College sport: Aucklanders snatch U-20 cycling titles

Racquel Sheath from Whangaparaoa College wins the points race yesterday. Photo / Peter McDermott www.bestill.co.nz

Auckland schools did not have it their own way at the RaboDirect New Zealand SS cycling championships but showed international experience counts for plenty.

In tight finishes in the under-20 individual road races in Feilding, national representatives Nick Bain (Macleans) and Whangaparaoa's Racquel Sheath outsprinted their rivals to claim the coveted senior titles. The pair represented BikeNZ at the Canberra Junior Tour this year.

Sheath, who held off Brigitte Hicks (St Kentigern) and Georgina Wilson (Diocesan) to take the honours in a frantic finish, backed up the next day at Manfeild to win the points race by two points from Wilson.

Unlike most riders who had team-mates to support them, Sheath, a member of the Auckland team who won the national under-19 team pursuit title, had to go it alone as the only Whangaparaoa College rider in the field.

Of the individual road race, Sheath said: "It was a typical schoolgirls' race. It took a bit to get it going, but once it did it was good. There were a few attacks at the end to keep the speed up. It was fun."

There were several attempted breakaways in the 50km senior boys' race but none succeeded.

Bain attacked with one other rider in the final 2km and held off the chasing bunch by 2secs to take the honours. William Tremlett (St Kentigern) finished second in the hectic sprint ahead of Matiu Kaihau (PNBHS).

After winning the opening day's team time trial by almost a minute, it was no surprise Waikato Diocesan dominated the under-16 girls' road race. Jessie Hodges led the field in the 34km race home, outsprinting teammates Madison Farrant and Jordyn Crouch.

"We were riding for ourselves, not as a team," said Hodges. "But of course we helped each other out."

That trio, along with Maxyna Cottam, took time trial honours and laid the foundation for their success in retaining the A.J.Drake Cup as the top girls' school at the championships.

The 16km time trials attracted a record 131 teams who were confronted with testing conditions in Levin.

Led by junior world track bronze medallist Scott Creighton, Hamilton BHS completed the distance in a blistering 22m 39s to claim the senior honours. The quintet of Creighton, Tom McLachlan, Stephen Brunskill, Sam Gaze and Corby Price were 18secs faster than runners-up St Kentigern.

Christchurch BHS, led by world mountainbike silver medallist Anton Cooper, surprised with their ride for third. One of only six South Island teams competing, they edged PNBHS by 1sec to claim bronze.

It was a historic ride from the Hamilton BHS team who claimed the coveted Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy for the first time in the event's 43-year history.

The young St Cuthbert's senior A team of Devon Hiley, Elise Salt, Helena Jackson, Meghan Carrol and Danyela van der Sande successfully defended their under-20 title - a minute ahead of Waikato Diocesan.

The Auckland "Grammar Hammer" junior team of Jonty Morreau, Sam Mobberley, Callum Ross and Liam Kane claimed their second under-16 boys' title beating St Kentigern by a minute.

In the championships-concluding points races, Angus Findlay (PNBHS) produced a stunning ride to claim the under-20 honours.

Findlay, brother of 2010 under-23 national road champion Tom, faced tough competition from Daniel Gate (AGS) and Creighton. With their respective schools racing strategically, the sprint points were shared in the first half of the 40km race. Smart work by PNBHS coupled with Findlay's strong sprint allowed him to consolidate his lead in the final laps and eventually take a comfortable win.

The under-17 girls' race was a hot contest between three NZ representatives. Robin Hacker-Cary (Waikato Diocesan) won all but one of the sprints in which she placed second. She was challenged in every sprint by Devon Hiley (St Cuthbert's) who took silver from Alice Hay (Rangi Ruru).

Local girl Kate Stewart (PNGHS) ended Waikato Diocesan's domination in the under-16 division by riding superbly to take a massive nine-point lead over Hodges and Farrant.

The ride of the day, however, went to Michaela Drummond (Freyberg HS) who blitzed the under-14 field to win every sprint and take maximum points.

St Kentigern took the overall boys' honours from PNBHS and AGS.

LACROSSE

Led by more outstanding play from Kyle Greentree, Pinehurst beat St Kentigern 8-3 in the final of the Auckland SS boys' championship.

The third-place game was much closer, with Avondale getting home 11-10 over AGS in golden point extra time.

The boys' championship was played for the first time this winter under the umbrella of ASB College Sport.

Hopes are that will lead to an increase in interest next year.

Organiser Gavin Higgins is encouraged by what he has seen and hopes up to 10 teams will compete next year.

Already 18 teams from 12 schools contest the girls' competition earlier in the year. "Having the support of College Sport has been a big help," said Higgins.

"We are already ahead of our counterparts in Australia.

"Lacrosse has been played there for 50 or 60 years but they still haven't been able to get it into schools."

Any school wanting to find out more and join what is a very popular sport can contact College Sport.

"I already have my eyes firmly set on the 2014 world championships in Denver, Colorado, and am confident many of the players we have playing in Auckland will be there."

NETBALL

Defending champions MAGS head the 16 teams in the new-look New Zealand SS championships which started at Napier's Pettigrew Green Arena yesterday.

In the past 12 teams contested the championships but that has been increased with six teams from the Upper North Island championships joined by five from the Lower North Island and five from the South Island.

AGGS, beaten in last year's final by MAGS, are the most successful team, having won four times since the inaugural 1993 championships.

Of the winning teams only AGGS, MAGS (whose only win came a year ago) and 2009 winners Tu Toa are back this year.

Coached by Janelle Nee, AGGS are playing at their fifth straight tournament while Hamilton GHS, Wellington East Girls' College and Waimea College are first-time qualifiers. St Margaret's are back for the first time since 1999.

Games will be played over four 10-minute quarters with three-minute breaks between quarters. The final will be played at 1.40pm on Friday.

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