Omihi ’ s Ethan McBreen ( KTM 250XC ) leading the overall standings after two rounds of this season ’ s New Zealand Enduro Championships series in the
South Island . Photo : Kat Gunson the over-201cc two-stroke class ahead of New Plymouth ’ s Josh Houghton and Whitianga ’ s James Kerr ; Groombridge leads the over-301cc four-stroke class ahead of Dando and Stoke ’ s Kurtis Bandy , while Hastings rider Andy Gunson leads the over-40 years veterans ’ class ahead of Rangiora ’ s Travis Churchill and Nelson ’ s Tim Grayer . It is important to note that each of the two South Island rounds that have now been completed were also recognised as rounds one and two respectively of the parallel-butseparate South Island Enduro Championships . Therefore the South Island champions for 2023 are : Watts ( expert under-200cc two-stroke / over-300cc four-stroke class ); McBreen ( expert over-201cc two-stroke class ); Groombridge ( expert over-301cc four-stroke class ); Gunson ( expert over-40 years veterans ’ class ); Tapanui ’ s Kylie Dorr ( intermediate women ’ s class ); Motueka ’ s Fletcher Wassell ( intermediate under-200cc two-stroke / under-
300cc four-stroke class ); Rerewhakaaitu ’ s Zach Sefuiva ( intermediate over-200cc two-stroke / over-300cc four-stroke class ); Paeroa ’ s Mark Whyte ( intermediate veterans ’ 50-54 years class ); Blenheim ’ s Don Munro ( intermediate veterans ’ over-55 years class ); Brightwater ’ s Wayne Bensemann ( intermediate veterans ’ 40- 49 years class ). Overall grade winner for the South Island Championships in the expert grade is McBreen , followed by Basalaj and Christchurch ’ s Josh Dando , while , in the intermediate grade , overall winner was Wayne Bensemann , followed by Wassell and Nelson ’ s Seth Sutherland . Each of the two North Island rounds that followed in June , in Wellington and Martinborough respectively , are recognised also as rounds one and two of the parallel-butseparate North Island Enduro Championships . We ’ ll bring you that story in the next Dirt issue of Kiwi Rider .
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