Trials

Last weekend, 15 of South Australia’s top trial talents took on the nation’s best at the 2024 GASGAS Australian Trial Championship in Ravenswood, near Bendigo—and our riders certainly made their mark! From crowning the first-ever South Australian Trial 1 Open Australian Champion to securing multiple podium finishes and several top-10 placings, 2024 has been a standout year for our SA contingent. Before diving into the full SA results, let’s highlight a few of the weekend’s standout moments.

Fresh from representing Australia at his seventh Trial des Nations (TdN) and competing against world-class riders in Europe, Connor Hogan returned to Australian soil in sensational form. Tackling the challenging Open Solo/Trial 1 class, Connor barely put a foot wrong over two days, finishing 25 points clear of NSW’s 9-time reigning, Kyle Middleton to be crowned the 2024 Trial 1 Australian Champion and Australian #1 for the first time. Reviewing his historic win, Connor said, “It’s taken a long time and a lot of hard work, but I finally managed to take the win.” He continued, “Congratulations to all the other riders in the field, in particular Kyle Middleton who I have idolised for many years and whose level has always been a goal to strive towards. Biggest thanks need to go to the Turners; without Paul and Harry Turner it would have been extremely difficult to do what I did overseas this year, not to mention all the guidance Harry provided on the bike. This one means a lot!”

This monumental achievement places Connor among an elite group of South Australians, as only Kym Powell (1981) and Adrian Harry (2002/03) have previously reached the podium in the Trial 1 Australian Championship.

Several other South Australians joined Connor with Championship podium performances after the 2 huge days. Rob White claimed third place in the Veterans 55+ class, Hayden Eardley secured third in the Youth category, and Cadance Long achieved third in the Junior Girls 7 to Under 13 Championship. Special recognition goes to Aaron Long, who set aside his 2024 Championship campaign to support and mind his daughter, Cadance, as she earned her well-deserved podium finish.

Special mention and kudos to Lucinda Cowan and Ashley Barwick, who both stepped up to ride in the Open Women’s class, as there were no Open Junior Girls class featured over the weekend. Their determination to compete at this higher level demonstrates the resilience and talent emerging from our South Australian riders.

In the State Team Championship, the Team SA Wallabies, featuring Connor Hogan, Hayden Eardley, Kody Irrgang, and Lucinda Cowan, delivered a stellar performance, securing third place ahead of Queensland. Meanwhile, the Team SA Taipans—comprising Alisha Harry, Harry Petersen, Cadance Long, and Oliver Schultz—finished in a commendable 7th place. The Taipans were closely matched with Western Australia, narrowly missing out on sixth by just 8 points.

With such a high level of trial expertise across all classes, our SA riders have made us incredibly proud. We are confident that many future Australian champions are in the making, ready to leave their mark in the coming years. A massive congratulations to all our South Aussie Trial 2024 Championship competitors!

 SA’s 2024 GASGAS Australian Trial Championship Results –

 

 

Last Sunday, June 16th, the AJS Moto Trial Club brought all the action of the Rockhopping SA TROY Series SA 2024 Round 2 – 49th Peter Sparkes Trophy Trial to Tungkillo. With South Australian trial skills across all ages lining up on another fantastic set of sections, the weather came out in the end for a perfect day of trial riding despite a chilli, misty start. 

Event organiser and Secretary for the AJS Moto Trials Club, Brenton Wundenberg, said, “The Peter Sparkes 49th Trophy Trial saw a field of nearly 40 male and female entries take on the never-ridden-before part of the magnificent Hentschke’s Tungkillo property. The day started out cold and foggy, and riders gathered around the campfire to listen to the morning briefing. From there, they headed out to tackle the nine sections set in a tight loop.

After the first lap, riders’ comments were ‘slippery and more slippery.’ This remained true in the afternoon session, but Junior B rider Max Gill rode the day to only drop 1 point, and T3 rider Steve Rees went one better and had a clean day. It was a great day of riding and was wrapped up with a results presentation and smiles all around. Next year’s Trial will mark the 50th Peter Sparkes Trophy Trial and will undoubtedly be an event not to be missed.”

With thanks as always to our Series sponsors:

Photos thanks to Brian Lang. 

49th Peter Sparkes Trophy Trial Provisional Results:

This Sunday, June 16th, the South Australian 15th Trials Rider of the Year Series (TROY Series) continues with the Rockhopping SA TROY Series SA 2024 Round 2, hosted by the AJS Moto Trial Club of SA. The event will mark the 49th running of the yearly Peter Sparkes Trophy.

With a much-needed rain front hitting the state, the already challenging sections will become even more thrilling. Sunday promises a perfect showcase of skill and determination as 43 of South Australia’s top trial talents take to the field for the greatly anticipated 2024 Peter Sparkes Trophy Trial.

 In Trial 2, reigning class winner Aaron Long faces off against Grant Stephen in what promises to be a nail-biting showdown. Will Long secure another Peter Sparkes Trophy win, or will Stephen outmaneuver him?

Brodie Hand, fresh from a Trial 4 second-place finish in the recent Keep Ya Feet Up Trial, is eager for a class win this weekend. However, with fierce competition from riders like Brenton Hogan and Jasmine Tarrant, it’s set to be a hard-fought battle.

