Our close ties to para team
Four of the five para athletes name to represent New Zealand at the world track chams are from Waipā and the King Country.
The team announced last week comprises Nicole Murray (C5) (Ōtorohanga), Cambridge trio Anna Taylor (C4), Nick Blincoe (C4) and Devon Briggs (C3) and Ben Westenberg (C4) from Tauranga.
Devon Briggs at the 2023 World Champs Day 4. Photo: SWPix
Para athletes who are able to use a standard bicycle with approved adaptations compete in five sport classes, C1-5.
The event takes will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from March 20-24, and is a key opportunity to earn slots at the Paralympic Games.
Much attention will be focused on reigning Omnium World Champions Murray and Taylor, following potent performances in Glasgow 2023. Murray was also named the world’s best female summer athlete in the 2023 para sport awards.
Anna Taylor at 2023 World Champs Day 5. Photo: SWPix-web
Tauranga teen Ben Westenberg will look to build on his 2023 World Championships debut, where he claimed a silver and a bronze medal.
The 18-years-old is studying Industrial Design at Waikato University. Devon Briggs turned 20 in January. He claimed six medals across 2022 and 2023 World Championships.
Blincoe just missing selection for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He is veteran of multiple Para Cycling World Championships, and represented New Zealand in U19 rugby before a rugby injury led to left arm paralysis.
Crews in the medals
Several Cambridge High School rowing crews snared podium placings at the Aon North Island Secondary School Championships last weekend.
Stella Hohneck, Felicity George, Olive MacDonald, Sienna Ropiha and cox Jack Charlton won gold in the girls’ U15 coxed four event.
Stella Hohneck, Felicity George, Olive MacDonald, Sienna Ropiha and cox Jack Charlton won gold in the girls’ U15 coxed four event.
The regatta was a good test ahead of the Maadi Cup meeting later this month in Twizel.
Charlton was back for another taste of glory in the novice U18 coxed four race, helping Olive MacDonald, Felicity George, Lily Cameron and Sienna Ropiha to victory.
Also clinching medals in that event were Stella Hohneck, Isobella Oxton Doubleday, Caitlin Cotter and Dana Fantom, who crossed the line in second with cox Sophie Stratford.
Continuing her return to form following injury, Tegan O’Dwyer teamed up with Lauren Wood to finish second in the girls’ U18 double sculls race.
Cambridge High School rowing chairperson Nic Peacocke said 25 crews had made finals across the squad.
“It was a big weekend of exciting racing.”
She said the school would take 44 rowers to the Maadi regatta for this year’s national secondary schools championships from March 18-23.
