The Cambridge High School under 16 boys time trial team, from front to back, Matt Davis, Hunter Brodie-Lees (obscured), Jaxson Russell and Blake Bailey. Photo – Michael Jeans.
Cambridge High School cyclists collected a raft of titles and trophies over last weekend during the North Island schools road and track cycling championships, earning enough points on the Avantidrome track to be named top overall school. St Peter’s School was close behind for second.
“The Cambridge High School track team produced exceptional performances, lighting up the track with speed and demonstrating an ability and depth to their racing that was exciting to watch,” said the team’s proud coach Melissa Holt.
The school’s male cyclists also won overall in the road cycling, based on their total points tally, with the CHS girls third overall. The team narrowly edged out the St Peter’s girls team by just a handful of points.
“The team time trials brought together riders who exhibited that ability to push themselves, encourage their team mates, and ride that threshold of pain incredibly well. This was followed by aggressive racing in the road races and criteriums with some incredibly brave solo efforts and determination on display,” said Holt. “There was no rest for the wicked.”
Over 600 riders competed in the event held in Cambridge from Friday to Monday.
Jaxson Russell (CHS) leads the pack up the hill. Photo – Michael Jeans.
Two Cambridge cyclists who are also Waikato BoP Hub riders received Waipa Home of Champions Outstanding Rider trophies for their performances during the competition. Cambridge High School’s Mya Anderson took home maximum points in the under-20 girls individual events and a win in the team sprint, while St Peter’s student Hamish Coltman collected wins in the under-17 boys keirin, points race and team pursuit.
In the track racing Cambridge’s Gray sisters Seana (CHS) and Caoillinn (CMS) took out the under-15 and under-13 titles respectively, whilst Cambridge High’s Jaxson Russell took out the under-15 boys individual, team pursuit and team sprint titles.
Seana also finished second in the under 15 girls road race and criterium and earned gold in the under 16 girls team sprint alongside Mackenzie Barnett. Across road and track, Cambridge High earned 21 podium placings including 11 gold medals.
Caoillinn was joined by Josh Rowe in making a dominant statement for Cambridge Middle School as a top Year 7 and 8 school at the competition. They both won the under 13 girls and boys individual road race titles respectively, and won the under 13 girls and boys criterium races in foggy, near freezing temperatures on Sunday.
They were joined by Jack Beaumont and Olly Taylor to form the CMS Green team which won the Year 7 and 8 Team Time Trial.
St Peter’s and Cambridge Middle narrowly lead the way in the under 13 boys 515m scratch race.
On the track Caoilinn and Josh also took out the under 13 girls and boys Omnium titles with CMS’s Alex Schuler second for the boys and Piper Russell third for the girls. Piper also won bronze in the under 13 girls road race.
St Peter’s cyclists came away with 20 podium placings across the road and track, topped off with Hamish Coltman winning top overall male track rider.
Notable wins included Jacob Spring making an impressive breakaway to win the U17 boys road race, and Kane Foster winning the under 14 boys race. The team of Hamish Coltman, Jacob Spring, Pearse Gatley and Hamish Banks also finished first in the U20 boys Team Pursuit.
