The girls' field suffered a higher attrition rate because of the weather with local rider Jenna Hastings from John Paul College, competing in the under-14 category, taking the fastest time overall.
Another local rider Skye Follas from Rotorua Lakes High clocked the second fast time overall and won the under 20 title with third place overall going to Mia Callingham from Mount Maunganui College, winning the under 16 category.
Today's Team Relay was the final event in the three-day programme that provided the opportunity for schools to race for top honours in a three-person relay format.
Tauranga Boys' College showed their strength with two of their teams bookmarking Auckland Grammar on the podium in the senior boy's category. Epsom Girls Grammar dominated the girls' categories with victories in both the senior and junior.
On Tuesday, almost 200 riders lined up to represent their schools in the cross-country races. After a run of bad luck with the weather, a late change of course did nothing to affect the quality of riding in the Redwoods. The sun shone brightly on race day and the heat provided ideal riding conditions but ironically provided some challenges for the riders with nutrition choices becoming an important factor on the multi-lap courses.
The senior girls title was taken out by promising junior rider Phoebe Young from Mt Aspiring College in Wanaka. Young, a member of the newly formed Cycling New Zealand MTB Performance Hub, dominated from the start. She won convincingly over fellow MTB Hub rider Liv Bishop from Marlborough Girls College with third place to Epson Girls Grammar rider Dayne Haythorne.
The senior boys race came down to a photo finish with both Hamish Dodds and Taylor Johnston given the same finish time but Dodds was awarded the gold medal. Both riders are from Rotorua and made the most of the local knowledge over third placegetter Maxwell Wickens from Wellington College.
Trident High School from Whakatane was rewarded with the Top School Award after a strong showing across the cross-country and relay.
The partnership with Crankworx proved beneficial, with entries enabling the schools championships to run as a standalone event for the first time.
"School cycling sees itself as the breeding next of the future of cycling. We provide the opportunity for the kids to learn to compete. That's why the events are challenging, but not so challenging that a kid will go, oh I can't do this," said Kevin Searle, Chairman of Cycling New Zealand Schools.
"The opportunity for these hundreds of kids to be in and around not only the world's best MTB riders but also their heroes is priceless for these guys and you will be hard pressed not be inspired over this week of events and want to continue in the sport."
With around 400 riders from 80 schools represented, this is not only a reflection of the draw of Crankworx but also the work that has gone in to the grassroots of the sport for many years by dedicated volunteers.
"The hard work done in the past has reaped its reward this weekend and all those involved should be very proud. Seeing the kids have so much fun while also giving it their best is highly rewarding" said Mr Searle.
The event was sponsored by Professionals Rotorua Real Estate and Altherm Windows Systems.
