Speed skaters chase record

South Canterbury speed skaters face a daunting task as they seek to be the first club in the sport in New Zealand to win the overall title for an eighth consecutive year.

Coach Bill Begg said a ‘‘limited team of 21 skaters’’ is travelling to the five-day NZ championships in Napier, which start tomorrow, with an eye on winning the Unity Trophy again.

South Canterbury (2011-2017) and Manawatu¯ (2005-2011) are tied on seven successive wins each.

‘‘The local club has a very big challenge in front of it, if it is to come out on top,’’ Begg said.

The team, Begg says, has only four male competitors, no entrants in three grades and will not be able to contest five of the 12 relay events making winning the trophy again a difficult task with it awarded to the club with the most points accumulated across road and indoor sections.

‘‘The club has the chance to disprove the iconic New Zealand rock band Split Enz with their hit History Never Repeats.’’

It’s 50 years since the first edition of the championships at which South Canterbury won three of the 10 road races held, Begg said.

Begg himself that year won the men’s 1000 metres, Alan O’Connor won the junior boys’ 1500m, and Norma Lyttleton won the intermediate women’s 1500m.

Begg and O’Connor, 50 years on, are still involved heavily with the club as coaches.

‘‘Now the 50th year on South Canterbury will be striving to repeat being the top road titles winner,’’ Begg said.

JOHN BISSET/STUFF South Canterbury skaters are gearing up for the New Zealand speed skating championships. PIctured from left are Tasha McAuley 13, Sam Clarke 13, Jody Thompson 13, Kaylum McAuley 14, Roshean O’Connor 14, Charlotte Clarke 16 and Emily Thompson 11.