Christchurch cyclist Josh Atkins showed the benefit of his international experience to take out the Rabobank New Zealand secondary school road cycling championships at Feilding today.
Atkins, a member of the New Zealand team at the recent Junior World Track Championships, used his track speed to out-sprint rivals to take out the 50km under-20 title.
The Canterbury rider has his share of tribulations when he dropped a chain on the hill section on his final lap. He fixed the mechanical issue and rode strongly to catch back on to the peloton before out-kicking Karl Drury (Hamilton Boys) and Daniel Smith (Sacred Heart, Auckland) for the victory.
A sprint finish also decided the under-20 girls’ race over two laps of the testing 16.6km course with strong winds adding to the challenge.
Auckland Diocesan followed their dominant performance in Saturday’s team time trial when Amelia Wilkinson claimed the win in 55:42 from the Villa Maria pair from Christchurch, Cara Smith and Haley Mercer.
Daniel Poole (Auckland Grammar) and Maddie Dillon (Kristin School, North Shore) won the under-17 honours.
The championships conclude with the time trial at Feilding tomorrow.
Results
[Don't have time to reformat these, maybe I'll tidy them up later — Dave]
Boys, Under 20: Josh Atkins (Christchurch BHS) 1:11:24, 1; Karl Drury (Hamilton BHS) ST 2, Daniel Smith (Sacred Heart College Akld) ST 3.
U17: Daniel Poole (Auckland Grammar) 49:42, 1; Sam Morreau (Auckland Grammar) 49:43, 2; Ryan Lowther-Smith (Westlake BHS) 51:33, 3.
U16: Hardy Michel (Kristin School) 52:45, 1; George Hubbard (Christchurch BHS) 52:46, 2; Harrison Perriam (Christchurch BHS) 52:47, 3.
U15: Alexis Carlier (St Kentigern College) 26:06, 1; Dan Pavis (Auckland Grammar) same time, 2; Joshua Hunter (Sacred Heart, Auckland) 2:07, 3.
U14: Jonty Morreau (Auckland Grammar) 27:59, 1; Bailey Koppert-Duggan (Taieri College, Dunedin) 28:00, 2; Ollie Jones (Hutt International) same time, 3.
Year 7-8: Cameron Ford (Waimea Intermediate, Nelson) 27:16, 1; Regan Gough (Waipawa Primary, Hawkes Bay) 28:38, 2, William Green (Lindisfarne College) 28:39, 3.
Girls, U20: Amelia Watkinson (Auckland Diocesan) 55:42, 1; Cara Smith (Villa Maria, Christchurch) same time, 2; Haley Mercer (Villa Maria) same time, 3.
U17: Maddie Dillon (Kristin School) 58:20, 1; Rebecca Burridge (Diocesan School) 58:26, 2; Holly Speer (Epsom Girls) 59:54, 3.
U16: Christie Jamieson (Saint Kentigern College) 58:12, 1; Helena Jackson (St Cuthbert’s College) 58:13, 2; Josephine Boakes (Palmerston North GHS) 58:14, 3.
U15: Devon Hiley (St Cuthbert’s College) 29:57, 1; Robin Hacker-Cary (Waikato Diocesan) same time, 2; Madison Farrell (Takapuna Grammar) 29:59, 3.
U14: Jordyn Crouch (Waikato Diocesan) 29:57, 1; Madison Farrant (Waikato Diocesan) 31:37, 2; Isabella Van Schaijik (Baradene College) 31:39, 3.
Year 7-8: Olivia Marris (St Cuthberts, Auckland) 30:57, 1; Maxyna Cottam (Sacred Heart, New Plymouth) 30:58, 2; Georgia Marris (St Cuthberts, Auckland) 31:01, 3.
Full results: www.bikenz.org.nz/schoolroadnats
