80pts 

-          Trophies don’t need to cost $100s 

-         I believe we have a ‘way to go’ before we have similar standards of section setting grading in all corners of NZ. Let us not confuse numbers of grades [which is the above topic] with ‘standards’ of grades which is a topic discussed at AGM workshop with reasonable outcomes. 

-         There will always only be a few elite riders, many average riders and a few poor riders. That is just a fact of life. [the middle grades will always have the greater numbers]

STANDARDS of Grades

Let us consider what some of you were asking for as a solution to the so called ‘Presidents ‘who wanted this ‘in between’ ‘line’. Your suggestion of easing the red and yellow lines has merit but I am wondering if you have considered the logistics:           

Most riders are dissatisfied with an event if they have lost more than 3pts per section or less than .25 pt per section [I personally think I have got it right when the riders, that I feel are appropriately riding their correct class, are losing between 20 and 80 pts at a trial that I am responsible for].           

I refer you again to an aforementioned point: All of the middle grades/classes will contain most of the riders. [Ref. the “bell curve of distribution”]            

Because of this it would be unthinkable that there would be the same number of Jake Whitaker’s as there are John Lawton’s [who happened to be the ‘median’ competitor at NZ champs]           

Whilst there is some room to fine tune each existing grade [and I think there would be universal agreement that ‘red’ should be eased] if you look at the results of Pioneer’s NZ champs the scores indicated that all was fairly healthy in the area of rider classes and scores. [Perhaps there is an indicator that blue was a little easy for some but with present rules regarding the Junior grade and the absence of a social grade this was understandable]                                   

I quote day 2: 

            Lowest score                       Highest score                       Number in class

Expert            8                                              144*                                      3

A grade         39*                                         96                                           6

Inters             16*                                         92                                        22

Pres                1*                                           75                                        17

Club/Jun       0                                              113*                                   24 

*   indicates rider does not always ride this line

You may view this chart different to me but I see a need to ease A grade to foster a little more advancement into that grade and maybe the orange grade would have more riders as well if eased but this is the end of the sport that is fiercely driven and when these guys are asked where to place the pegs [and us mere mortals don’t know any better] they give themselves some crowd thrilling ‘stuff’.           

By pulling some more riders from Inters to ride ‘A’ you could then ease ‘yellow’ line as well but remember here you have a grade of 22 [at NZ champs] who all lost less than 92 [day 2 again] and none of them wanted to ride the ‘Prezzies’ line. They would be happy with a minor fine tune/ease and a reduction of numbers to say 15 riders. This may see some of the existing ‘Prezzies’ elevating to Inters BUT would NOT lure the majority that way. Most Prezzies are happy with the low risk environment of the ‘green’ line and favour its inception even knowing that they may well be competitive in the ‘Inter’ grade.           

All of the above is in the hands of the section setters. You have had no mandate from MNZ to make ‘red’ and ‘yellow’ as difficult as they are. We attempted to put ‘levels’ on section setting at the AGM workshop this winter and you have approval to ease these grades.           

Next year other riders [under 40yrs] will be able to compete in the ‘green’ line [because it is available, because they wanted to and because it makes stepping stone sense] It will now be known as C grade. Prezzy trophies will be awarded to those over 40 in this grade by MNZ.

This by no means expends all that I think on the subject but by now you are all sick of reading. With discussions that are circulating at present on alternative systems it may well be that we can implement a restructure which could take most of the anomalies out of grading/classing issues. But for now I sincerely wish that the sport can move forward in a way that while it will not meet with everyone’s approval you will see that I am doing my best to identify the majority and you will ALL support that decision. May democracy rule?                                               

Jim Henderson 

Greybeards trial 2010.pdf (54.37 kb)

Club Champs 2010 Glenelg Spur.pdf (46.76 kb)

Hi All

Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that attended the last round for the South Island Series.  What a awesome weekend and I hope you all enjoyed yourselves.  Also my apologies again for the muck up with the results, but we did get it sorted in the end before everyone left!!!

