Cycling Success at the Aoraki Championships!
A small but mighty team of cyclists traded the familiar trails for the smooth tarmac of the Levels car racing track in Timaru this past Wednesday, May 7th, to compete in the Aoraki Road Cycling Championships. The beautiful autumn day, with temperatures reaching the low twenties, provided the perfect backdrop for three exciting events: an individual time trial, a mass start scratch race, and a teams time trial.
Our young cyclists showcased impressive talent and determination across the day. Here's a look at their achievements:
| Name | Individual Time Trial (Time) | Placing | Grade | Scratch Race Placing |
| Oscar Gorrie (Yr 8) | 3:58.60 | 2nd | Year 7 & 8 | 2nd |
| Blake Broomhall | 3:55.50 | 3rd | Under 16 Boys | 2nd |
| Kaidyn Broomhall | 3:21.70 | 1st (U16), 4th Overall | Under 16 Boys | 1st |
| Mackenzie Currie | 3:53.20 | 2nd | Under 16 Boys | 3rd |
A special mention goes to Kaidyn Broomhall, who not only secured first place in the Under 16 Boys individual time trial with an impressive average speed of 43 km/h, but also expertly led the team in the Teams Time Trial (over 4.8km). This event had six teams competing, with MHC placing 4th overall, narrowly beaten by the Roncalli College team, who took out third place, by a narrow 8 seconds. This was the first Aoraki's experience for Oscar, Blake, and Mackenzie, making their strong performances even more commendable. Kaidyn particularly supported Mackenzie, who was racing on a road bike for the very first time.
A big thank you to Mrs. Johnson for managing our entries and to the parents who made the trip to Timaru to support our riders!
For those inspired by these achievements, there's an exciting opportunity to participate in the upcoming Canterbury Secondary Schools Cycling and South Island Secondary Schools Cycling Championships later this term. If you're keen to get involved, please see either Mr. Gorrie or Mrs. Johnson for more information. Let's keep the wheels turning!