But he said the experience — in terms of fun — was up there with the best mountainbike races he had ridden. Jones also said he wasn’t out to take risks so close to China. But the quad bike rider who led out the riders said he was hitting 40 kilometres on the farmland and bush descent.
“Then I’d have to speed up to about 60 to stay ahead of him.”
This was the first edition of the Motu Special, held in the high rolling hills behind Motu, midway between Gisborne and Opotiki. Five races spanned distances from five kilometres to 50km, catering for all ages. Well over 100 competitors turned out.
The two waves of children’s races — the Tomtit and Kiwi specials — were held after the longer races had finished, allowing plenty of mum-and-dad support. The spot prizes from Sanitarium also proved popular.
“It’s an awesome event; I’ll definitely be back next year,” Smit said.
“It was awesome, definitely a come-back-and-do,” said Hayden Wilde, who won the 25km New Zealand Falcon Special, despite having won the men’s category in the New Zealand Tough Guy and Gal Championship the day before.
“I was feeling a bit tired,” said the Whakatane athlete, who will race in the under-19 division in the XTERRA World Championship in Hawaii on November 1.
Event director Terry Sheldrake of TMS Sport (Gisborne) was thrilled with the entry response, “in particular with the number of families who took up one of the five race options”.
The feedback indicated that the Motu Special had the potential to be a future race calendar “must-do” event, Sheldrake said.
“We already have ideas and plans in place as we look towards August 2016. This event certainly has the feeling and scope to be something very special in the future.”
Jones has the final word: “I think we can all agree on the course — you can definitely feel it afterwards!”
Mind you, he did go for a run after the race.
