College Sport: Homework rewarded with triathlon victory

Triathlon success runs in some families, writes JENNI RUTHERFORD.

Ben Kindred did his homework and pulled off an upset win over his Rangitoto team-mate, Dino Bozzone, at the national secondary school triathlon championships at Whangaparaoa.

Bozzone has had the better of his teammate for the past two years, but Kindred concentrated on honing his two strong disciplines - swimming and cycling - to ward off a fast-finishing Bozzone in the intermediate boys race.

Kindred, who led for the entire race, was 1 1/2 minutes clear of Bozzone coming out of the water, but the younger brother of world junior duathlon champion Terenzo made up 1m 09s over 3km in the run leg to cross the finish line 21s behind.

Another athlete to impress was Anna Elvery, of Diocesan, who won the intermediate girls race comfortably, despite having a minute added to her time for draughting in the 15km cycle leg.

Second-placed Amy-Kelly Horsfall, of Gisborne Girls High, was upstaged by her sister, Hosanna, who won the junior girls race.

Her victory was all the sweeter because she won the same section last year, but had to hand the medal back because she was only a form two student, and was ruled ineligible.

Terenzo Bozzone led from the start to win the senior boys race from Luke Hoetjes, of Christchurch Boys' High.

Hoetjes' younger brother, Ben, took out the junior boys race ahead of Simon Caulfield (Auckland Grammar) and Ian Clark (Napier Boys High), who were second and third respectively.

In the senior girls event, Sarah Bryant from St Hilda's Collegiate in Dunedin won comfortably over Kelly Bruce, of Otamatea High. Defending champion Sonya Harkness (Taradale High) had to settle for third.

TENNIS

Last year's runners-up, St Kentigern, went one better this year to become just the fourth name to be engraved on the national boys tennis trophy.

They made no mistake in beating defending champions Christchurch Boys High School 4-2 in the final in Hamilton.

The team of Matthew Simpson, Rubin and Oliver Statham and Kevin Jay wrapped up the final before the doubles were played, winning three of the four singles contests.

Simpson, playing No 1 for the school, fought back in the first set against Christchurch's James Redpath to win 7-5 after trailing 3-5. He captured the second 6-3 to seal St Kentigern's maiden championship win.

Auckland Grammar, six-time holders of the trophy, comfortably won the playoff for third, beating St Paul's Collegiate (Hamilton) 5-1. The only other school to have won the title is Wellington College.

St Cuthbert's College took the girls' section for the sixth time, but only after the result was decided on a 51-49 countback.

The scores in the final, against Tauranga Girls College, were tied at 3-all.

Rangitoto College rounded off the Auckland clean sweep by winning the mixed finals, beating Western Heights High 4-2.

YACHTING

Auckland Grammar pulled off an upset win at the national secondary schools teams racing championships in Whangarei and will represent New Zealand at the transtasman regatta against the Australian winner in October.

The team of Brad Thom, Phillip and David Robertson, Jeff Wooley, Scott Illingworth and Jonothan Rankine beat the more-fancied Kerikeri High. Last year's winners, Westlake Boys, were third ahead of Northcote, who made the finals for the first time.

VOLLEYBALL

The North Harbour secondary schoolboys team warded off a strong attack by Auckland in the final of the Northern region tournament in Morrinsville to win 15-13 in the final set. Bay of Plenty won the girls final against Auckland.

SKIING

Young Auckland skiers returned from the Whistler Cup in Canada well down the rankings but wiser for the experience after competing against racers from 74 countries.

Joe Gendall (Auckland Grammar), Tom Ridley (Kristin School) and Jamie Harrison-Moore (St Kentigern) competed in the slalom, giant slalom and super G. Julia McClean, of Invercargill, won New Zealand's first medals at the prestigious event - a silver in the giant slalom and bronze in the Super G.

THIS WEEK:

* Tomorrow: Auckland secondary schools diving championships; North Harbour girls' badminton.

* Friday: Auckland secondary school lawn bowls championships.

* Sunday: Auckland orienteering.

* Monday: Auckland premier golf teams final; North Harbour boys' badminton.