Olorenshaw wins downhill at NZ schools mountainbike

Nelson’s Reuben Olorenshaw proved fastest when the downhill titles were decided at the RaboPlus New Zealand Secondary School Mountain Bike Championship in Levin yesterday.

Olorenshaw easily won the under-19 boys’ title in emphatic style, ahead of 250 riders to contest the national collegiate honours.

He sped down the windy and technical 2km course in 2:51.12 to win the senior boys ahead of Brandon Ransfield (Havelock North High School) who edged out Brandon Lumsden (St Patricks Silverstream) for second by a fraction of a second.

Jake Robinson (John Paul College) used his small size to his advantage to fly down the hill, winning the under 16 boys’ category by a whooping 15 seconds from Campbell Mercer (Northcote College). Robinson posted the second fastest time of the day, signalling that this pocket rocket is going to excel in this event in years to come.

Experienced downhiller Madeline Taylor (Napier Girls High School) lead the female charge to take the under 19 girls title.

Earlier in the day the riders took the hard way up the hill with the most impressive ride of the day by Nigel McDowell ( John Paul College, Rotorua), who despite being only 15 years old, clocked the fastest time. After winning his cross country race by a significant margin on Saturday, McDowell proved he has a bright future ahead of him, taking out the overall under 16 title, repeating the performance of his older brother Jeffery in 2006.

Feilding High School’s Matthew Waghorn proved that he is all class, taking out the Under 19 crosscountry, hill climb and overall title.

Full results: www.bikenz.org.nz

Overall points, Boys:

Under 19: Mathew Waghorn (Feilding HS) 145, 1; Conor Corbett (Western Heights HS) and Locky McArthur (Westlake BHS) 136, equal 2.

Under 16: Nigel McDowell (John Paul College) 174, 1; Sean Hambrook (Waimea College) 157, 2; Jonty Sanders (Wellington College) 121, 3.

Under 15: Sam Gaze (Hamilton BHS) 163, 1; Craig Oliver (Rangiora HS) 148, 2; Brett Stockman (Taupo Nui-a-Tia College) 136, 3.

Under 14: Gareth Cannon (Tararua College) 148, 1; Ben Oliver (Rangiora HS) 145, 2; Kurt Standen (Westlake BHS) 141, 3.

Girls, under 19: Alexa Peters (Rotorua Lakes HS) 156, 1; Madeline Taylor (Napier GHS) 144, 2; Sophiemarie Bethell (Michael Park School) 143, 3.

Under 16: Caitlin Holmes (Waimea College) 163, 1; Sammy Lane (Diocesan) 156, 2; Sophie Tyas (Rangitoto College) 140, 3.

Under 14: Alice West (Western Heights HS) 180, 1; Ellen Plumtree (Hawera HS) 157, 2; Olivia Miller (Nayland College) 152, 3.