The 2010 event will be held in conjunction with Australia’s longest running two day Trial, the Glenmaggie Easter Two Day Trial. It needs your help!
The Oceania Trial started life as the Trans Tasman Shield way back in 1975. It featured at what was Australia’s greatest Trial, the famous Cootamundra Three Day Trial.
The event has had a stop start existence since those early days. The original Shield needs an extension. When I posted it off to Stephen Oliver after the 2009 event there was no space left on it for further shields. There is a list of whos who in Oceania Trials engraved on the trophy and it carries a lot of Southern Hemisphere Trials History.
The past three Oceania Trials have featured teams of three. One Expert, one Master and one Youth. The Master and Youth riders have ridden A Grade lines. We are very keen to have a Woman competitor included in the Team for 2010. This is a bit of an issue as the Kiwis don’t have many girls competing. Their best Woman rider, Stephanie Downs, is not riding at present. Personally I’d like to see the Masters / Youth / Woman riders compete on genuine B Grade sections. We have also selected an up and coming rider as our Expert. The idea was to give more riders an opportunity to represent their country, rather than our top three getting to ride the TdN as well as the Oceania.
We are severely handicapped by lack of funds which should come as no surprise to anyone. The UOM Grant of $3000 for the visiting team has not increased in the past 9 years, but don’t criticise too quickly. $3000 is way in front of no dollars. Motorcycling Australia, and Motorcycling New Zealand, have no direct involvement in the Oceania Trial, however MA has contributed in the last two visits to New Zealand by our team. They have substantially reduced the Licence / Insurance cost for our riders.
The Oceania Trial is a success only because of the tremendous personal input from the Trials communities on both sides of the Tasman. Billet accommodation, assistance with bike transportation, and hiring of trials bikes are just a few options where the Aussie trials community can help.
We would expect the Kiwi team to fly into Melbourne during the week leading up to Easter, and flying out of Melbourne straight after Easter. If you are in a position to offer assistance with any of the above, please contact Oakleigh’s Rob Murdoch at murbar@bigpond.com or myself at trialben@homemail.com.au
Those of you Kiwi riders may wish to contact Jim Henderson at jim1@xtra.co.nz if you’d like to be considered for the New Zealand Team.
Trevor Bennett
MA Moto Trials Commissioner (nearly retired).