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What can we say? Five in a row! A 50-second win for Sam Blenkinsop over a charging Keegan Wright, and the only person to go under 17 minutes on the monster first stage. The gorge is definitely Sam's stomping ground.

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.

RESULTS

Men's Top 3

  1. Sam Blenkinsop 31.09.50
  2. Keegan Wright 31.59.31
  3. Charlie Murray 32.05.87

Women's Top 3

  1. Rae Morrison 37.12.78
  2. Anja Macdonald 39.01.96
  3. Melanie Blomfield 40.50.42

Full results are here

Credit
Digby Shaw
Related:
2019 Dodzy Memorial Enduro
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