Also I would like to acknowledge those who attended all the rounds but did'nt receive placings, thanks for supporting all clubs throughout the year.

Attached is the overall results for the series and the weekend results.

If you cant open file let me know and I will resend out to you in a different formatt, otherwise it will be on  www.trialsnz.com   web site also.

Also on behalf of Team Whitaker I would like to say a big thank you to all those who brought raffle tickets, t-shirts and sausages. 

It is great to see a wide spread community within the Trials fraternity that are backing Jake in his effort to reach the top, without you guys it will for sure be alot harder, so THANKS!!!!!   We believe in him and its great to see others that do as well, all you have to do is look at what he has accomplished already. 

Regards

Debbie and Karl Clark

Team Whitaker

www.jakenz.com

Overall 2010 SI Series Results.pdf (59.48 kb)

Weekend Results SI Rnds 5 & 6.pdf (1.43 mb)

I am back at my desk following a very successful NZ champs and congratulations must go to the Pioneer club for a great event.           

For my part the ‘Forum’ the I attempted to run on the Saturday was not my finest hour. In fact it was not Moto Trials finest hour.  I am sorry that I took the meeting to ‘boiling’ point but we must move on and the topics that came out of that encounter were;

1          There are too many grades / trophies

2          We need to do more to encourage children into Trials

3          We need to take Trials to ‘Town’ [as in Red Bull Urban Enduro]

4          We need to support our sponsors. Especially our bike importer sponsors

5          We could adopt a grading system as explained by Derek Scott that would eliminate the grading “issues” that we have with current systems

6          We could adopt a “gated trial” system as explained by John Ravenscroft that would eliminate the grading “issues” that we have with current systems

Those of you who have followed the reports this year will have realised that ‘grading’ has been a major topic and was discussed at length at Wellington at the AGM workshop. It was passed there, to form a ‘Grading committee’ made up of the commissioner and the Island Coordinators and it had been my intention to try and get some consensus at the NZ champs [in Chch] as to how we could introduce  a rule to try and curb ‘grade hopping’.            

I was also going to look into the popularity of creating a masters grade. 

It is difficult for me to instigate such things with only less than 10 people in attendance so I look at the NZ champs as an opportunity to gauge “what you really want”. It was a lost opportunity this year and one I will probably not consider again. The other factor that was known to me but not ‘spelt out’ was that to implement a rule change for 2011, I needed to have sent the rule to the ‘office’ for posting on the website by 31 Oct.           

You may see now that I came to the NZ champs after hearing and reading from MANY of you that we NEEDED to do something about grading issues and I was armed with a proposed rule change knowing that I had only a week to get it worded right and posted on the web site [which is where it is now] This rule is designed to stop riders from ‘hopping’ out of grades on a whim. It is designed to get some consistency into the grades. It is NOT designed to tell people which grade they should ride in but obviously when someone wants to change a grade they will have to seek permission and at that stage there will be some ruling as to whether the requested grade is appropriate for the applicant.           

I personally think that a system similar to that which Derek Scott eluded to would suit the NZ trials scene very well and would overcome many more issues than only ‘grade hopping’. It may be a “system overhaul” for the future. We discussed the partial use of this system at the AGM with the junior grade but it did not meet with majority approval. I will continue to look at this system and publish details of how it could work if I gauge there is enough support.           

The “gated trial” would also work very well on many ‘fronts’ and the Hamilton MCC has tentatively set a date to run such a trial on the 23 January at Piopio. They would like to see you all there.           

Items 2, 3 and 4 from our brief forum are all very good points and clubs/riders should be ensuring that this happens.Item 1 [too many grades/trophies] is also a valid point and is contrary to the other rule I have posted for 2011 which is the introduction of a C grade.            

This grade [although not named then] was mooted at the AGM and was to accommodate riders wanting to move from clubman to intermediate in smaller steps. It was to make use of the ‘green line’ that we have available.

