Makara Peak Grand Loop Time Trial

The 2nd Edition of the Makara Peak Grand Loop Challenge was help on Monday evening. Run brilliantly by Pete Marshal ('Vert' on Vorb) and generously sponsored by Bike Barn. A Vorb thread on the event is right here

The event is a time trial of the loop made up of Koru, Sally alley, Missing Link, Aratihi, ridgeline, Ridgeline Ext, Swigg and Starfish. Last years Champion - Slackshanks Of Bushlove - was out to defend his title and the team were certainly betting on him. The BLRT bookmakers fancied a win by Slackshanks followed home by Mono and Ed Crossling. The results and the evening unfolded a little differently.......

The start times are arrived at via "Self Seeding". This shouldn't be funny or rude, but is. Slackshanks' hot Poti' time combined with his reigning Champ status meant he was off first. He rocketed up the first pinch climb of Koru Dry Feet. Oh yes, we thought - Bushlove has it in the bag.

Nick started off shortly after Slackster and despite looking sluggish on the Koru Dry Feet slope, managed to reel in the mighty calves of doom on the climbs. Sadly he forgot to use the gold line "coming inside of you" when he deftly negotiated a passing manoeuvre, relegating Slackshanks, who the bookmakers believed would take time out of anyone on the descent and therefore was still very much in the game.

Thanks to a cunning lie by stating his fastest Poti' time as 2:59.59, Davo got to leave after Tiger and Clive. And after pulling in his 15sec and 30sec riders, to his great surprise came up behind Tiger on Aratihi. Tiger and Davo's efforts on the climb brought them to within spitting distance of Angryman but they couldn't reach him before the descent.

Tiger had a minor fail on the rollers going into Ridgeline and Davo snuck by to get onto Clive's tail. After nearly 'buying the farm' a couple of times, Davo made it past at Ridgeline Ext junction and fought to keep the gap on his rigid machine over Angry and Tiger. All three finished within seconds of each other. Davo's hands were so pumped it apparently felt like he had been self-seeding for a week.

The mighty Mono Sharpie turned up as predicted, shortly before the start, but it turned out was not there to smash the field, but was instead there with lovely Mrs Sharpie to show off his new Litespeed 29er and to support the tribe. Special thanks to the Sharpies for generously distributing yummy spot prizes to the Bushlovers, in the form of choccy Primo's. Mono got some hugs and a package tap for his troubles.

It was a fine evening with good company and a very social feel to the whole thing. A good spread of riders had made the effort to come out in support of the Makara Peak Supporters and record a time on this classic loop. Bike Barn were generous with the spotties and in addition to fine results, Nick and Davo both got a spotty. A grand evening indeed.

All 5 Bushies racing fitted into the Top Ten which was a mint result. Ed Crossling took the win with a super quick time, Nicko got a fine 2nd and Davo rounded out the top spots, narrowly preventing a Crossling fest.

Ed Crossling
Nick Kennedy
Dave Aldred
Al Crosling
Josh Wrigley
Clive AngryAsHell Bennett
Ricky Slackshanks Pincott
Niall Frost
Rob Holmes
Tiger Keith

Thanks to Shane for the pics in the signature blurry style (and for taking Davo home).