Speed skaters rolling towards Oceania titles
South Canterbury speed skaters dominate the New Zealand team chasing titles at the Oceania Championships in Timaru over Easter.
New Zealand’s team is 34-strong of which half are from South Canterbury and they will compete against 27 representing Australia and one from Chile.
NZ speed skating coach Begg said
track events would be held at the rink on the Saturday and Sunday, with Monday a postponement day.
On Tuesday morning the road marathon is scheduled to take place at Levels Raceway.
Begg expected fierce competition in the cadet, under 14, junior, under 19 and senior men’s grades.
‘‘Most interest will centre around the junior grade, as for the first time speed skating will be included in the Youth Olympic Games.’’
At the junior world championships in Heede, Holland in July, 12 male and 12 female skaters would be selected, with only one from each country allowed, and one from each of the continents, he said.
‘‘The juniors will be taking special note of their opposition during the Oceania championships, in the lead up to the world champs.
In the women’s grade, Aust- Bill ralian Gisele Stogdale having raced two world championships, had more experience at the highest level, with fellow Australian Kaylee Lewson also having competed at world championship level, Begg said.
NZ’s Leah McDonald had both speed and staying power, and had won all the junior Oceania titles in Australia last year, he said.
The junior men’s would prove an interesting event with Australian Ainslee Cassar, the strongest of the Australian men, Begg said.
In the distance events Mark McCormack from Dunedin would hopefully be more than a handful for the Australians, along with Sam Portch Palmerston North.
In the cadet boys, Jake Duggan from Hamilton along with Chase Morpeth and Drew Brennan from Wanganui would take on the six strong Australian team.
The cadet girls grade would be a tough assignment for the visitors, as they would face reigning Oceania champion and five times medalist Charli Nevin, who along with Tasha McAuley and Roshean O’Connor, all from South Canterbury, were very strong and testing senior skaters, Begg said.
Amy Baird, Samantha Clarke and Jody Thompson, all from Wai- mate would be competing in the New Zealand team for the first time.