Wellington schoolboy wins two-day motor-cycle trial

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 3

Wellington schoolboy wins two-day motor-cycle trial

The gifted Wellington schoolboy, C. Harris (250 Ossa), convincingly won the second round of the New Zealand motor-cycle experts’ trial championship on Saturday and yesterday in the Canterbury area.

The head prefect at Naenae College, Harris led throughout the two days, and when he finished the last of the 84 sections at Purau yesterday afternoon was 27 points clear of his nearest rival, M. McGibbon (250 Ossa), of Christchurch.

His winning total of penalty points was 82, which was quite outstanding, considering the degree of difficulty of the sections marked out by the Pioneer club officials.

McGibbon, too, was in superb form, defeating more favoured riders with a display of skill and judgment which suggested higher honours were not far away. His concentration slipped a little

on the afternoon hillside sections yesterday, but with 109 penalty points he was in no danger of losing second place. Third was W. Moffat (250 Bultaco, of Wellington), who lost 127 points, moving up from fifth overnight. R. Cooke (250 Bultaco, from Nelson), claimed fourth place, a further two points behind. The winner of the first round at Blenheim, K. Hosking (250 Bultaco), of Christchurch, did not fare quite so well this time, losing 144 points and finishing fifth overall. P. McDonald (250 Bultaco), also of Christchurch, who was runner-up in the first round, was sixth this time.

The unluckiest rider was undoubtedly K. Williams (250 Ossa), of Wellington. He was in third place overnight and was still in the top group

when he crashed heavily in the second section after lunch yesterday. He injured his shoulder and was forced to retire. However, he had no reason to feel embarrassed with his disastrous ride at this very tricky hillside section. Not one of the 18 championship riders managed to complete it. All lost maximum points. 46 SECTIONS Harris, who won the national title for the first time last year when he was only 17, missed the first round because his new Ossa had not arrived from Spain. However, this should prove no great handicap for there are six rounds and only a rider’s best four performances are counted.

In the 46 sections at Pyramid Valley, 10 miles inland from Amberley, on Saturday, Harris soon established his superiority, losing only 31 points. McGibbon was lying second with 46, and the unlucky Williams, third on 60. By lunch yesterday, Harris had increased his lead slightly over McGibbon, but Moffat and Cooke, fifth and sixth overnight, rallied magnificently to take over third and fourth places. Cooke, the winner of the recent three-day Kaikoura trial, was in tremendous form yesterday afternoon, being the lowest scorer with 12 points. But this made no difference to his position, and he had to be content with fourth placing. Harris lost 13 points in the afternoon sections to make certain of over-all victory. Hosking was more like his old self in these sections and he, too, only lost 13 points. Unfortunately, this fine

finish was too late to affect the result. Results were:— C. Harris (Wellington), 250 Ossa, 31 points lost on first day, total 82, 1; M. McGibbon (Christchurch), 250 Ossa, 46, 109, 2; W. Moffat (Wellington), 250 Bultaco, 68, 127, 3; R. Cooke (Nelson), 250 Bultaco, 74, 129, 4; K. Hosking (Christchurch), 250 Bultaco, 68, 144, 5; P. McDonald (Christchurch), 250 Bultaco, 83, 148, 6; R. Rush (Christchurch), 200 Triumph, 95. 156. 7; K. Miles (Rangiora), 250 Ossa, 96, 169, 8; P. McKegney (Wellington), 350 Matchless, 92, 171, 9: E. Norriss (Christchurch), 175 Yamaha, 98, 179; M. Harris (Wellington), 250 Ossa, 83, 179 (equal) 10.