Jackson's need for speed is strong

He may only be nine, but it seems Jackson Fellowes has made up his mind about what his future will hold: he's determined to dominate the world of speed skating.

And if his recent haul of four gold medals and a new speed record are anything to go by, Jackson may have a real shot.

The plucky Waingaro School student won the 300m, 500m, 1000m and 1500m Primary Boys events at the New Zealand Banked Track Speed Skating Championships in Timaru over Waitangi weekend. Given the 1500m event is a new distance on the NZ circuit, it meant Jackson was the first in his grade to post a speed record in that event. He crossed the line in 3 minutes, 13 seconds.

Jackson got involved in speed skating when he visited the skating rink at Melville with his parents Mel and Marcus. Marcus skated competitively as a youngster and has since got back into the sport.

"Jackson put a pair of skates on and that was it," said Mel.

That was in March 2013 and Jackson has since competed at two national champs.

"There are many tours in Europe and Asia that we will be considering taking Jackson to when he is ready," said Mel. "Our coach Eileen Hughes would determine as to when that would be. But Jackson is eager to participate in any event that he can, he just loves to skate."

And he's about to jump up a grade, which Jackson's seven-year-old sister, Lacey, is pleased about.

At national competitions boys and girls race separately but in other competitions they compete against each other. Up until now, Lacey has been racing against Jackson so she won't be sad to see her brother move to a higher grade.

Jackson said speed skating keeps him fit and healthy.

"It's my favourite sport. I would like to skate overseas and be the fastest at the World Competition one day. I might have to start skating on ice too so I can skate at the Olympics when I get a bit older."

Other Hamilton skaters also did well at the Banked Track Speed Skating Nationals. Scott Moody won all events in the Masters grade.

Kierryn Hughes, skating in the Elite Senior Men's division, finished second in all his races. For the past 12 months, Kierryn has done most of his training overseas and the improvement in his skating was apparent as he was sitting on the shoulder of Christchurch's Ollie Jones, who won silver at the recent World Championships.

Joshua Hughes in his first year in Intermediate finished fourth in most of his races.

The Hamilton Roller Skating Club is fundraising for a banked track which they hope to build later this year so skaters can train safely, rather than using carparks. The track will also enable such events to be held in Hamilton.