King’s Road squad has seen an increase in numbers registered this year; particularly encouraging has been the increase in the girls ranks where we currently have eight registered cyclists. In addition, with most of the squad returning from last year, hopes were high for some significant results in the season ahead.
In the Points race held on 16 May at Pukekohe Park, Tom Stephenson (Year 12, Greenbank) won the U19 Boys category comfortably building a sustained breakaway with a Westlake rider over the 35km race distance. With 3 laps remaining Tom dropped the Westlake rider and clinched a well-deserved victory. In the main bunch sprint following, Oli Fisher (Year 13, Marsden) also figured prominently, finishing in 6th place.
In the U17 Boys grade Nathan Hill (Year 11, Peart) was our top ranked rider finishing 9th, while in the U17 Leala Willman (Year 11, Marion Bruce) finished 12th. Other results of note were in the U15 Boys where Will McAteer (Year 9, Major) finished 9th and Miles Preena (Year 9, Peart) 11th. All up, an excellent first outing for the squad.
The main diet of the early season in Road cycling is the Team Time Trials (TTT) held also at Pukekohe Park. This series is decided over six race days, with the first completed on 23 May. The Senior A Boys team (Oli Fisher (c), Tom Stephenson, Sam Scott [Year 12, Peart], Winston Yan [Year 12, St John’s], Jack Becker [Year 12, Selwyn]) were looking to better their 3rd placing overall in the series last year. Westlake and AGS are the two main adversaries and in the first race King’s Senior A Boys finished a mere 11 seconds behind the AGS team for a 2nd place result. A satisfying result but with the top step in sight, the boys will be looking to reverse those rankings in the next race.
The other teams – Senior B Boys, Senior A & B Girls, and Junior Boys – all established a benchmark to launch their season and will look to improve in the races ahead.
The next TTT is on Sunday 13 June at Pukekohe.
Andrew Walton
Teacher in Charge of Cycling
