A group of Kerikeri High School students went away for the weekend of the 17th October for the Secondary Schools Nationals Mountain Bike Relay Champs in Rotorua. We left Thursday afternoon, towing the Striders Bike Trailer, fitting all 11 bikes on, and having room for more! All of the three teams (Senior Men, Junior Men, and Junior Women) fitted in 1 van, accompanied by Mrs Neave as the teacher in charge, and Mr and Mrs Martin for support, so it was a great 7hour trip down there. We arrived in Rotorua Thursday night, at the Thermal Holiday Park, to quickly unpack and then hit the thermal spa’s for a much needed soak, and rest our legs before riding over, and getting to know the tracks on Friday before the race on Saturday. Saturday came and it was an early start to haul everything up the hill to the start area of the race, but it seemed we weren’t the only ones using the shuttles as there were a lot of people about- some from as far away as Blenheim, Marlborough and Nelson (54 men’s teams in total, and 8 women teams.)
Racing started at 11 o’clock, with the Senior Men’s team (Rhys Felton, Ben Fewtrell, and Jonny Martin) and Junior Men’s Team (Reuben Cane, Sam Pickering, and Michael Dowdle) hitting the track first. The aim of the race is to complete as many laps as possible of an 8km track as a team, each lap tagging your teammate, and allowing them to shoot off for the next lap as you pass by the campsite, and giving you a much needed rest. The men’s teams race for 3 hours and the women, for 2 hours. After 3 hours of intense racing, recording times and lying exhausted on the ground after a lap, the race was over and the results were in. The Junior Men came 12th in their division (Juniors), and 38th overall, with the Senior Men coming 14th in the Seniors, but 16th Overall. The real winners (literally) were the Junior Women’s team, (Rachel Martin and Olivia Wadman) who won their race, carrying off the trophy for the Junior Women National Relay Title, having a close battle against Howick College, and Fielding High School, who claimed silver and bronze.
Racing started at 11 o’clock, with the Senior Men’s team (Rhys Felton, Ben Fewtrell, and Jonny Martin) and Junior Men’s Team (Reuben Cane, Sam Pickering, and Michael Dowdle) hitting the track first. The aim of the race is to complete as many laps as possible of an 8km track as a team, each lap tagging your teammate, and allowing them to shoot off for the next lap as you pass by the campsite, and giving you a much needed rest. The men’s teams race for 3 hours and the women, for 2 hours. After 3 hours of intense racing, recording times and lying exhausted on the ground after a lap, the race was over and the results were in. The Junior Men came 12th in their division (Juniors), and 38th overall, with the Senior Men coming 14th in the Seniors, but 16th Overall. The real winners (literally) were the Junior Women’s team, (Rachel Martin and Olivia Wadman) who won their race, carrying off the trophy for the Junior Women National Relay Title, having a close battle against Howick College, and Fielding High School, who claimed silver and bronze.
Thanks Jonny Martin for the great news- well written
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