Local club triumphs

Wanganui's Chase Morpeth and Elisa Bronnimann competing at the Central Area Championships last weekend. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.

He was the smallest speed skater there but Wanganui's Chase Morpeth made one of the biggest impacts at the Central Area Championships in Upper Hutt last weekend.

Wanganui club speed skaters would be expected to do well at what is one of the smaller events on their calender, given the number of national champions in their ranks, but nonetheless the 7-year-old Morpeth impressed many at the Civic Hall.

Spokesman Ken Smith said Morpeth clocked a 300m time trial time which was the same or faster than some much older and very accomplished skaters.

"The area's competition was run on an Omnibus format - which meant skaters were seeded into races by their time trial performance and final results decided on accumulated points.

Smith said Civic Hall is a tight 80m track and the locals have become very adept at skating its confined layout.

"As a consequence Morpeth was up against much older and stronger skaters, but he showed outstanding pace and looks like he has a big future in the sport. He won the Primary Boys gold medal and looks a good bet to defend his National Title in January."

In the other results from Wanganui skaters, Melissa White won the Senior Women's gold.

Another local ace Georgia Hurley won the Intermediate Ladies and was second overall.

Unfortunately, Jessica van Bentum was injured in a heavy fall in her time trial and had to withdraw from the competition, a disappointing return to the local scene after she came sixth at the recent World Championships.

Her exit meant Valley Inline's Olivia Mayhew was untroubled in winning the Junior Girls Class, while also finishing third overall, although Wanganui's Sophie Tang turned in her best performance to date to get the silver medal in their class, outdistancing the rest of her age group.

Wanganui's Georgia Reynolds won the bronze while Eugenia Lee raced aggressively. "Caroline [CJ] Dillon was the gold medal winner in the Juvenile Girls in a confident display, with Renee Teers claiming the silver and Wanganui newcomer Elisa Bronnimann giving an unruffled performance in her first major race completing a Wanganui dais with the bronze," said Smith.

Wanganui's Rebecca Smith picked up the silver and was fourth overall with Nichol Travers winning the bronze in their class.

Rick Dillon emulated older sister CJ, winning the gold in the Juvenile Boys and Eden Smith took the silver in the Junior Boys.

The outright winner and Senior Men's gold medallist was NZ world championship team member Josh Whyte of Kapiti.