NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial
It all started in 1982 when Yasuo Manzawa visited New Zealand as a Moto-Journalist writing promotional material for the then new Honda TLR200. Stephen's father Allan Oliver was the South Island General Manager for Honda and Stephen was a salesman for Honda in Christchurch. Stephen and Yasuo became friends.
23 years later Yasuo Manzawa read an article in a Japanese trials magazine written by NZ resident Fumio Noguchi. NonStop Adventure NZ was officially launched in November 2004 and Fumio wrote about the Oliver family who have been involved in the sport of trials for three generations.
Yasuo contacted Stephen and visited NZ in 2005, at which time he introduced Stephen to the concept of the Idemitsu Ihatove Trial adventure ride, which resulted in an invitation to the 30th Anniversary event in Japan in 2006 for six members of the Oliver family father, son & grandsons, along with his wife Deborah. Preceding the visit to Japan, TV Iwate sent a crew with Yasuo to NZ early in 2006 to produce a documentary about this fascinating story.
History of the Idemitsu Ihatove Trial
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| Founders Yasuo Manzawa & Shozo Narita (1980's) |
Back in 1973 and 1974, Japanese riders Yasuo Manzawa and Shozo Narita rode Honda TL125s in the Scottish Six Day Trial. Having faced all the challenges of that event and experienced Scotland's spectacular scenery, they decided to hold a trial in Japan to give local riders a taste of Scottish-style riding.
Nowadays the Japanese Idemitsu Ihatove event attracts around 500 entrants each year, ranging from first-time novices to All-Japan trials champions. The Ihatove Trial is not a championship event and no license is required to participate.
Ihatove Website
Here is a link to the Japanese site of the Idemitsu Ihatove Trial.
Although it is in Japanese you will find some interesting photos and videos.
Ihatove website
Our suggestion of menus to look at working down from the top left menu bar -
No. 7 - Videos
No. 8 - Photo History from the first event in 1977
No. 9 - Photos
No.10 - Oliver Family participation in 2006
NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial
Inaugural Event - February 2010
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| Takumi meets the Mayor of Tasman |
Ihatove goes international
At the request of the Idemitsu Ihatove Trial management team the inaugural NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial, will be held on 20-21 February 2010, a new page in the history of the Ihatove Trial. Through their close ties with NonStop Adventure NZ and the Oliver family many of the event's organizers have visited the Tasman district, and they are convinced that it provides an ideal setting for the first-ever Ihatove event to be held outside Japan. Key riders from Japan including Ihatove Trial Chairman Yasuo Manzawa and top Japanese rider and coach Takumi Narita have already confirmed their attendance at the event. The NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial will embody the Ihatove Spirit of fun, friendship and challenge and build even stronger links between trials communities in New Zealand and Japan.
NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial
Special permission was given in 2008 by the nephew of the Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa, who created the word Ihatove (denoting "dreamland"), for naming rights to allow NonStop Adventure to use Ihatove in the title of their event. As the event is supported by the Tasman District Council and held in the Tasman region, the mayor has invited riders from Japan to attend and presented gifts to organizers at their 2008 event, which was attended by NonStop Adventure riders. The council has also given permission to use their logo in the design of the NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial logo.
NonStop Adventure NZ
NonStop Adventure NZ has a proven history in the organisation and running of professional events in NZ including the NZ National Trials Championship in 2006 and the highly successful Oceania Competition in 2009 with Japanese guest rider (Japan's National Trials coach and podium World Outdoor rider) Takumi Narita attending as we work toward this event becoming a tri-nation competition.
Nelson is also the home of the NonStop Adventure Trials Park and training academy (google map) and has successfully promoted the region in top bike magazines Kiwirider, Dirt Rider Downunder and many overseas magazines and websites.
Its own website has a large number of hits, and visitors from Scotland, Wales, England, Australia, Thailand & Japan have all been drawn to the spectacular scenery and friendly team.
NonStop Adventure have worked with Nelson-based firm Goldpine for many years and support the Goldpine team at Mystery Creek with their professional trials display riding, helping to give Goldpine an edge in attracting crowds to their stand. This partnership helped to secure first place for the Best Large Outdoor site award this year at Mystery Creek Field Days.
NonStop Adventure is working closely with the Tasman District Council to introduce this new sports tourism venture to the region. Mayor Richard Kempthorne personally met with Takumi Narita during his visit in 2009.