It is imperative that the ‘green line’ remain at the same level as at present and is not elevated in difficulty as it is introduced to younger riders

I include copies of the proposed rule changes. You may challenge these through the MNZ website if you feel the need. As I have said, I believe we can do better with maybe a new system but I do NOT believe a better way is to conscript riders into grades. If at any stage you feel that we should be dictating which grades people ride in, imagine how you would feel if we told YOU that you had to ride a grade higher or lower?             

If you want any further info do not hesitate to contact me                                                                                                                                                                       

Jim Henderson   Commissioner  

New Moto Trials rules for 2011

As from 1/1/2011 riders must remain in the grade in which they enter their first championship event after that date unless they obtain the permission of the ‘grading committee’ to change grades. 

The grading committee shall consist of the North and South Island coordinators and the Commissioner. 

All applications to change grade shall be in writing and be accompanied by an endorsement by, at least one, MNZ licensed Moto Trials person. 

Riders wishing to temporarily ride a grade different to their own without contesting awards or points may be able to compete in an event at the discretion of the host club. They must, however, still notify the ‘Grading committee’ of their intentions. Their intentions will be ratified so long as it complies with host club approval.  

Moto Trials rule change:         

Rule 30.2.2Reads now….Yellow for intermediate, Blue for President/Junior & Clubman with President having one deviation……….. 

Change to…..Yellow for Intermediate, Blue for Junior, Clubman & President/C Grade with President/C Grade having one deviation……… 

The purpose of this rule change will be to allow those needing a ‘stepping stone’ grade to be able to ride in the same grade as the Presidents. It will be a new grade now known as ‘C’ Grade. Trophies [or similar awards] for ‘C’ Grade winners will be sponsored by host club and may be won by either a ‘President’ or a ‘non President’ who rides that grade but championship points will only be accrued in the Presidents class and Championship Trophies for this grade sponsored by MNZ and awarded at the conclusion of series or event.

Jim Henderson

I was asked to put to paper again my thoughts on a solution to our grading system.

Now right from the outset I want to say I do not believe this is the perfect solution and I know there will be people out there who will still find ways to manipulate this system to suit themselves. I do, however believe this system will satisfy the majority of people, most of the time. That has got to be better than what we’re doing now.

So just briefly here’s how I would see it working.

I suggest that we drop the age group classes as such and adopt an overall placings system. That would mean we would have only the four grades (Expert, A Grade, Intermediate and Clubman). Assuming we have 10 riders in each class the Experts would be 1^st- 10^th overall, the A Grade 10^th-20^th overall, Intermediates 20^th – 30^th and so on. You would then award the age group awards to those riders achieving the highest overall placing.

For instance at our recent Nationals the Presidents award would have gone to Kevin Pinfold as he would have been the rider over forty who achieved the highest overall placing. This is surely what the trophy is supposed to reflect. That is; the best rider over forty in the country, proven by a result in competition. The same system would be used for the Junior grades as well.

The result would be riders would be encouraged to enter the highest grade they can, based on their ability and fitness, and do away with riders riding “down a grade” to win trophies. It would also mean the trophies would have real meaning with all riders of eligible age in the running not just those who chose to ride a certain grade. Another possibility using this system is organisers could, at their discretion decide to recognise other age groups, types and sizes of bikes and of course our ladies.

As I said there could be drawbacks to this system. One rider could conceivably win more than one grade. I believe Jake won the N.Z Champs when he was still eligible to ride Junior. Some would say that’s not fair but as I said before if he’s the best of eligible age he should get the trophy. There is also the chance that some-one could ride up a couple of grades and take fives all day just to get the trophy but realistically I just can’t see anyone in the trials community being mad enough to do that.

And that brings me to the topic of grading. I personally think we have a problem with an imbalance in the numbers riding each grade. I think our Expert class should be for the top 10% of our riders not 2 or 3. The same with the A-Grade, that should be for the next 10% not 5 or 6.

