SPORT Cycling
MiC: Tom Hawkins, Graeme Swanson Coach: Tom Hawkins, Graeme Swanson, Chris Waugh Team: Ethan Pang, Art Aitken, Thomas Audeau, George Rookes, Ben Crawford, Olli Aitken, Henry Hiatt After a Covid-19-affected 2020 season, 2021 brought new possibilities and hope for some very motivated young cyclists. ‘Young’ was the operative word for this year, as senior cyclists – including leaders Jack Drage and Michael Audeau – had left College to pursue their cycling and coaching careers. This year was, therefore, supposed to be a transition season; a foundation year with a young group of riders who could be moulded into a strong team
for the future. Apparently nobody told the boys, as they started the season with gusto, setting impressive times in the individual time trial and powering themselves into top grades for Wednesday racing. Art Aitken (U16) was probably the youngest rider in A Grade, and B Grade was stacked with College riders, including Ben Crawford (U15), Olli Aitken (U14), Thomas Audeau and George Rookes (both U17). Henry Hiatt (U14) earned a spot in C Grade and Ethan Pang (U20 novice) took to his new sport with great enthusiasm and determination. Training and racing built over the following weeks, towards the South Island Road Championships. The boys performed impressively, often riding into the
top three in each grade. Our U16 time trial team – Ben, Olli, Art and Henry – was going to be very competitive, which was all the more impressive as only Art was U16 level. Each outing brought College closer to Christchurch Boys’ High School A and, with the championships a week away, it seemed that the boys were timing it just right. Under clear blue skies at Ruapuna Raceway, the team raced hard for each other, delivering successes, including a silver medal for Ben Crawford in the individual time trial and a team silver medal for the U16 TT quad. With those achievements under their belt, training began in earnest for the Southern Tour in Blenheim. One event, the individual hill climb, had been a target for several College
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