Carl Steadman Yamaha IT 250
KINLEITH CLASSIC VINDURO 2015
Fine dry weather meant that the Kinleith Forest loam was in perfect condition for the inaugural Kinleith Classic Vinduro. Sean Clarke and his team from Forest Trail Events had laid out a stunning ride consisting of two loops of over 30km each making for 74 km all up. The course featured gravel roads, bulldozed trails and plenty of twisting single track in the massive pine forest plantations near Tokoroa.
Sean has put in so many trails at the Tar Hill venue that he was able to serve up plenty of fresh rut-free tracks. Included in the mix were a few steepish downhills and a few moderately technical tighter sections. Steep uphills were deliberately avoided in case of wet weather and in deference to the age of some of the machinery and the riders but the effect was a near perfect balance of challenge and difficulty. While there several former top enduro riders it was pleasing to see that for about a third of the field this was their first enduro event.
As with our first Vinduro at Riverhead there was a wide variety of machinery with all the classes except the Vintage four speed category represented. Otherwise the almost 50 entries were well spread between the three Evo classes with only 5 entries for the classics. A number of riders also elected to ride the non competitive trail class over the same course. Apart from a few inevitable breakdowns all the riders completed the course with the last rider to finish (on a flat rear tyre) getting a big cheer from those taking a chance to unwind and de-brief over a burger.
Best news perhaps is that Sean Clarke is reserving another early May date for the 2016 Kinleith Classic.
Sean has put in so many trails at the Tar Hill venue that he was able to serve up plenty of fresh rut-free tracks. Included in the mix were a few steepish downhills and a few moderately technical tighter sections. Steep uphills were deliberately avoided in case of wet weather and in deference to the age of some of the machinery and the riders but the effect was a near perfect balance of challenge and difficulty. While there several former top enduro riders it was pleasing to see that for about a third of the field this was their first enduro event.
As with our first Vinduro at Riverhead there was a wide variety of machinery with all the classes except the Vintage four speed category represented. Otherwise the almost 50 entries were well spread between the three Evo classes with only 5 entries for the classics. A number of riders also elected to ride the non competitive trail class over the same course. Apart from a few inevitable breakdowns all the riders completed the course with the last rider to finish (on a flat rear tyre) getting a big cheer from those taking a chance to unwind and de-brief over a burger.
Best news perhaps is that Sean Clarke is reserving another early May date for the 2016 Kinleith Classic.
Peter Colvin Husky 400WR
RESULTS KINLEITH CLASSIC 2015
OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 1-10 (takes into account score plus age of bike and age of rider)
Craig Bown Yamaha IT175
Andrew Robertson Honda XL175
Dene Humphrey Yamaha IT250
Mike Bennet Honda XL250S
Mark Haimes Honda XR250
Darryl August Suzuki DR400
Steve Groves Honda XL350
Nick Spiers Yamaha ML 500
Carl Steadman Yamaha IT250
William Doe Suzuki PE175
CLASS RESULTS
Vintage - no entries
Classic
Stephen Groves Honda XL350
Andrew Robertson Honda XL175
Barry Moody Honda XL350
Evo 1
Dene Humphrey Yamaha IT250
Craig Brown Yamaha IT175
Carl Steadman Yamaha IT250
Mike Bennet Honda XLS250
Darryl August Suzuki DR350
Nick Spiers Yamaha ML 500
William Doe Suzuki PE175
Francis Hoen Husky 430
Eddie Mooney Honda XR250
Evo 2
Mark Haimes Honda XR 250
Ian Smith Yamaha DT175
Bevan Holmes Suzuki PE175
Aaron Seymour Honda XR250
Tony Osborne Honda XR200
Frank Jeffs Honda XR200
Harrison Jeffs Honda XR200
Darryl Jeffs Honda XR200
John Leswick Honda XR 200
Ross Drummond Honda XR200
Vince Lyman Honda XR200
Evo 3
Glen Carlson Honda CR250
Logan White-Clarke KTM 250
Merv Heard Honda CRF230
Jono Hooker Yamaha IT175
Mike Dillon Honda XR600
Wayne Clarke KTM 500
Peter Colvin Husqvarna WR400
Chris Steadman Yamaha TT350
OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 1-10 (takes into account score plus age of bike and age of rider)
Craig Bown Yamaha IT175
Andrew Robertson Honda XL175
Dene Humphrey Yamaha IT250
Mike Bennet Honda XL250S
Mark Haimes Honda XR250
Darryl August Suzuki DR400
Steve Groves Honda XL350
Nick Spiers Yamaha ML 500
Carl Steadman Yamaha IT250
William Doe Suzuki PE175
CLASS RESULTS
Vintage - no entries
Classic
Stephen Groves Honda XL350
Andrew Robertson Honda XL175
Barry Moody Honda XL350
Evo 1
Dene Humphrey Yamaha IT250
Craig Brown Yamaha IT175
Carl Steadman Yamaha IT250
Mike Bennet Honda XLS250
Darryl August Suzuki DR350
Nick Spiers Yamaha ML 500
William Doe Suzuki PE175
Francis Hoen Husky 430
Eddie Mooney Honda XR250
Evo 2
Mark Haimes Honda XR 250
Ian Smith Yamaha DT175
Bevan Holmes Suzuki PE175
Aaron Seymour Honda XR250
Tony Osborne Honda XR200
Frank Jeffs Honda XR200
Harrison Jeffs Honda XR200
Darryl Jeffs Honda XR200
John Leswick Honda XR 200
Ross Drummond Honda XR200
Vince Lyman Honda XR200
Evo 3
Glen Carlson Honda CR250
Logan White-Clarke KTM 250
Merv Heard Honda CRF230
Jono Hooker Yamaha IT175
Mike Dillon Honda XR600
Wayne Clarke KTM 500
Peter Colvin Husqvarna WR400
Chris Steadman Yamaha TT350