George Jackson slings Keegan Hornblow in the men’s Madison.
The Australian visitors fought back in the sprint, but the Kiwis claimed the endurance events on the penultimate day of action at the UCI Oceania Track Cycling Championships at Cambridge Velodrome last night.
Para cycling world champion, Devon Briggs of Cambridge grabbed the Oceania title in the Para Mixed Elimination, showing his nous as he remained at the tail of the field before edging out the riders ahead, before controlling the final sprint for the title.
“I have ridden elimination at the worlds but it is the first time in a mixed classification elimination, male and female. I love elimination. I grew up doing them as juniors able bodied,” he said.
“I had a terrible performance at the worlds and went out first. I am really happy with how tonight went. Eliminations happen quickly and you have to be wary to watch the bunch. From the back you’ve got the best vantage because you can see what is happening and judge your sprint which went well tonight.”
Australian Alessa McCaig (left) edges Ellesse Andrews in the women’s keirin. Photo: Ethan Verner
12 February 5am
Boh speeds up
Boh Ritchie running for Penn State. Photo: Penn State: The Pennsylvania State University
Cambridge athlete Boh Ritchie, at Penn State University in the US on a scholarship, was named freshman of the week after running the second fastest indoor 800m time in the school’s history. Her 2:01.6 time came a fortnight after she blitzed her 600m personal best, running 1:28.21 on an indoor track. The former St Peter’s School student broke Lorraine Moller’s junior 800m record in December when she ran 2:03.14 in Sydney before heading Stateside to take up the scholarship.
Busy birthday
Cambridge’s Busy Bees Op shop will celebrate its fifth birthday next week. It has gone from a pop up op shop open once a fortnight to a three day a week operation which has donated more than over $100,000 into the community.
Not guilty
A Hamilton District Court jury has found a dentist not guilty of molesting a woman he invited to his home. The charges against Rahul Gautam, 51, stemmed from a series of incidents at his Tamahere home in March 2024.
Traffic delays
Traffic through Karāpiro was reduced to a crawl on Monday. The New Zealand Transport Agency is carrying out shoulder and drainage maintenance, work expected to take two weeks.
Cycling champs
Para-cycling Track World champion Devon Briggs of Cambridge will compete.
The UCI Oceania Track Cycling Championships are being staged in Cambridge this week. The championships provide a platform towards the series of UCI World Cup competitions in Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia which form the key qualification process to the world championships and 2028 Olympics.
Vicar moves
Rev Julie Guest during her Easter sermon in Rangiaowhia Church last year. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Te Awamutu St John’s Anglican Church reverend Julie Guest – who has penned the Faith in Waipā column for our sister paper – has stepped down to concentrate on her role as Archdeacon of Waitomo.
Balloons pop off for a year
Balloons over Waikato.
Waipā has opted out of the Balloons Over Waikato event.
The district council’s group manager customer and community services Sally Sheedy said Waipā District Council valued its long-standing relationship with the Balloons Over Waikato Trust organisers and would continue discussions about future opportunities for the event to be held in Waipā.
The decision not to host an event in 2026 followed the consideration of factors including change of day, rising delivery and operational costs and the high level of weather dependency associated with balloon events, which carried financial and delivery risk. The event has been held on a Friday in Waipā for the last three years – in Karāpiro in 2023 then Albert Park, Te Awamutu for the last two years.
Rode to success
Ally Wollaston, right, shares her success with time trial winner Ella Wyllie. Photo: Russell Jones
Ally Wollaston claimed the New Zealand elite women’s road race title last weekend. Woolaston, who started her cycling career at St Peter’s School, continued her successful start to the season at the national road championships held around Cambridge. It was her fourth win in as many weeks and on a course the just-turned 25 year old Olympic double medallist knew well. “I love this loop. It feels like my backyard and I have trained here so much in my career. It was such a great environment out racing today.”
Day for good sports
Family time at the horses, from left: Lynda Ward (Ōtorohanga), Georgia, 12, Ada, 3, Charlie, 9 with mum Alisha Gubbins (Te Awamutu) while patient pony Milly, 22, is festooned in prize winning sashes. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
It was family time at the horses for Lynda Ward (Ōtorohanga), her daughter Alisha Gubbins (Te Awamutu) and children Georgia, 12, Ada, 3, Charlie, 9 and patient pony Milly, 22, festooned in prize winning sashes. They were all at a sporting open day which has been running in Aria, east of Piopio, since 1904 and drew an estimated crowd of more than 700 adults on Waitangi Day. The event, featuring everything from shearing to plum (in place for eggs) and spoon races, was so successful two of the food trucks on Āria Domain ran out of supplies.
Read more: Aria and good sports
Georgia Gubbins, 12, of Te Awamutu on Tia, heads out into the ring during the Āria Sports Day. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
