Another very successful and enjoyable annual Moto Trials event was held at Green Park, Conondale on 26th and 27th October. It was great to see the largest number of entries (72) in years. Some very old but handsome bikes were lovingly paraded around the course by some equally old and handsome riders! And there were plenty of bikes and riders that could best be described as just plain old. There were also many more modern bikes and riders present, including lots of juniors competing and riding around having fun.
The weekend started with a trusty band of section setters on Thursday and Friday conspiring to create 10 of the most devious sections imaginable for the main Sunday event. After much sweat and a bit of blood and tears the course was cleared and set along Elaman Creek. A big thank you to those club members who combined their skills to get the work done, especially Chrys and Rowan who used their valued experience to make the final adjustments.
Friday night saw a good number of campers catching up over some cold ones, including reminiscing over some images of the good old days and bikes.
SATURDAY
On Saturday morning a small but dedicated group of offroad motorcycling fun enthusiasts set out 5 or 6 Trialkhana sections on the other side of the creek. That afternoon saw 40 or so riders participating in an entertaining game style occasion of negotiating sections containing obstacles of increasing difficulty as far as possible without footing. Points were scored and adjustments made for rider levels. There was much merriment for those watching the brave riders having a go at some very challenging sections. One highlight was in the creek where some valiant (or naive or stupid) competitors attempted to leap their bikes from the bottom of a waterhole of indeterminate depth up and over a slippery log! We found out that bikes don’t like being totally submerged any more than riders do.
Another unforgettable sight was an out of control Yorkshireman plunging down the mountainside hill climb like the Man from Snowy River. There was a distinct outcry of F——— ing H—-!!!!! as he zoomed down past the laughing but helpless hillside helpers to take a sudden detour of evasive action into the lantana at the bottom to avoid annihilating our extremely alarmed, most experienced and precious member of our Montesa family, George L. That hill climb was a fantastic personal challenge, especially for riders of twin shocks and classic bikes. Reaching the very top for the first time was incredibly satisfying after trying for several years. It was also educational for many who personally experienced the result of what they learned in school physics, namely “What goes up must come down”, or “Gravity is a B—-h!”
Earlier in the day the AGM for the WDTC was held where most of us practiced our evasion and balancing under pressure skills during the office bearers’ nominations. But thanks to the recommitment and rededication to all things trials shown by Jack W, Brian W, Nathan H, Bruce A and James W, and a special welcome and thank you to new leaders Saul H and Jodie C, the 2025 club committee was duly elected with only a fraction of promises and pork barrelling of the state election on the same day. Congratulations to all office bearers. The club is in good hands for next year.
Saturday night was a celebration of the year with all we could eat wood fired pizza, presentations of the club champions, Trialkhana and special awards, landowner thanks, many eloquent and not so eloquent speeches, yarn spinning, liquid refreshment and merriment. A certain Yorkshireman again impressed, reinforcing his interstate domination by taking home 4 (FOUR) trophies, and providing endless entertainment with his blow by blow description of the terrible descent a few hours earlier. Congratulations to David L. for your achievements and non-discrimination when mixing bottle labels.
SUNDAY
After a good night’s sleep (or whatever other evening pastimes), we all fronted up with our bikes in Parque Ferme (or is it Park Firm?) (it’s Parc Ferme – editor 😀 ) for the Show and Shine contest. Some bikes showed and shone more than others, with some truly beautiful examples of many hours’ restoration on display. Congratulations to Glenn Johnson for his outstanding and unique model named “Scraps”. Then we had the rider briefing and scrutineering where Jack, Terry, Graham, Nathan and David prepared/ encouraged/ warned us for an exciting day of trials riding. All 10 sections were located fairly close together, with 8 in the creek, which saw a few of us having an unexpected bath in the waterholes. One uninitiated rider commented at the start that the sections looked easy and short compared to other trials. My advice to him was that the all-important difference was the addition of water and slippery rocks. This was vindicated many times throughout the day, with normally negotiable turns and obstacles transformed into treacherous traps for the unwary, tired or poorly tyred rider-machine combinations.
Thanks to the very proficient and cheery observers who encouraged riders even after they made stupid mistakes. 4 laps were completed in a timely fashion without too many queues or delays. No serious injuries were owned up to, although I did see a few sore bodies persisting from the mishaps of the previous day.
The event presentations were completed after all section tapes and arrows were regathered. The outright Twinshock Champion, Joel N was again crowned but only by a solitary point after an almighty battle with Mitch G.
Congratulations to all riders and helpers for your contribution to the weekend. A big thank you to Conondale School P & C for the delicious catering on Sunday. Also thanks to Sunshine Coast MCC for providing the venue. Please spread the word for next year on the last weekend in October. For results and Steve Spencer’s great photography of the event, see WDTC and Spencerphoto on Facebook.