Nutbuster Hard Enduro
tests NZ’s elite
N
Words: Steven Kelly / Photo: Andy McGechan
ow in its eighth year, having grown in
popularity year after year, and with the
addition of the popular prologue enduro-
cross at the Canterbury A&P Show,
this year’s edition of the Nutbuster Hard
Enduro was looking like it would be
a real spectacle.
With cash prizes offered for the top three placings
in both Friday’s enduro-cross feature race and the
Gold class in Saturday’s main race, many of the
country’s most experienced extreme riders made
the trip from the North Island and to add to that, the
talent of local South Island riders like the Sherco-
mounted Macdonald brothers, Hamish and Angus,
as well as a group of Australian extreme enduro
enthusiasts and the competition was looking stiff.
Spectators lined the fences and packed the
grandstand as the endurocross prologue kicked off
at the A&P Showgrounds and an action-packed
day of racing ensured they remained glued to
the action.
At the conclusion of the day’s racing it was Sherco
mounted Hamish Macdonald who claimed the top
qualifying spot followed by KTM-mounted riders
Jake Whitaker and Mackenzie Wiig. The final race
of the day saw the top 10 fastest qualifiers duke it
out with the top three claiming a hefty cash prize.
Topping the results and taking home a cool
$1500 for his efforts was Sherco rider Angus
Macdonald followed by younger brother Hamish
(Sherco) and Australian Sean Holmes (Sherco).
RIDE - UPLOAD - REVIEW
80KIWI RIDER
Hamish Macdonald
took the win at the
2017 Nutbuster
With starting positions decided it was on to
the main race in the rugged hills of Woodstock
Heights, near Oxford, the following day, although
the event would be without last year’s winner
Angus Macdonald who had opted instead
to concentrate on filming the action.
First away was Hamish Macdonald, closely followed
by Whitaker who quickly got into a game of cat
and mouse with the lead changing several times
as the pair went bar to bar. Eventually though it
was Wellington’s Whitaker who succumbed to a
broken fuel tap which proceeded to drain his fuel
tank. This gave Hamish Macdonald a substantial
lead from Husqvarna-mounted Dylan Yearbury
and KTM rider Tony Parker as the race concluded.