A young Northlander has finished in the top 10 in one of the world's most gruelling motocross races - the three-day Roof of Africa enduro race across the mountains of Lesotho in Southern Africa.
Mitchell Nield, from Rawene in South Hokianga, was one of 53 riders to complete the toughestcategory of the recent race which attracted more than 430 entrants.
Supporter Liz Owen, of Pakaraka, said only the toughest, fittest and bravest made it to the finish line, so Nield's 10th place was a great achievement.
The race started with a 60km "round the houses" time trial on the outskirts of the capital, Maseru, to determine the riders' starting order. The 23-year-old Northlander finished in just over six hours, making him the 52nd starter. By the end of day one Nield had worked his way up to 19th position.
Day two consisted of intermediate and advanced climbs over more than 250km, with the degree of difficulty increasing as the day wore on.
The course finished spectacularly with a 55-degree rocky climb and Nield moved up to 11th place.
The third and final day was more than 150km of advanced hill climbs, with the final 6km never attempted before and recommended only for the "super fit, super strong or super stupid", Owen said.
This year's race attracted many of the world's best riders from New Zealand, Australia, Germany, the UK and South Africa.
Graham Jarvis, of Britain, finished first, pushing New Zealand's Chris Birch, who had won for the previous three years, into second place. Other Kiwis included Michael Skinner 13th, Karl Power 15th, Phillip Cheater 29th and Chris Power 33rd.
Nield left in mid-October to train in South Africa for the event. Owen said he had worked so hard to prepare for the race he deserved his top-10 placing.
He had competed since he was nine and took out his second national under-200cc title at the 2011 New Zealand Enduro Championships, a series of six events at farms and forests around Northland.
He had also competed in Australia's annual four-day Enduro Championship, winning a silver medal in 2006 and gold in 2007.
The Northland rider arrives back in New Zealand today.
