Endurance skaters battle cold wind
Milton’s Derek Tan and Timaru’s Shannell Wooding battled unfavourable weather conditions to lead the men’s and women’s grades of South Canterbury speed skating’s Southern Endurance Series after five rounds.
The event, at Levels Raceway, had 21km time trials for seniors and a 10km for those under 15, with 35 starters for racing held in cold and blustery winds on Sunday.
Tan won the men’s in 45min 41sec from Timaru’s Daryl Mattingley and Ricky Purukamu while Wooding won the women’s event in 48.46 from Christchurch’s Tiara Berry Richards, with Emily Thompson (Waimate) third.
The under-15 girls time trial had three outstanding entrants, with Grace Worner (Geraldine) winning in 19:37.85 after a close tussle with Kyla Beveridge 19:40.79 and Lauren Crawford (Cave) in 19:51.63.
Brayden Teague was the youngest in the under-15 boys’ and won in 20:56.16 from Tom Crawford (Cave) second in 21:37.23 and Max Tackney third in 22.33.92.
In the primary novice 3km group race Oceania Purukamu won the girls in 8min from Charlotte Nicol (Christchurch) and Piper Hogenesch while the boys’ race went to Phoenix Mattingley ahead of Mason Teague and Luke Rae.
A sprint series over 200m was held in conjunction with the endurance races for the younger competitors.
Results: Primary girls, Oceania Purukamu and Piper Hogenesch 1 equal, Charlotte Nichols (Christchurch) 3. Primary boys, Phoenix Mattingley 1, Mason Teague 2, Luke Rae 3. Under-15 girls, Lauren Crawford 1, Grace Worner 2, Georgia Kortright 3. Under-15 boys, Callum Sandri 1, Tom Crawford 2, Brayden Teague 3.
The sixth round of the 10-event series is on August 21 when a 100km race will be held for seniors and a 50km race for under-15s.
South Canterbury speed skating spokesperson Bill Begg said they are expecting good fields for that event as the New Zealand team will be in a training camp in Timaru the day before.
Points leaders (Timaru unless noted) after six events are.
ENDURANCE
Men: Derek Tan 118pts (Milton), Daryl Mattingley 93, Mark McCormack 90 (Dunedin).
Women: Shannell Wooding 110, Emily Thompson 97 (Waimate), Paige Horne 55 (Blenheim).
Under-15 boys: Brayden Teague 110, Tom Crawford 101 (Cave), Callum Sandri 78.
Under-15 girls: Lauren Crawford 127 (Cave), Georgia Kortright 104, Grace Worner 90 (Geraldine).
Primary boys: Phoenix Mattingley 92, Luke Rae 78, Oakley Mattingley 60.
Primary girls: Oceania Purukamu 120, Lily Rae 89, Piper Hogenesch 81.
SPRINT
Men: D Mattingley 80 pts, Tan 57, Karl Boles de Boer 46.
Women: Thompson 75, Wooding 60, Liz Quince (Australia) and Horne 21.
Under-15 boys: Teague and T Crawford 101, Sandri 60.
Under-15 girls: G Kortright 102, L Crawford 101, Worner 80.
Primary boys: P Mattingley 73, O Mattingley 60, Rae 58.
Primary girls: Purukamu 87.5, Hogenesch 73.5, S Kortright 73.