Photos by Calebs Photography & TJW Photos
The championship leaders would extend the gap at the top, with Chris Gifford & Sam Thomsen scoring their second win of the season in Turakina.
The Wanganui 4WD Club hosted the third round of the season down Turakina Valley Road, at a new location making the most of the vast hill country.
With pouring rain the week before, the course was made to suit the expected wet weather conditions only for blue skies to appear on the day! From what would have been difficult stages in the wet, turned into a low scoring day in the dry like the previous round in Kaukapakapa.
Event Results
TOP FIVE
Russell Hall & Glen Hall may not be in contention for a season placing, but that didn’t stop the brothers from the Wairarapa lead at midday with zero points + speed! After a season off and missing the first two rounds, the Hall brothers lead Gifford & Thomsen by six points, with Scott Biggs & Phil Walton third 14 points further back. Shaun Nicholson & Tom Baeriswyl would only be 2.5 points behind Biggs & Walton, with John Hawken & Haare O’Brien hot on their heels only 0.2 points adrift in fifth!
Gifford & Thomsen would have a near perfect afternoon to claim the win, scoring 20 points + speed in the afternoon. Biggs & Walton would be 30 points behind, with the Hall brothers just 1.07 points further back!
Scott Biggs & Phil Walton would score their second podium of the season, putting them behind Gifford & Thomsen in the standings
Russell Hall & Glen Hall would ultimately take third, their first podium finish in the sport with “Grasshopper” defying its years having scored its first podium some 14 years ago!
Shaun Nicholson & Tom Baeriswyl would take their best finish with fourth, continuing their streak in the Top 10.
Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford would take fifth, now sitting third in the standings.
C CLASS
It was down to the wire in C Class, with the Top 3 separated by five points and only 0.17 between first and second! With a low scoring day working in favour for the 4-cylinder buggies, all three found themselves in the Top 10 in a great day for C Class.
Rhys O’Brien & Clarrie Vazey would ultimately take the win with a strong afternoon, finishing 7th overall.
John Hawken & Haare O’Brien would have to settle for 2nd in Class again, but backed up their performance from the last round with 8th Overall.
Making their long overdue debut in the Top 10 is Glenn D’Ath & Danielle D’Ath with their twin-steer Homebuilt. The father & daughter combination getting on top of the teething issues with their recently repowered buggy.
With current class leaders Angus Hamilton & Daniel Howat out with ECU issues on the day, the fight for the C Class title opens up with O’Brien & Vazey just one point behind and Hawken & O’Brien another point behind in third.
All three also sit in the Top 10 taking drop rounds into account, with Hawken & O’Brien sitting 6th outright, followed by Hamilton & Howat in 7th and O’Brien & Vazey in 10th! With three more rounds all to play for, time will tell how the order shapes up.
SUPER PRODUCTION
Paul Taylor & Danielle Taylor enjoyed a trouble-free day with their F Class Toyota Landcruiser,
BEST OF THE REST
Rounding out the rest of the Top 10…
Wayne Buckthought & Rachel Buckthought would finish 6th for their second Top 10 appearance of the season, putting them 8th outright in the standings.
With the C Class trio locking out 7-8-9th place, Russell Luders and sons Max & Brad Luders would finish 10th Overall. Sitting 9th outright in the standings.
BIGGS FAMILY CUP
The Biggs Family Cup, awarded to the club with the best score from their three highest class finishers, went to former champs South Waikato. Thanks to Gifford & Thomsen taking the D Class win, the D’Ath’s third in C Class and Nicholson & Baeriswyl fourth. EBTDC narrowly took second thanks to count back ahead of current leaders and defending champs the Counties 4 Wheelers. South Waikato now sit just one point behind Counties in the standings, with EBTDC just a further point behind.
The next round takes place in the Taranaki on 21st February 2026. Unfortunately, this round is closed to the public – With Round 5 near Huntly the next opportunity to catch the action!
