UNTIL last year, Tauranga Intermediate's Tempany Hunt had never even been on a mountain bike.
Obviously the Year 8 student picks things up pretty quickly - yesterday she celebrated her new-found skills by winning the multisport title at the NZCT AIMS Games at McLaren Falls.
Hunt headed home her schoolmate Isabella Kirk
- the winner of the Year 8 crosscountry title on Monday - over the 2km kayak, 5km mountain bike, 3.2km run event, with Kayla McKenzie (Murrays Bay) grabbing the bronze medal.
Tempany said she had high hopes going into the race, after last year coming third in her inaugural multi-sport race at the AIMS Games.
She said she made her big move in the race at the changeover between the mountain-biking and running stage.
"When I got to the changeover, I did it fast. The (leading) girl was still changing her shoes."
Tauranga Intermediate also took out the Year 7 boys race, with with Aaron Fredheim beating home schoolmate Daniel Munroe, with Jack Davies (Taupo) third.
Otumoetai Intermediate's Kirsty Burrows broke the Tauranga domination, however, easing home in the girls Year 7 race to win by 4 minutes, ahead of Beth Owen (Taupo) and Anna O'Loughlin (Tauranga).
Gisborne's Tayler Reid needed the fastest time of the day - a 35min 47sec effort - to beat crosscountry champion Denny Adamson (Whakatane) by just 7secs, with Mount Maunganui surf lifesaver Ben Cochrane clinching bronze.
