Trial report RTC Inc trial at Waterson's 1 May 2011

[David Lahey]

Trial report:

The Rocky Trials Club Inc trial last Sunday at Watersons at Burua went off very well in perfect riding conditions.

All the waterholes in the creek were full and the soil was still damp from when the dam overflowed from a 125mm downpour two weeks prior. The shape of the bed of the creek had changed yet again from our March event there. Many of the pools were still too deep to ride through but the section setters managed to use parts of the pools that were just shallow enough to avoid drowning any bikes (or riders).

Access to the upper reaches of the creek (via the creek bed) were still blocked by fallen trees from the summer rains of 2010 and by deep pools, so to gain access, a track approx 250 metres long was cut from the car park along an old fenceline through the creekside vegetation to allow us to have a ride up that end. It followed the same route to a track we used four or five years ago, but which had completely disappeared.

Most sections were set in the reach of the creek near the car park and upstream for about 150 metres. Only one section was set right up the top end where some fabulous soft sand banks had formed. There was even some quicksand on the C Grade route, but I made the mistake of pointing it out and no-one managed to get stuck there.

The trial had a very relaxed atmosphere and went off without a hitch. There were some new and returning riders. Ireland Casswell-Clarkson rode her first-ever trial in Novice, proudly watched by her Dad Mark. Ireland’s TY175 broke down part way through and she finished on Sarah Chivers’ TLM50.
Steven Stuart ??? returned to trials riding on his TY175 for the first time since the 1990s when he last rode with the Rocky Trials Club and he greatly enjoyed himself. Rumour is that he has young kids that might soon be riding also.

The finish was close in Novice with Sarah Chivers just pipping Timothy Evans for the win. The Novices had alternate, harder lines to ride if they wanted a bit of extra challenge and this seemed to work well.

The severity of the upper grade sections as judged by the scores was very good and it made for enjoyable riding. The scores in C and B grades covered an amazingly small range.

Thankyou Jessica for being such a steady riding partner.

Thankyou to all who helped - including section setters Brent and Sarah Chivers, John Sophios, Ken Cutmore, Timothy Evans and David Lahey.

Thanks to Timothy and Kevin Evans and landowner Darren Waterson for mowing the car park and home paddock.

Thanks to Angela Sophios, Mark Casswell, Kim Chivers and whoever else supervised the Novice riders

Thankyou also to photographer Kim Chivers for the attached photos and thankyou anyone else who helped with the event but I have not mentioned

Trial results:

Junior/Novice

Sarah Chivers 1 (TLM50), Timothy Evans 2 (KT250), Samantha Sophios 4 (Beta EVO), Riley Hunt 18 (TY175), Ireland Casswell-Clarkson 43 (TY175), Abby Armitage 96 (TTR90)

C Grade

Brian Crozier 20 (Scorpa SY250), Kevin Havik 21 (Sherco), Jessica Chivers 24 (Beta Rev 3)

Twinshock

David Lahey 18 (250 Majesty), Mark Casswell 22 (SWM TL320), Ken Cutmore 37 (TLR200), Brent Chivers 42 (TLR200), Steven Stuart 65 (TY175)

B Grade

Jacob Armitage 20 (Sherco) , Peter Casey 21 (Beta Techno), Angela Sophios 22 (Beta Rev 3)

A Grade

Micheal Armitage 8 (Gas Gas), David Cue 35 (Beta EVO), Barry Caird 36 (Beta Rev 3), John Sophios 61 (Beta Rev 3)

David Lahey
Friday 6th May 2011