Trikes and more at Te Puke A&P

George Hall and his wife Devi Ann Hall with Ian Foden, and his wife Bubs Foden. Photo: Chris Callinan.

Move over quads – the trikes are riding into tomorrow's Te Puke A&P Show – and will be among an impressive line-up of motors, animals and country antics set to entertain the masses.

The show is offering something for everyone – there's lawn mower racing, truck and tractor pulling, sheep racing and shearing, Jaguar cars, a hounds and huntsman parade, a new horse and pony fun ring, a horse shoe and ladies' gumboot throwing competitions, a pet corner, Chelsea Marriner and her dogs performing, home industries sections, cattle and beef sections – and heaps of food, trade sites, side shows and music. Plus, the BOP young fruitgrower of the Year competition.

And in the thick of it will be Little Waihi's Ian Foden, who is displaying his custom-built trike with wife Marjorie, who is known as ‘Bub'.

He's organised a small convoy of trikes to be displayed at the show to indicate the pull the three-wheeler has over people like himself.

Ian says while America's biggest growth area in the bike market is trikes, back here people are cottoning on to their abilities too.

'I think the stability – making for less chance to come off – really appeals to the older age group. It's a compromise to usual biking but it means you're still out in the open, you know?”

Ian and Bub have taken their trike to America and ridden through the States before – and the couple get around the countryside on it frequently.

'The wife didn't like being on the back of my two-wheeler anymore – so I got one with trainer wheels. You won't see anything like it. We run a 3.8L in it.

Ian says most of the trikes at the show will be backyard-type custom-made offerings.

'Some are show pieces and some are pretty basic. Most are riding into town for the event.”

And there will be a demonstration. 'Some of the riders are skilful at riding them – they can flick them around easily and do loops and all sorts.”

So how many trikes will be at the show? 'You never know until the day with these guys,” says Ian. 'But I imagine we'll get a dozen or so – enough to give people an idea of what it's about.”

The Te Puke A&P Show is on tomorrow, February 11, from 9am Te Puke Showgrounds, Showgrounds Rd, Paengaroa. Gate entry costs adults 13-plus $10, children $2, under-fives gain free entry. For more information, see: www.ras.org.nz/shows-event

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