College Cyclists New Zealand Road Racing Cycling Champions!

Congratulations to the Saint Kentigern College Cycling Teams who completed their cycling season in style with both the Year 7 & 8 Boys’ and Girls’ teams winning the title of New Zealand Champions! Silver was awarded to the U20 Girls and to Madeline Parks in the Points Race with Bronze awarded to the U16A Boys and the U20A Boys and to Dylan Parks in the Points Race. Well done!

The teams travelled to Palmerston North for the three day event which was the culmination of months of training and regional competitions which have taken place across the country. This represented the pinnacle of secondary school cycling. To compete effectively, riders needed to be physically fit and mentally prepared for the three days of intense competition in a demanding environment. The Saint Kentigern contingent was made up of 14 teams with a total of 62 riders, making ours the most well represented school in New Zealand.

Team Time Trials took place on the first day on a 16 km course at Koputaroa. Senior teams rode in groups of 5, and junior teams in groups of 4. This racing requires riders to co-ordinate their efforts to ensure that they maximize speed and effort continuously for the duration of the race, with each member’s strengths being used to ensure the team has a specific advantage at critical junctures on the course.

Our results represent what is arguably the best set of results for a secondary school at this national event, with the College riders gaining podium finishes in 5 out of 6 categories.

TEAM TIME TRIAL RESULTS
Year 7 & 8 Girls Cycling Team - NZ Champions
Team: Sarah Cappel (Captain), Abigail Houghton, Olivia Overfield, Annabelle Waterworth

Year 7 & 8 Boys Cycling Team – NZ Champions
Team: Jacob Hannan (Captain), James Archibald, Cameron Manley, Caleb Atkinson

Junior Boys Cycling Team – 3rd in New Zealand
Team: James Brown (Captain), Liam Cappel, Daniel Whitburn, Dylan McCullough

Junior Girls Cycling Team – 5th in New Zealand
Team: Jamie Lindsay (Captain), Alesha Lamont, Kate Fouche, Emma Fuller

Senior Boys Cycling Team – 3rd in New Zealand
Team: Sam Dakin (Captain), Liam Foster, Ayden Lamont, James Fouche, Connor Brown

Senior Girls Cycling Team – 2nd in New Zealand
Team: Lauren Hendricksen (Captain), Simone Nightingale, Maddie Parks, Aimee Hollis, Lizzie Mudford

Disappointingly, the second day of racing, the road race, due to take place at the new location of Hiwinui, was cancelled as the weather gave way to heavy rain and gusting winds. This was the first time that the individual road racing was cancelled in the championship’s 46 year history!

This final day of racing was a Points Race held at Manfield Race Track in Fielding. The riders had to complete a number of circuits dependent upon age category and collect points for designated laps. These points accumulate over the course of the race to determine the winner. This riding requires endurance and speed, both of which need to be coupled with a tactical awareness unique to points racing. Congratulations to Madeline Park and Dylan McCullough who both rode medal winning races.

POINTS RACE RESULTS

U17 Girls - 2nd in New Zealand: Madeline Park

U14 Boys: - 3rd in New Zealand: Dylan McCullough

The 2014 Sir Bernard Fergusson National Schools Road Cycling Championships brought together the Saint Kentigern cycling community for the final event of the competitive season, with many senior riders representing the College for the last time. The weekend’s successful races and activities would not have been possible without the immeasurable support of the parents, family and friends of our student riders; nor would it be possible without the active involvement of our dedicated coaches.

Success and enjoyment in any sport requires people to share the experience, and in doing so, strong bonds are formed amongst the team and their supporters. We are already looking forward to the 2015 cycling season with great anticipation!

With thanks to Simon Walker, Cycling Manager