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BUSH BASH TWENTY TWELVE
Saturday 10th November: - Well winds were back this year for the fifth annual running of the Bush Bash Endurance race, but not so gale force. The Bush Riders Motorcycle Club laid out a fun track that the riders enjoyed at Waitawhiti Station for both the junior 3 hour and senior 6 hour.
The forest section was gone this year but with a neighbour’s property used it gave some new terrain to ride, & with a few bogs spread out around the track riders still had to be smart with line selection. The seniors did a quick look at the first 5 or so ks before lining up around 9.30am.
The land owner Graham Richardson sent them off with the traditional shot gun blast, and it was the XC1 team of Ben Exeter & Ryan Foothead leading through the first lap, however it was Nick Longstaff claiming the Waitawhiti Perendales holeshot and the $100 cash. He said two riders battled in front of him for the first turn but clashed together enabling him to get through first and claim the holeshot.
Back again for the Bush Bash was veteran Hugh Lintott, teaming up with local & former National No 1 Adam Reeves a very formidable team, however the pace up front shown by Exeter & Foothead had Reeves going hard out to try and close the gap. He made a wrong turn close to the pits which had him a bit lost & looking around for the track direction he did lose some valuable time to the leaders.
Last year’s junior XC1 teams winner Daniel Christie now a senior was teamed up with another local Jacob Hyslop who was debuting his new CRF450 and rode a solid second place all day behind Exeter & Foothead. But they weren’t without problems as on lap 5 Christie picked the wrong line in a creek crossing and it swallowed the Yamaha whole. After about some minutes of huffing and puffing it was mobile again losing one place but managing to hold onto second place to the finish.
Ironman Charles Alabaster was solid all day ending up 2nd overall and put in some great consistent lap times it was good to see the former Junior NZ Cross Country No1 back in great form. They opened out a sizeable lead early on in the race and were showing a clean pair of alpine stars to the rest of the field, Reeves put in some quick lap times but couldn’t close the gap on Christie & Hyslop. But as the six hours drew to a close it was the experienced pairing of Exeter & Foothead who took the overall for the Bush Bash Twenty Twelve.
The new shields for the overalls for both senior and junior donated by the Richardson family looked absolutely awesome and will add more prestige to the event.
Sunday 11th November: - The Junior race started with local Charlie Richardson pulling the holeshot and pocketing the Waitawhiti Perendales holeshot $100 and quickly set about opening up a lead on fellow Iron man Daniel Alabaster and with James Galpin having worked his way into third.
A crash off a bank & into a fence on lap one saw Jarod Hislop pit early to repair damaged caused in the crash and he slotted back quickly into the field losing time to the leaders. Ashley Exeter and the new Bush Riders Club secretary Haana Wilson were leading the young ladies class from Zoe Richardson & Sophie Exeter. Everything was going to plan but as Haana was approaching a gate, for the short blast down the road before the scoring chicane, she got a wee bit off line and grabbed too much front brake. That caused a big flying w and she ended up going over the bars, landing by the road fence with a very very sore neck and back.
With the arrival of the Ambo it was assessed that the rescue chopper be called. The skill of the pilot to fly in & out in that wind as amazing to watch, so next time you see Haana ask her what the ride to hospital was like. Turns out she was ok but has damaged her ribs (we all know what they’re like “ouch”) and was discharged from Hospital that night. All the best to Haana, heal quickly girl.
It's worth mentioning here that, Ashley did complete the rest of the event, securing the class win for the pair. While the Ambo was attending to Hannah, (Charlie)Richardson went by, but as Alabaster approached, the Ambo moved across the road and the race officials halted him for a few costly seconds waiting for the Ambo to clear. In fairness of the sport the next lap around Richardson was held up by the officials by around a similar time to which there was no protest at all from young Richardson as he waited for the go by the Clerk of the course and the steward.
It was good to see the parents keep their chargers in the running for their class wins with instructions from the MNZ steward telling them to keep an eye on dehydration and exhaustion as the extra hour was going to be tough and going into the unknown.
With time all but up Richardson was given the Chequered flag for the overall win and the 2012 Bush Bash Junior Ironman Championship, the time halted not affecting his charge to the finish. We need to know what Alf Alabaster senior was feeding his kids in the pits as they featured on both senior and junior podiums at Bush Bash 2012 a great all-round effort by the Alabaster family. James Galpin rode consistently for his third place in the Ironman, afterwards he commented that he was a bit tired but they now know what the senior National Cross County is like.
Well done to all the helpers who marked the track and picked it up afterwards and a big tip of the hat to the Richardson family for their hospitality over the three days and a barby afterwards. Bush Bash 2013 bring it on!!!
