Young rider set for future on new bike

NEW WHEELS: Bike Shed owner Doug Rennie presents St Johns Hill School pupil Maggie Jones with a new mountain bike, supported by schoolmate Hunter Gibson.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 040515WCSMMILTISPORT1

DEDICATION, commitment and a touch of luck earned budding Wanganui triathlete Maggie Jones a $650 mountain bike.

The 10-year-old Year 9 St Johns Hill School pupil answered the call by the Wanganui Multisport and Triathlon Club to increase membership in November last year.

Club member and talented triathlete in his own right, Jason Page launched the Aquathon initiative that called for newcomers to compete in an event every second Tuesday through to early February.

Page said the initiative was initially aimed at the younger brigade, but a number of adults answered the call.

The Aquathon series involved a 300m river swim followed by a 3.4km run around the Dublin St Bridge and the Aramoho Rail Bridge back to the club's Anzac Rd headquarters.

"The first week we had about 10 turn up and it built to around 20 by the end of the series in February," Page said.

"Most of them were adults, but we had two very dedicated youngsters also turn up every fortnight. Maggie Jones and Hunter Gibson might only be 10, but they are really committed and extremely competitive - it was really pleasing to see."

During the series each newcomer went into a draw to win a mountain bike sponsored by Doug Rennie at The Bike Shed in Ridgway St.

The winning number drawn was Maggie Jones' and all involved firmly believed it was a deserving victory for such a committed and budding star.

Both Jones and her schoolmate Gibson conceded while they had little chance against older athletes in the Aquathon series, despite a slight handicap advantage in each race, they dug deep to compete.

"Both of us like the idea of triathlons and we're very competitive," Jones said.

"I just love sports and in the winter I love playing netball and during the summer I love running. It was pretty cool to win the mountain bike and I'd really like to thank Mr Rennie at The Bike Shed for his support."