New Zealand Secondary Schools Cycling Championships

Fresh from one of their most successful world championships ever, the country’s top junior cyclists will be looking for a repeat performance at the National Secondary Schools Road Cycling Championships beginning this weekend (September 22nd-24th) in Levin and Fielding.

The event will feature over 600 riders from more than 80 secondary schools.

Past winners include Sarah Ulmer, Suzy Pryde, Glen Thompson and Jason Allen and with four medals at the World U17 Track and Road Championships in Mexico last month, the next generation is looking good to follow in their footsteps.

Names to watch out for this year include Saint Kentigern’s Tom David who, fresh back from Mexico, took out the NZ Secondary Schools Individual Championships Under 20 category in Auckland.

Taking him on in this category at Fielding/Levin will be Myron Simpson (also from Saint Kentigern College), who picked up a silver on the track at the worlds, and fellow NZ team member at the worlds, Alex Cull, Macleans College.

Other riders to watch out for include Emma Peterson (U20), St Peter’s Cambridge, Sarah Gilkinson (U17), Diocesan School Auckland, Patrick Williamson, Dunstan High School (U17) and Daniel Furminger, Massey High School (U16). These riders were all recent winners in their age categories at the NZSS Individual Championships held in Auckland 3 weeks ago.

The first event of the Championships is the Teams Time Trial, held near the Levin township. This is a teams event where riders are riding for school pride.

Competition for the Time Trial begins at Year 7&8 level and there are also U14,U 15, U16,U17 and Under 20 age grades. The Under 20 Boys will be vying for the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy and the Girls will be competiting for the Watts Trophy. 2006 winners Auckland Grammar and Diocesan School will be lining up to defend their trophies.

Sunday is the Road Race which is held in Fielding. Riders participate in the same age categories as the Time Trial but as an individual. The Under 20 Boys are the first to start on Sunday, 10.00am, as they have a 3 lap ride of the 16.6Km course to complete.

Manfield Autofield will become the focus of attention on Monday for the Points Race. Again the riders stick to their age categories. This is a quality event and that is reflected when looking at the list of past winners of the Murphy Watts Trophy (Under 20 Girls). Names like Sarah Ulmer, Susy Pryde, Paddy Walker and world U 17 NZ team member Rachel Mercer.

All eyes will be on David, Cull and Simpson in the Under 20 boys event where they will be riding for the Duff memorial Trophy.

Racing will begin on Saturday & Sunday at 10.00am and at 9.00 on Monday