This is the second year running the Nelson Four Wheel Drive Club has hosted the first round of the Superwinch series on private farmland near Richmond where the views are awesome and once again we enjoyed great weather.
That said, last year the ground was dry and most stages were driven. Not this year, because it rained on the Thursday night turning the event into an actual winch challenge with 19 entries from Balclutha in the south to Auckland in the north.
This year three classes will be run as part of the series, Open, Outlaw and Clubman (with Clubman and Clubman-B running as one).
Scrutineering was held on Friday afternoon with three night stages put together for after the BBQ & Hangi dinner.
Saturday saw an early morning for some as cows love to eat bunting so the organisers were out checking each stage. The marshals were also given some training on what to mark the competitors on. Scotty Newport had a Jeep all set up and ran through a quick lesson on how to use a winch safely, what to watch for when using a winch or ground anchor, and when to penalise if pegs were hit.
Some of the new entries also watched, a good thing to do as they then knew what those marshals were going to nab them for.
Everyone enjoyed the challenges set out with stages stopped at 4pm on Sunday and 70 for dinner and prizegiving. All placings were read and prizes given out and all drivers and co-drivers were put into a draw for the Talon Superwinch which Chad Mitchener won.
Thanks to the farm owners, John and Karen, and also to all organisers, marshals and Megan for taking on the scoring. And a big thanks also to our main sponsor Superwinch and all those who donated prizes.
Results Rnd 1 Superwinch Mainland Winch Challenge Nelson.
Open class
1. Gordon Jackett/Scotty Newport (Jeep Wrangler) 1250 pts
2. Rowan Coutts/Chad Mitchener (Jeep Wrangler) 1240
3. Malcolm Wells/Dave Wall (Toyota Land Cruiser) 1099
Outlaw
1. Leigh Jones/Leigh Kirby (Toyota Hilux) 1192
2. Mike Holmes/Sheryl Wells (Toyota Hilux) 1121
3. Bernie Konz/Anthony Tangye (Jeep Wrangler) 1111
To read the full story in the September 2015 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (on sale August 17) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
