Boys’ High claim victory by narrowest of margins
Palmerston North Boys’ High School have won their second Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy in three years at the national secondary schools road cycling championships.
Boys’ High won the trophy for the under-20 team time trial in 2014 for the first time and were runners-up to Auckland Grammar School last year, but Boys’ High won it again this year by the smallest of margins at Koputaroa on Saturday.
The Boys’ High team of Campbell Stewart, David Martin, Dylan Simpson, Madi Hartley-brown and Andrew Mckenzie regained the title by just 5/100ths of a second over the 16km course near Levin in fine conditions, setting the fastest time in the second-to-last ride in 21min 33.19secs.
Grammar rode last, but they couldn’t beat Boys’ High’s time, finishing just 0.05 seconds behind them and Christchurch Boys’ High School were third in 21min 51sec.
It was the first time in the Boys’ High senior A team for Simpson, Hartley-brown and Mckenzie and it is believed to be the closest win in the 49 years the event has been run.
The Palmerston North Girls’ High School team of Emily Shearman, Peita Ransom, Libby Arbuckle, Connie O’brien and Kelly Levin were second in the under-20 girls race, finishing in 25min 19.07sec. They were 37.50 seconds behind St Peter’s School (Cambridge), who defended their title and kept the Summers Cup, while Waikato Diocesan School for Girls were third in 25min 30.90sec.
Hamilton Boys’ High School defended their under-16 title in 22min 29.74sec, 14 seconds ahead of 2014 champions Takapuna Grammar School, with Christchurch Boys’ third.
Waikato Diocesan had a repeat win in the under-16 competition in 25min 12.38sec, more than 40 seconds ahead of second-placed Epsom Girls’ Grammar School. with Takapuna third.
Cambridge Middle School won the boys 7 and 8 years grade in 26min 36.20sec, which was more than a minute ahead of last year’s winners Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School.
St Kentigern College won the girls 7 and 8 years in 29min 34.44sec, 24 seconds ahead of Auckland’s Baradene College.
In yesterday’s road race, the best results for Manawatu riders came in the under-17 grade.
Girls’ High’s Connie’ Brien won the 36km under-17 girls race in 1hr 10min 19sec, 0.15 seconds in front of Hannah Knighton from Waikato Diocesan School for Girls.
Simpson of Boys’ High won the 36km under-17 boys race in 57min 59sec, just 0.01 seconds ahead of Sam Cook from Hamilton Boys’ High School.
In other results Stewart was second in the 54km under-20 boys, with the same time as Harris Fogelberg of Auckland Grammar in 1hr 26min 33sec. Arbuckle was fourth in the 36km under-20 girls race, with the same time as winner Ellesse Andrews of St Peter’s.
Rosie O’brien of Girls’ High was third in the 18km under-14 girls race in 35min 50sec, 11 seconds off the pace.
Chenuka Rajapakse from Intermediate Normal won the 18km under-13 boys race in 40min 37sec.
Jack Pronk (Boys’ Hight) was second in the under-15 B event, 0.15 seconds behind the winner.
The competition wraps up with the individual points race at Manfeild today.