The event will also feature 19 junior riders, including standout talents like Ashley Barwick, Finn Cameron, Cadance Long, and Thomas Eardley. Additionally, the Mini Trial non-competition riders will offer a glimpse into the future stars of SA Trials.

South Australian Trials Sports Manager Matthew Petersen said –

“I am really excited to for the Rockhopping SA TROY SA Series for 2024.  The Series has introduced sponsorship partnerships in 2024, with Rockhopping SA stepping up as naming rights sponsor, together with Fast Grass, Lyndoch Motors and Perks silver sponsors.  Their support is invaluable in assisting us in continuing to develop and deliver this fantastic Series as it heads into its 15th year.

 Round 1 was recently held by the AJS Moto Trials Club of SA at Victor Harbour, with full fields across all classes enjoying banks, valleys and the infamous waterfall and creek sections.  It was fantastic to see SA’s continued success in Junior Development with 17 junior riders competing across 4 classes, including 6 stepping up to the newly introduced Junior Open Class.  It was also great to have a group of Senior Rides moving up and challenging themselves in higher grades, another contingent of rookies joining us this season, and seeing male and female competitors aged between 7 and 60+ all enjoying the weekend of riding.  Trials truly is a fun and family-friendly sport being embraced by entire families!

 The next round will be held on the 16th of June across the rocky outcrops and hills of Tungkillo.  This is a popular venue that always provides challenging and varied sections, so we hope to see full fields across all classes battling it out for those important series points.

Thanks again to our series sponsors for their support and our landowners for allowing us the privilege of using their properties to hold our events”.

No need to worry if you haven’t packed lunch for the day! The AJS Moto Trials Club will be hosting a sausage sizzle to keep riders and spectators fed trackside. With riding starting just after 9 am, be sure to set your alarms early. Arrive on time to get trackside and enjoy the full experience of all the exciting sections planned for 2024.

To plan out your trip to see all the action of the 49 Peter Sparkes Trophy – Click HERE. 

Photos thanks to Brian Lang. 

Last Sunday, June 2nd, the Keep Ya Feet Up Trial, presented by the Gawler MCC, returned to picturesque Tungkillo. The day started with a chilly morning but quickly turned into perfect weather for the event. Riders faced a diverse range of sections, with fans joining in to witness all the action.

Featured in the event was the ‘Gate Trial’ format, which allowed riders of all skill levels to step outside their comfort zones and tackle more challenging obstacles. A buddy system, organized by the club, provided an exceptional opportunity for beginner riders to embark on their journey in the world of trial riding.

The weekend saw a mix of non-competitive riders and seasoned competitors, creating an atmosphere filled with camaraderie and smiles that couldn’t be beat. Special thanks go to Chris Schultz and Gawler MCC for organizing such a fantastic event. Additionally, heartfelt thanks to all the event setup volunteers, officials, scorers & riders who stayed to help pack down – You all made the day such an incredible success. 

Riders are looking forward to the Troy Series Round 2 – 49th Peter Sparkes Trophy Trial, hosted by the AJS Moto Trial Club of SA on the 16th of June. Entries are currently open through Ridernet until the 11th of June, and it is sure to be a fantastic day out for young and old.

Images thanks to Chris Schultz.

2024 Keep Ya Feet Up – Gate Trial Results:

Continuing the 2024 Trials season, the Gawler MCC is set to host an exciting day of riding for enthusiasts young and old at Tungkillo this Sunday, June 2nd, with their Keep Ya Feet Up Trial. This event promises to offer a fantastic range of sections for experienced riders while also serving as an excellent introduction for those interested in beginning their journey in the sport.

This weekend’s event will feature the ‘Gate Trial’ format. In this format, each section has four gates, with each gate worth a set number of points. Riders can choose to ride any or all gates in any order, with standard trial rules applying for crossing tracks. This setup allows beginner riders to hone their skills, while seasoned riders can take on more challenging obstacles to maximize their points. However, there’s a catch: if a rider puts a foot down at any point in the section, they score zero points for that section.

Awards will be presented per grade, but with the overall glory up for grabs, riders will be pushing themselves to achieve the highest score possible. Complementing the buddy system run by the Gawler MCC, this event is the perfect opportunity for beginners to dip their toes into the world of trials.

With 16 senior riders and 16 junior riders scheduled to compete throughout the day, along with a host of non-competitive riders, the event will showcase a great display of South Australian trial talent across all abilities. This promises to be an entertaining day of competition and camaraderie for all involved.

Event organizer and Gawler MCC Club Secretary Chris Schultz said “It’s fantastic to see the sport continue to grow with a great turnout of riders taking to the course this weekend. The club has done a great job putting together some great sections to keep riders on their toes”.

With a great day already in the forecast, make sure you plan to head out for a full day of trials riding this Sunday from 7:30 am at Tungkillo. To get to the venue, the property will be signposted from the bottom of Tungkillo Main Street, heading towards Palmer. Best of all, spectator entry is FREE, so gather the family, come walk the sections and bring a picnic lunch to settle in for a great day of South Australian trial action.

To keep up with all the information for the weekend, make sure you’re following both the Gawler Motorcycle Club & Trials South Australia Facebook pages.

Photos thanks to Brian Lang.