Jimmy Pollard

The first stage was a monster this year. starting at the top of the park at 1100 metres and making its way down Natural Selection into Bipolar, across the road into Snakes and Ladders, down Mundy 500 before sweeping into Bermed As, rattling along Boulderdash and finishing on the diving and swooping Redline to finish at the river, 850 meters below. Sam Blenkinsop posted the fastest time with a 16.50.13, but many competitors were north of 20 minutes. Here's Jimmy Pollard rallying between the trees on Snakes and Ladders.

The 7th annual Dodzy Memorial Enduro carried on despite desperately dry conditions and a steadily increasing fire risk threatening the event. It was a stark contrast to last year when remnants of a tropical cyclone dumped large amounts of rain across the country, resulting in the wettest DME ever.

Hot temperatures, dust, and extremely low soil moisture levels meant that tracks were taking a hammering under the 280 racer tires, and the DME crew put in a mammoth effort to keep the tracks safe and enjoyable.

Five-time on-the-trot race winner, Sam Blenkinsop, said “I prefer it probably in the dry, but yesterday seemed like it was almost the hardest we’ve ever had to race because there was so much loose stuff in the corners. All the dry stuff kind of blew out then it was all in the bottom of the turns, so you just wash out. You had to use so much more energy because of that.”

The event is almost more of a festival than a race with riders coming from around New Zealand, and the world, to celebrate the life of James “Dodzy” Dodds, Kelly McGarry and race the second stage totally blind for “Mark's run” in memory of Mark Dunlop. Even though it's all fun and games, the racing is hotly contested with 2nd through 20th place in Pro Men only separated by 3 minutes. Sam Blenkinsop won by almost a minute.