Please Note :
It has been bought to our attention by one of our entrants that the close off date of Dec 30th may be too soon for some of you to make a commitment to the event.
The main reason for having an early close off was for administrative purposes ie. for the ordering of t-shirts, certificates, and if we go down the medal road there is a minimum of a six week lead time. It was also to have a fair idea of numbers attending and because we know how busy Nelson gets for booking accommodation etc...
However, in light of your feedback, we will accept entries after Dec 30th as long as you are aware that there may be limited numbers of the above items available and you may miss out.
If anyone is struggling to find accommodation please feel free to contact us as we may have some options available to you.
NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial Format
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Day One: Punawai Farm, 88 Valley Road, Wakefield, Nelson
Classes
The NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial will consist of three classes, providing challenge and fun for riders of all levels.
Pro Rider
This grade will be for experienced intermediate and A-grade riders.
Sports Rider
The sections in this class will have an easy, flowing portion followed by a series of more challenging obstacles. This grade is suitable for president/ clubman A/ intermediate riders.
Recreational Rider
This grade is aimed at social / clubman / twin-shock and classic riders.
Scoring
Scoring will be in accordance with the Ihatove scoring system using the NonStop rule (i.e. 5-point penalty for stopping in a section) and possible scores of 0,1, 2,3,4,5 (i.e. 4-point penalty for four or more dabs). Since the NonStop rule will apply, the key challenge will be not so much the size of the obstacles as the need to ride them all in a smooth, flowing style without halting. The 1/2/3/4/5 scoring system reduces the number of tied scores at the end of the day.
Format
Riders will leave in groups of three at intervals. This ensures a constant flow of riders through the sections and minimizes queuing.
There will be three large loops, taking up to a maximum of two hours each. Riders will not be timed on the trail portion of each loop, but there will be sections along the route where you will record each others scores. In the last part of each loop, riders will return to the control area and ride a series of observed sections. Refreshments will be available at the control area.
The intention (yet to be confirmed) is that Recreational grade riders will complete two loops with a third more challenging loop for Sport and Pro riders only.
As this event is going to have high media exposure there will be spectators at the control area so to make sure spectators are sufficiently entertained and impressed there will be a couple of fun optional activities in this area at the completion of your loops. This will include an individual time trial; two-person Goldpine obstacle races and a demonstration of display riding by two or three high profile riders.
Day Two (optional): NonStop Coaching & Adventure Ride: Havelock
Trials Coaching
Guest coach Takumi Narita in conjunction with Nick Oliver will take a morning session with Sport & Pro riders; while Yasuo Manzawa and Peter Oliver will spend time coaching less experienced recreational riders.
Trials Touring
Following a BBQ lunch any riders then wishing to take part will be welcome to join the Japanese guest riders for an afternoon of trials touring. This will be a chance to enjoy great trails, spectacular scenery and the company of other riders in a relaxed atmosphere.
The intention is to complete this part of the day by 3.00pm for those wishing to catch ferries or make a start home.
VIP Japanese visitor
Written by Masayuki Yoshikawa
I met Nick and Peter Oliver at the 2008 Idemitsu Ihatove Trial and promised them I would go to New Zealand. After deciding on a trip to Auckland at the end of last year, I quickly looked up the Olivers' contact details on their website and got in touch with them by e-mail and phone to get their go-ahead. Since I was almost a total stranger to them, I really appreciated the warm welcome they gave me, with Nick and his father . . . Read more »
Too Much Snow? Time to Go!
The NZ Ihatove Adventure Trial is all set to welcome five entrants from Japan, and with just over a month left Ihatove chairman Yasuo Manzawa tells us they can't wait to ride the green hills of the Tasman district. No wonder, considering the current winter riding conditions in Iwate (see photo). Our good friend Ishi jokes that he is getting fit for the event by shovelling snow!
The clock is ticking and the count down has started, we at NonStop have a bu . . . Read more »
Ihatove trail blazing
After 12 straight days of trail blazing, Stephen has been grooming and marking sections on the three Ihatove trail loops. Liz and Johnny Clark joined Stephen for the day along with Chris Ward, on holiday from Auckland, giving a hand to put finishing touches to loop 1 at the front of the Parkes property.
After some extensive gully clearing we now have an interesting and flowing course which is easily navigated thanks to the brightly coloured course marker . . . Read more »
