A Mothers thoughts on "Our First Six-Day Event."It all started last May, Gethin had put his name down with the Welsh ISDE Committee expressing his interest in riding for Wales at the six days in New Zealand. The whispers then started; at each event we went to people would ask would we go with Geth to New Zealand. The news Geth had been waiting for arrived, when the letter from Jeff and Kenny came in the post, saying that he had been selected to ride with the B team in NZ. Excitement, panic, worry, stress ? would we be able to go with him (teachers don?t? get holidays in November). Everything gets sorted and our tickets are booked.Nov 6th arrives and we leave Llandrindod on the coach for Heathrow for the flights to Auckland ? more nerves and anxiety with the thought of flying 24 hours across the other side of the world. Rowan gives out Welsh shirts as he?s got too much weight in his bag, Kenny is just as worried as Garry about flying. We all safely land in Auckland and our trip of a life time begins. Gethin goes to Taupo with the team to walk tests and unpack containers with their bikes in, a week of hard work (we think) and we have a week to meet up with old friends made when Kiwi shearers visited our farm over many years and enjoy the fun side of N Z. Little did we know that he was having a great time, jet boat riding, bungy jumping and drinking in the pubs in Taupo.After three days we get a phone call asking us to find 10 speedos and horns for their bikes, so that their bikes would go through scruitineering, as there were none left in Taupo. We find them and hotfoot it down to Taupo to join the teams. We meet up at Lake Taupo with all the team members ? as new comers how would we fit in, everybody knew what was expected of them and what jobs needed doing ? No worries - we were made to feel welcome, getting the speedos there on time helped and soon we were given a job to do ? helping Elwyn on a fuel check, feeding team members and giving them something to eat and drink. As newcomer to the team Geth is asked to carry the flag for the opening ceremony, he doesn?t want to do it but pressure from Kenny and Jeff means that he gives in and carries the flag with pride along the route through Taupo. (He was really grateful that the dragon suit had been left behind). We all pose for photos along the way and Carys officially becomes a WAG of the Enduro crowd. Day 1 arrives and we feel excited, nervous and proud for Gethin as he sets off on his way. Kenny has given him strict instructions not to do anything xxxxxxx stupid and crash as there?s six days to go!!! We go to the parc ferme and peer through the fence watching Jeff and Razor give last minute instructions and advice to each rider ? the announcer calls Gethin?s name and with seconds to go Jeff gets him onto the podium ready for the start. Relief all round and Geth is away on his first ISDE. We follow him around meeting up with him at each check, meeting all the other well-established six-day assistants. Everything goes well and we arrive back at the work area at the end of the day. Here we witness a well drilled routine in progress, Jeff and Razor have tyres prepared, tools set out and Vervaine is set with a stop watch and clip board with everybody?s finishing times listed and it all goes like clock work. Behind the scenes ?Mother Sue? and all her helpers have prepared food and all riders are feed. All the experienced riders (especially Boundsy) gave Geth a great deal of support and advice of how to handle things and this made the first day easier to handle.Day 2 follows the same pattern. Gethin finishes the day and Kenny eases off him and now starts to encourage him to get his xxxxxxx backside into gear and go a bit quicker on the tests, which he does and keeps a clean sheet for the day. The same end of day route in the work area and Geth gets his tyres changed and parks his bike for the night. Back to the hotel to wash kit and unwind.In the evening we all meet up as one large family and off we all go for an evening meal. Day 3 ? panic stations?. Where is Gethin? The announcer calls his name and he?s not there, cool as a cucumber Jeff sends Gethin onto the start podium just as the hooter sounds and off he goes. We spend our day with Elwyn at a check somewhere in the woods around Taupo. Day 4 the weather turns wet- they say we have rain in Wales ? but NZ can beat us on that score as well because it rains even heavier there. The course gets very wet (Rowan gives Geth a bin bag to keep dry) and all the Welsh boys are enjoying the conditions and finish the day. Geth is really pleased that he has stayed clean on time and finishes the day having launched his bike across a stream (the bridge had washed away in the rain). We are all pleased as this means the teams would be higher up in the positions as many others didn?t finish the day or lost a lot of time. Great disappointment at the end of the day as the check is scrapped and all the hard work is in vain.Day 5 is even wetter and the boys are stuck in a forest ? we all worry but eventually they arrive at the check ? soaking wet ?the days racing is abandoned -clothes are changed for anything dry they can get their hands on and ride along the road back to Taupo.Day 6 ? motocross day and Geth is nervous about the start, hanging around waiting for his heat and pacing up and down. All the other team members give him help and support and encourage him to keep the nerves at bay. He?s away and finishes his race. We are pleased that all has gone well for Gethin and he has had a respectable result for his first Six Days winning a Silver medal. We have made new friends and enjoyed our first six days and have been made to feel part of the six-day family. Eve and Garry Price
Report of ISDE Event in New Zealand 2006.
Welsh Six-Day Team History.
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