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The kiwi Trials des Nations teams did New Zealand proud at La Chatre in France. The ladies Stef Downes Christchurch and Gundry Tauranga were at a big dis-advantage as all the other teams had 3 riders with the best 2 rides to count at each section. Our girls rode hard all day to achieve 9th out of 11 teams. This is the first time we have sent a girls team and it’s a great achievement remembering that the top European girls are as good as our men.
The men’s team Warren Laugesen Taradale, Blake Fox Dunedin, Matt Foster New Plymouth and John Haynes Rotorua had an early setback when Blake Fox crashed on section 6 on the first lap and was unable to continue through injury, so like the girls, the boys continued with 1 less rider than all the other teams. The men finished 10th out of 18 teams which they can be very proud of.
This was a young inexperienced team at that level led by the old campaigner Warren Laugesen. We now have something to build on in future, but need to send teams to Trials des Nations. It is a huge financial commitment from the riders and we hope the financial burden can be eased in coming years .
