A new champion was crowned after the three-day IDA Garden Bar and Kitchen 2026 New Zealand Trials Championship culminated on Monday, with Nick Oliver taking out the expert’s title in the rock-clad hills of Alexandra, in Central Otago this past weekend.
Nick Oliver at the IDA Garden Bar & Restaurant 2026 New Zealand Trials Championship hosted by the Pioneer Motorcycle Club and held in Alexandra, Central Otago, on October 24-26, 2026. Photo: MNZ/Geoff Guthrie
Riding the challenging rocky hills on the orange line (the hardest grade), Oliver edged out runner-up John Haynes, with defending champion Matt Foster rounding out the podium in third.
It was an impressive feat for Oliver, as he had fractured two ribs only a fortnight ago, making manoeuvring his way around and over the tough obstacles a teeth-gritting experience.
Nick Oliver on his way to the top gong at the IDA Garden Bar & Restaurant 2026 New Zealand Trials Championship hosted by the Pioneer Motorcycle Club in Alexandra. Photo: MNZ/Geoff Guthrie
Event organiser Graeme Hibbs says the Pioneer Motorcycle Club and the Southern Trials Group “put on a fantastic event”.
“We made the sections pretty spectacular, especially for the T1 and T2 riders,” Hibbs added. “When you look at the results, it might not show this, with some low scores, but these guys are incredible with how, and what, they can ride.”
In the T2 class, contesting the red line, last year’s champion Luke March backed up his 2025 victory with another win. Patrick Dillon was second and Finn Pearce third.
Riding amongst 20 entries in the T3 class, Carl Robson emerged victorious, ahead of two teenage riders, runner-up 15-year-old Aksel McArdle and 16-year-old Abe Herbert, who took third spot.
Motorcycling New Zealand Trials Commissioner Bevan George congratulated Nick Oliver on winning the 2026 NZ Trials Championship.
“He won the first two days, John Haynes took the final day, and defending champion Matt Foster was right there in third, which made for a very competitive top class,” George explains. “The red line was even closer, with Luke March taking the T2 title by a single point from Patrick Dillon, who had won the first two days before March claimed the last. Finn Pearce was third, with a strong field of riders behind them all pushing for places.”
Wayne Furniss was the T4 class winner, riding a 1986 air-cooled Honda TLM. Riding a twin-shock Francis Barnett, Paul Jackson was second and Grant Anderson third.
Shane Ace topped the T5 class, followed by James Blanchard and Brent Downes in second and third, respectively.
The twin shock class was won by Paul Jackson, with Brent Downes second and Simon Jones third. The air-cooled bike class was won by Wayne Furniss.
Zack Furniss won the junior class, Aksel McArdle was second, and another emerging young rider, 12-year-old James Lawton, was third.
“Zack Furniss was a highlight for me,” Geroge added. “The Year 10 pupil stepped up to ride the orange line against the country’s best, having already won T2 Expert at the North Island championships last month as the youngest rider at that level. He then won every day in the Junior class here too. To compete at the top level and dominate his own class says a lot about where he’s headed.”
“It was also great to see Shirley McDonald take out the Women’s class, while securing 11th overall in the big T5 field of 20. Encouraging more women into trials is a key part of our focus on participation,” George shares
Hibbs credited young Zack Furniss for his impressive efforts “at the age of 14 riding the top T1 class – this lad is the one to watch out for in the future!”
George said the mix of ages and abilities, from young riders like Zack through to Kevin Pinfold, in his 70s, is what made trials so special. ”
Thank you to Pioneer Motorcycle Club, the Southern Trials Group, the landowners, the volunteers and IDA Garden Bar and Kitchen for putting on a championship worthy of the riders,” George concluded.
Words by Catherine Pattison
John Haynes tackles Section 12 on Day 1 at the IDA Garden Bar & Restaurant 2026 New Zealand Trials Championship hosted by the Pioneer Motorcycle Club and held at Chatto Creek, Alexandra, on October 24-26, 2026. Photo: MNZ/Geoff Guthrie
FAST FACTS: 2026 IDA Garden Bar & Restaurant New Zealand Trials Championship
24-26 October, 2026
Day 1 & 2: 1673-1741 Omakau-Chatto Creek Road.
Day 3: 408 – 366 Alexandra – Fruitlands Rd, Highway 8.
More event information and a full entry list is available here.
