Sam Rummery on his Sherco showed how it’s done at the mototrials event at Banalasta on the weekend. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 300912GOC04
SAM Rummery provided locals with a masterclass in mototrial riding at the Coonabarabran Motorcycle Club’s event at Banalasta on the weekend.
The ACT rider handled the granite boulders near Bendemeer with skill as he took out the major award, losing just 23 marks over the course of 98 sections in grade one.
Second place, with a loss of 124 marks, went to Sam’s father Mick.
The elder Rummery took advantage of local knowledge as he grew up in the area.
Coonabarabran rider Daniel Betts completed the top three, losing 186 marks for his efforts over the two days.
Saturday dawned wet and miserable but that did little to deter the riders.
The wet and slippery conditions proved an early challenge to most, except Sam, but by midday the rain had gone and dry lines began to appear.
At the end of the day’s proceedings, Sam had lost just 11 marks while father Mick was a further 58 marks behind, and Brian Thomas of Moore Creek held third on a loss of 97 marks.
In grade two, John Waterworth from Cronulla was holding a one-point lead over Peter Curtis from Faulconbridge and Greg Harding from Coffs Harbour, who was riding the older style of trials bike, normally referred to as a twinshock.
The bikes are heavier and more difficult to ride than the modern monoshock versions, which are very lightweight, made from carbon fibre and don’t have seats.
Sunday saw a cold start but a beautiful New England spring day, for which both the marshals and competitors were thankful.
Rummery continued his domination of grade one throughout the day, adding another 12 marks to the previous day’s loss.
Mick held onto second but Betts produced a sterling ride to overtake Thomas and finish 13 marks clear of his local rival.
Waterworth could not get to grips with the day’s sections and lost a further 27 marks, dropping him to second behind Curtis, who managed the day with a loss of just eight marks.
Harding was able to hold on to third, losing 49 marks overall, and taking out the Mannin Grove Olives Best Twinshock award.
Other winners included Donna Woods in grade three, who also took home the best lady award, Caleb Thomas, winner of the best junior award in grade two, and a fast- improving Daniel Boland, who won best junior in grade three.
