The fifth and final round of this year’s Superwinch Mainland Challenge was held near Methven between October 11 & 13. Vicky Newport reports from under her umbrella again!

Story and pics (unless otherwise stated) by Vicky Newport.

The final round of this year’s Superwinch Mainland Challenge also carried NZ1 status for the year. The 4x4 Events Club were the hosts and had the local Lions Club on board helping out. They were running the usual three classes (Open, Outlaw, Clubman) plus an extra class called Invitational the latter allowing Club trucks to enter that were running 35-inch tyres and no WoF or Rego. 

There were stages on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday followed by prize-giving at a lodge in Methven. It was a long weekend for those travelling from afar, with only one team from Wellington, 18-year-old Michael Duncan and co-driver Tom Goodman. This pair don’t travel lightly either, they always have their support crew with them in the form of Michael’s younger brother, 12-year-old Fraser whose such a character that Nathan’s team (Team KRAE) got him his own support T-shirt complete with his name on it! 

With the new land the club had sorted to run the event, they had plenty of room for those keen to camp on site, plus the Round was opened up to spectators.

As what seems to have become the norm this year, the weekend started off pretty wet though the weather doesn’t seem to bother the competitors who are prepared to get wet, muddy and cold. As for the rest of us it was half the battle to get to the pits or even the car park. Some winch trucks were even used to get tow vehicles, caravans, trailers etc onto the site. Getting out of the pits was just as much a mission. Thank goodness the sun came out on Sunday. It didn’t dry the place up that much but it made it a bit more pleasurable to be there. 

Outlaw Class

Local ace Brent Holden won 10 of the 19 stages set out for the Outlaws to win the round and with it the series title for 2019.

“It was a tough battle all the way to the end with the weather not playing ball making conditions extremely slippery and muddy,” said Brent. “Cole worked hard on all the hills and learnt a few lessons... especially when it comes to self-recovering after I had a wee lie down.” 

Stage 7 wasn’t these guys finest hour, however, because with only metres to the finish box and with all the spectators watching Brent managed to put the Ultra 4 on its side. Cole struggled with the ground anchor but in the end it set and they finished the stage. Spectators love this stuff. 

At just 18 years of age Michael Duncan obviously has a great future in front of him. This was his third round and he and co-driver Tom did extremely well in his self-built Suzuki SJ410 to get six second placings across the 18 stages to finish third in class. An awesome effort!

“A great weekend away with some very challenging tracks due to the weather but the Suzuki didn’t miss a beat all weekend,” is how Michael described it. 

Andrew Garrett and son Joel were also on home ground in their buggy but had an up and down weekend. They completed 16 of the 19 stages, with a mix of thirds, a couple of second placings and one win. stage. A very mixed basket but very well done.

Like young Michael Duncan, this was the third round for Alister Robbie this season. He started 13 of the 19 stages but had six DNFs. This was Alister’s first season competing so we hope we see him back next year.  

Mike McCarthy started 15 of the 19 stages with a couple of DNFs and average times on the other stages. Mike and his co-driver did spend a bit of time in the pits on Saturday helping a fellow competitor fix their truck so they could carry on so good on them for doing that. 

Locals Andy Reeves and Tom helped build a few of the tracks at this event, starting all 19 but with a DNF in Stage 11. I’m not sure if this was one of the stages they put together or not but they ended up on the roof... which must have been quite an unnerving experience in their distinctive ‘Moon Buggy.’ 

Finally, Round 5 was one of four of this year’s series the ever-smiling Richard Wilson completed this season. He’s had a few bugs to iron out with the new build but bar a couple of little issues like an alternator and a CV the Truck seemed to be running OK this time with Richard second for the round ad third overall for the 2019 series.

Open Class had eight teams entered with three very close in points as at the end of Rnd 4 and three Jeep Wranglers about to battle it out at Methven. Here is how the event panned out for each of the teams.

Greg Craik and son Callum in the wee red Suzuki started off well in the night stages but called time after starting six stages on Saturday.

Rick Crosbie with fill-in co-driver Monique were on home ground and started all 17 stages set out for Open Class, only getting a couple of DNFs. 

This was the third round of his first season in the Superwinch Mainland Challenge series for Martyn Dunnett who started nine of the 17 stages. A big learning curve for Martyn and his co-driver and hopefully they will be back. 

Craig Fraser had entered the round but we didn’t see him on any of the stages. I did spot Craig taking spectators for a wee drive around in the Hilux though. 

Also Hilux-mounted were Adam Wardle and Josh. They’ve had a bit of a mixed season this year, what with Adam buying a Jeep and competing in a couple of rounds then bringing out the familiar red Hilux for a home ground run. They missed Friday’s night stages, too, as they were still putting the motor back in it but managed to come out Saturday and do three stages then another three on Sunday. 

Then we have the three Jeeps who have been battling it out all season. Nathan Hammond, Scotty Newport and Brock Welsh who had entered all five rounds. 

Nathan had done a few upgrades during the season and was pretty stoked with the Jeep now. He and co-driver Daniel work as one hell of a team and he has a very good support crew backing him all the way. Dedication. Nathan completed all 17 stages. 

Scotty has been trying to modify his winch all season but hasn’t quite got it right yet. The last three rounds he has to revert back to his reliable original winch which he had to do after the sixth stage on Saturday. Co-driver James and Scotty work well together as long as Scotty gets out and helps now and again. Scotty also completed all 17 stages.

Finally, Brock put a fair bit of new bar work on the Jeep for this round. He and Nick are also an excellent team. Brock started all 17 stages but had one DNF which threw him back in points. They also have a great support crew. 

Clubman Class had five teams entered. A couple of stages were canned at the start of the weekend as the weather wasn’t playing ball and the ground was cutting up. 

First up this time was series newcomer Callum Hunter doing his first round the season. Callum and his co-driver started all 13 stages but had four DNFs. 

Now to Shane Coskerie who was starting his second series round for the year. Also new to the winch challenge scene Shane started 10 stages but had four DNFs. 

Another entrant to start 10 of the stages but DNF four was Tim Parker who had just entered this round. 

Doing really well in their re-built white Suzuki, meanwhile, were John Boylett and wife Tyra. This was their third round this season and they started and completed all 13 stages in time. 

Finally, this was the fourth (of five) round for Ben Simmons with he and his co-driver starting 11 stages but getting three DNFs. 

And so, the Superwinch Mainland Challenge Series is over for another year. It’s again been one hell of a season with five rounds down – Dunedin, Blenheim, Timaru, Nelson and Christchurch. 

Of the 29 teams that signed up for the series 25 teams actually started. And of those 25 teams only four (Andy and Tom, Scotty and James, Nathan and Daniel, and Brock and Nick) completed all five rounds which meant they got to drop their worst round with 60 percent of each round having to be completed to gain points towards their final score.

Thanks go to...

Because this is my final report for 2019 I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people. 

For a start, our naming rights sponsor Superwinch which has been on board with the Mainland Winch Challenge for over five years. In that time we have given away over 20 Talon Superwinchs, two EXP Superwinchs, more than 30 compressors, plus light bars, pulley blocks, Tiger Shark synthetic ropes and many more prizes. 

Also, to all the land owners, hosting clubs, marshals, organisers and competitors,

Speaking of Superwinch, the winner of the Superwinch EXP at the final round was Owen McClay and the Talon Superwinch was given to the landowner (who may need it to get around his land as it was pretty cut up!).

Finally, thanks everyone for reading my stories. This is my last one for 2019 so I hope you have enjoyed them. Take care and we might see you back here in 2020.