SC skaters claim nine records
South Canterbury’s speed skaters are off to a winning start at the National Championships in Palmerston North claiming nine records and 28 titles in the first two days.
‘‘We are actually doing better than we’ve ever done,’’ coach Bill Begg said.
The team of 21 skaters, which spans from the primary to senior levels, is dominating at the 50th New Zealand Roller Sports Speed Championships.
Despite having fewer skaters than usual, Begg said the team had ‘‘far exceeded expectations’’.
On Wednesday afternoon, just before the relays, Begg said there had been 48 titles up for grabs and South Canterbury had claimed 28 of them. ‘‘We’re virtually winning everything,’’ he said.
This was especially true of the primary section, for under nineyears-old, with three girls and one boy taking out every single race.
The highlights of the second day for Begg were when Leah McDonald broke the record for the senior women’s 500 metres, and intermediate skater Ella Benson broke her section’s 500m record in a time of 44.368 seconds – setting a new New Zealand record for both intermediate and senior women.
Junior girl’s Charli Nevin and Roshean O’Connor, both 14, had also broken records, including each others, with O’Connor beating the record Nevin set in the heats for the 1000m.
Past winner and record-setter Kaylum McAuley, 14, was another who stood out when he won all four junior boy’s races, including breaking the 1000m record of 1.35.44, which was set by inline skating World Champion Peter Michael in 2004, Begg said.
Begg believed this was a particularly special event as McAuley was born on January 9, a few days after Michael’s record was set. Not to be beaten, the seniors also did well, with Dale Christoffersen, 26, and Keaton Swindells, 16, coming first and third in the combined men’s intermediate/senior 10,000m points race, followed by Charlotte Clarke who placed second in the women’s equivalent.
To top it off, history repeated itself as three races won by Timaru skaters 50 years ago were all won by South Canterbury athletes again this year, he said. Before the final relay races, South Canterbury was ‘‘well into the lead’’ towards winning the unity trophy.