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This year the Ixion Club of Wellington had the pleasure of holding the 2009 New Zealand Trials Championship held over three days at Labour weekend with great weather on all days. All riders were kept on their toes as each day consisted of different terrain. There were spills and falls and also some awesome riding from Clubman riders right up through to Expert. It was great to see a good turn out of 80 competitors and even setting some sections for the Social grade riders which is what the sport needs to encourage new members. Day one was held at Maungakotukutuku Valley Rd and was set amongst trees, creeks and alot of banks. Day two was held at Emerald Glen Rd and was set out amongst a sloping hill (good for the legs if you didn’t have a bike), in the trees and also a man made section which kept the Expert riders tested as well as section three which had a big third gear jump up a bank which kept the spectators well amused. Day three was held at Waihoanga Rd which was the last event for the weekend. There were some interesting rides and a couple of challenging sections, a few falls and a few near misses. This property was rock and a few in slippery creaks. Prize giving was held after the event at the property and just made it in time as the rain set in. Marlborough Trials Centre Rider Jake Whitaker took out his third NZ Expert Championship in a row. However Jake did not have it all his own way and was kept on his toes right up to the last lap on the last day for first place. Warren Laugsen had an awesome ride to come in second overall as well as Marlborough Trials Rider Karl Clark having a second and two thirds to finish off third overall for the weekend. A-Grade on the first day was taken out with ease by Enduro Star Rory Mead and unfortunately couldn’t compete in the next two days due to other commitments. First overall was Non-Stop Rider Pete Oliver Second place was to Stuart Lawton returning to the sport and having some fantastic rides after just getting back on the bike just before the event. North Islander Phil Shilton took out third position in the most highly fought grade. Intermediate was a North Island affair with Jim Lowe-Pattie having a constant weekend in first place over James Snowden on Second place and Ian Braithwaite coming in on third. Also to mention Marlborough Trials Rider Blake Fox on his Sherco 125cc to finish a strong 7th. First and foremost, Brendon Wadsworth for WINNING Presidents grade. You rode awesome!! It was a close grade and I know that you have been battling it out with Warrick and Paul over the North Island rounds all year, so well done. Must have been that Jelly Tip you had on Monday morning aye…. Paul Simmons for taking out Clubman having three 1st placings, Dunedin’s Gavin Fox finished second, was a pretty close grade. Nelson's bound Dave Hart for coming third in Clubman Grade, it was your first New Zealand Champs here in New Zealand, well done. Marlborough Trials Rider Cullum Anderson for winning NZ Junior Grade, well done. John Haynes taking our second place and Liam Draper you have come along way in a short time, watch this space, keep up the good work and the training, a well deserved third place. Nelson's Brady Inwood finishing a good 7th placing and maybe one to watch next year. Looking forward to next years racing, keep up all the good work that all clubs are doing. Keep training hard and you will be the best you can be! Keep ya feet up Debbie Clark
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