Above left : A young Curtis King ( pictured here in 2008 ) getting some tips from his dad Shayne , the rider with the most outright wins in Woodville history . Above right : Britain ’ s Jake Nicholls , the then world MX2 No . 4 when he won the MX2 class at the Woodville MX in 2013
Cleghorn ’ s uncle ( Arthur ), Gibbes and Cleghorn fought handlebar to handlebar at that inaugural event in December 1961 , Cleghorn eventually taking away Gibbes ’ silverware . Gibbes took his revenge to win it back the following year , actually just a month later , in January 1962 . In 1963 , a group of just 53 riders entertained a crowd of around 3000 , Taranaki ’ s Malcolm Campbell winning the day , but Gibbes took his trophy back again in 1964 . The Woodville honour roll over the years reads like a Who ’ s Who of leading New Zealand motocross talent and also features some of the best riders of the day ; from Switzerland , Germany , Austria , Sweden , England , Scotland , Wales , Indonesia , Australia and the United States . Even legendary British two-time former world champions Jeff Smith and Dave Bickers raced at Woodville . Smith , 500cc motocross world champion in 1964 and 65 , beat Bickers , 250cc world champion in 1960 and 61 , to the Woodville trophy in 1970 . The pair tied for the Gold Leaf Series Trophy , of which the Woodville event was one round , and proceeded to cut the enormous silver cup in half at the prize-giving . Not even they had won half a trophy before .
FROM SCRAMBLES TO INTERNATIONAL MX From those humble beginnings in late 1961 , the Woodville motocross has developed magnificently over the years . It now typically attracts hundreds of competitors , and spectators number by the thousands , the programme has expanded to boast more than 70 races and it easily fills two days . Despite his obviously pivotal role in making the Woodville motocross what it has become
28 KIWI RIDER