AGM catch up.

Thanks to everyone for coming along and sharing your support for our awesome little club. There was a bit of chat about what has been going on and some chat about plans for the up-coming year or two.

Your 2025 committee

Chariperson – Richard Pilling

Secretary – Odette Yates

Treasurer – Kate Scholfield

Committee – Martin Rivers, Tony Worrall, Blake Dodson, Marco Pilla, Nigel Bryant

Youth Reps – Leo and Zach

Our biggest thumbs up for the year is that we now have a land use agreement with Summit Forests, our landowners, with gives both Summit and us more security.

We also agreed to adopt the draft constitution so that we continue to comply with new legal frameworks for incorporated societies.

People at the meeting were keen for the club to continue to diversify our track network and asked the committee to explore the possibility of building a DH track.

CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT:

Its been a busy year in the forest and although some Tuesday night rides have been a bit thin on the ground there have been people riding in the forest throughout the week, almost every day.

We’ve has two events – Chainless on Phloe and Mini Enduro series over summer – informal racing on club nights. Planning to do the same again in the next few months – club night mini enduros coming soon and maybe something bigger in 2025. Good to get others involved in planning etc. It’s our turn to host the Northland Secondary Schools events o it’s planned for first week  of March – Will need club members to help organise and on the day. 100 riders expected.

Membership is still growing and the Track network is also growing because of enthusiastic and skilled track building – Blake, Wayne, Martin, Evan, Devon, John, Callum and others – HUGE thanks from us all. We can now get from top to bottom a number of ways and have crossed the steam and opened up a new face to work on – and established the fire escape route. This has also created a 10 km loop, some gravel and forest road and some easy grade single track.

Would be good to promote the club as not just extreme MTB  - this loop and other potential tracks will broaden club membership and appeal to wider range of people.

Next committee could look at open day or similar for non-members to come and check out what’s here and maybe establish regular group rides .

School group has 50 kids signed up and usually 20 each week – these are our future members.

Huge thanks Summit Forrest,– After much discussions KKMTB and Summit Forests now have a longer term Land Use Agreement, so both the club and Summit have a longer trem view of MTB in Whitehills forest. With this comes a few caveats – access is for members and club events. We share with hunters and need to do the things we agreed to. This is an ongoing commitment for future committees.

Donations

Thanks to Auto One, Oxford Trust, Trail Fund.  Auto One do all our warrants and some repairs for free to keep the track and trailer going.  Kerikeri St John ran a 1^st aid course for members for free.  Kerikeri Film Festival shared some of their proceeds with us again, which we used to send some young aspiring racers to some expert coaching and Oxford Trust helped us upskill some of our trackbuilders with chainsaw safety certificates. Thanks to everyone who added an extra $20 or $30 donation to your membership –  it added up to over a $1000. 

Summer Safety and First Aid.

Summer ride weather is on the horizon, It’s faster and the ground is harder!

Look out for each other. Ride with a buddy, Tell someone at home when to expect you back, Take your phone. Have a plan to get help if you need it.

FIRST AID KITS are located in the TOOLBOX at halfway and in the SHUTTLE TRUCK.

IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 111.

EMERGENCY ACCESS If you NEED to get a vehicle to assist an injured rider or let emergency vehicles into the forest – There is an EMERGENCY key in a lockbox. Find instructions and numbers to call for the code on the Ride with Us tab on Hivepass. Look for them now.

REPORT ACCIDENTS – help us monitor accidents and identify any hotspots.

Article added: Monday 04 November 2024