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Parker has the goods, at home and away
As all the hype surrounding the International Six Day Enduro in New Zealand dies down, several noticeable stories begin to filter through about the events that took place over in the picturesque Taupo.
One such story is the performance of Australian Alison Parker, who was part of a field of 13 riders who took part in the women's class at the event.
Having dominated the Australian Off Road series in 2006 - winning all five rounds of competition, Parker headed across the Tasman to test her riding skills on a much grander scale, a test which she passed with flying colours.
The 29-year-old won the women's class up against riders from America and Sweden, and despite the fact that they had ridden in six-day events previously Parker gathered all her strength to complete what she describes as "the toughest race I've ever done."
"Days two, three, four and five individually would have to have been the toughest days of riding ever," she admitted.
"Just to have them back-to-back just consolidated it, made it even worse and just multiplied that pain.
"I knew that I would finish the event – that's just me, I knew that I'd get to day six."
One of the motivations for Parker to head to the event was the lack of competition she had in the Off Road series, and the need to prove herself against tougher riding opposition.
"I am certainly craving more close competition which is why it was really good in that respect to race a few other quick women," she explained.
"It's great because during the week we had a lot of close competition – two of the Americans and one of the Swedish girls were riding quite similar speeds, so it was good to be a little more consistent and to end up winning."
Parker praised the layout of the Taupo course and said that the event itself was extremely well organised.
"The event organisers were really clever in how we generally climbed mountains on gravel road but we went down them through the tight bush.
"That meant there were less chance of bottlenecks and problem hills that way. It enabled the event to flow really well."
And what should we expect in 2007 from Australia's best female Enduro rider?
"I've definitely considered it (2007 ISDE in Chile) and I will consider it, but I don't know if it will be a realistic chance of getting there just because of the expense, unfortunately.
"I don't know that I've got anyone that I am majorly up against in the Off Road series.
"I think Rebecca Lipsett is going to race the four-day (Australian Four-Day Enduro) so that's good, and one of the American girls might come out and do the four-day as well so that could be a good competition."
