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Just in from Peter Birch.
Kiwis 3rd Overall in A4DE.
The NZ Team of Chris Birch, Shaun Prescott, Sean Clarke, Mark Whyte, Karl and
Chris Power have gained the best ever NZ result in the Australian 4 Day
Enduro which was held from 15th - 18th April based in Warrugul in
Victoria.
They also came within a hairs breadth of bringing home the Oceania
Trophy to NZ for the first time.
Individual Gold Medals were won by Birch, Prescott, Whyte and Chris
Power, with Silvers won by Clarke and Karl Power.
The team had quite a few dramas on the 300 km long Day 2 when Sean Clarke
had to change a cylinder head on his Suzuki due to lack of valve clearances
caused, it is expected by the crap Aussie fuel. Consequently \'Junior \" lost
quite a bit of time.
Shaun Prescott, KTM developed a head gasket leak, which
however was fixed by some sort of \"magic\" radiator leak pill!
Karl Power\'s Honda rear wheel all but gave up due to the long hammering on
bone hard ground but he managed to keep going, losing a little time.
The guys apparently took some time to come to terms with the very different
riding conditions. Very long distances, pretty fast speed schedules, but
little technical riding. Dust (and bushfires) were a real issue on Day
1, especially in one particular test where having caught up 2 slower riders
Chris Birch said that he could see no more than 2 metres in front and to
try a pass would be suicidal.
Some cooler weather and a little rain helped later in the week.The special
tests apparently cut up badly into .5 metre deep dry ruts full of
\"bulldust\".
Usually a short run to the final MX on Day 4. This time the riders still
had to ride a 100km loop before the MX.
The team arrive back in Auckland at 1am Tuesday morning, then have to
prepare for the Pahiatua National next weekend.
