sort of thing , but I knew he ’ d find it tough to get past me if I could get into the lead . I got the lead early on and he was breathing down my neck , but I made no mistakes and won it ,” said the 40-year-old Birch . “ That gave me a choice for starting position the next day and I chose to be the fifth rider away . I didn ’ t want to be the first rider on the course , making tracks for others to follow . Navigation is always easier if you ’ re following others ,” he explained . “ It ’ s tough riding in pumice , but I made it up one of the steep hills without too much trouble , while a few others were zigging and zagging their way up behind me , and that allowed me to build a gap out front .” Birch has a busy schedule working as an offroad riding coach and he is only an occasional competitor these days , but said this was one event that particularly interests him . “ This is the best race in New Zealand by far ,” he said . “ I love it ... 300 kilometres of riding over a weekend . I love it .” Other winners at the weekend were Taupo ’ s Wil Yeoman ( Silver Grade ) and Tokoroa ’ s Richard Newton ( Bronze Grade ).
The event was sponsored by Husqvarna NZ , Forest Trail Events , Kiwi Rider magazine , Dirt Guide , SATCO logging attachments and Michelin tyres .
RESULTS
GOLD 1 : 1 Chris Birch 2 : 7 Dylan Yearbury 3 : 3 Jake Whitaker 4 : 2 Tom Buxton
SILVER 1 : 115 Wil Yeoman 2 : 126 Kevin Archer 3 : 113 Daniel Herbert 4 : 100 Paul Singleton
BRONZE 1 : 215 Richard Newton 2 : 219 Logan Shannon 3 : 201 Zach Sefuiva 4 : 237 Gerald Holden
108 KIWI RIDER