So I reckon we should take our top 10 riders and put them all into the Expert Class, the next 10 and put them in the A-Grade and split the rest between Intermediate and Clubman. Now once we’ve done that we just have to start pegging the sections to suit those riders. What we’ve been doing in the past is pegging sections we think a particular grade “should be able to ride”. What we should be doing is pegging sections so the riders who have entered that grade can ride them.

I have attached a copy of the results from this years Nationals with overall placings, Age group winners and the grades for next year based on what I’ve just outlined. For the purpose of this exercise I have lumped the Juniors in with the Clubman because that’s the line they rode.

As I said Kevin Pinfold would have won the Presidents award, John Haynes the Junior tropy (I’m not sure whether Jim Lowe-Pattie was still eligible) and Stef Downes would have been the Women’s Champion.

I have coloured the grades for the following year Purple for expert (sorry no orange) Red for A-grade, yellow for intermediate and blue for clubman. Now I can hear the howls already, yes the sections will have to come back in severity. Expert sections will have to be what would now be considered a tough A-grade. The A-grade would be what would now be considered a tough Intermediate. Intermediate would probably end up being on a par with what are now Presidents sections. But we just have to face the reality that that is where we are at. With Jake and Karl in Europe next year who will ride the experts sections we’re pegging now? Matt, Jason maybe Warren? 1 or 2 entries at each event makes it all seem a bit farcical especially when we’ve got 20 odd in the Intermediate grade ranging in skill levels from the likes of Glenn Smith down to a FLB like me.

In closing I know some of you will think this is all a bit extreme but it’s not really. It’s just a different view of the same results when all said and done. And I think we’ve all come to realise that just adding another grade is not the answer. It hasn’t worked before, it won’t work now. There will always be riders out there who aren’t happy about something, its human nature, but just giving them another grade they probably won’t win, won’t make them any happier.

Derek Scott

Alternative results.pdf (87.43 kb)

We now have a very good DVD of the 2010 Moto-Trials Championship available for you to purchase.

$15 each and all proceeds will go to Jake to help with his European trip. This is an excellent record of the three days for you to keep, and a way to help our champion in his endeavours to become our first ever World Trials Champion.

To get your copy please order now by email me here at the website at info@pioneertrials.co.nz then send a cheque to P.O. Box 10336 Christchurch or deposit direct into the Pioneer Club account  03 1592 0094585 00 with your name as a reference.

DVDs will be sent out the first week of December.

Thanks for your support. 

Derek Scott 

Cell: 0274323646 

Hi All

Please can you pass on to your club members.

I am writing to you all as last week we sent out a youth training camp with Jake Whitaker and have had feed back from some of you who wish to help with the fundraising but are not youth riders and would also like to get in on the training.

Jake Whitaker is offering a four day training camp with the help of Karl Clark (depending on interest)

It is open to all levels of riding ability.

Depending on numbers we may look at doing one in the North Island and one in the South Island to help save on the ferry costings.

WHERE:  The camp will be run over a three day period (Fri-Sun or Sat - Mon)

VENUE:  The base venue will be at the Whitakers house in Lower Hutt North Island or Karl Clarks in Motueka in the South Island

DATE:   Will be approximately be mid January 2011, but will depend on the suitability of the dates to all of the five riders (eight if Karl comes up to help), this will be confirmed at a later stage

TERRAIN:  Jake will cover slippery creeks, loose pine needle riding and technical riding

Availability:  For each rider to get the most out of this training camp we are limiting the riders to eight
Time Table: 9:00am until lunch, 1:00pm till 4pm

Cost:  $500.00 per rider for three days, this covers all above

There maybe some accommodation space available, also there is some room on the lawn to pitch a tent if that interests you.

Otherwise there is Top Ten Holiday Park in Lower Hutt, Approx 10 to the Whitakers household.  Prices are very reasonable.

So please if you are interested drop us a email or Jake

Thanks for your time and helping support Jake to get to Europe.

Regards

Karl Clark

I had a couple of requests for section by section results from the rescent Nationals so I have just posted them on the results page. There is a sheet for each day but they are only in .csv format so you will need a compatible program to view them.