Teams from two Manawatu schools beat all other schools to win the two school categories for 4 person 160km relay in perfect weather conditions on Saturday riding around lake Taupo.
Repeating last years intermediate school grade (year 7-8 kids) TASC Force from Ashhurst School won their category in a time only 17 seconds slower than last years winning team. Had it not been a 10 minute delay caused by a flat tyre for Michaela Drummond on leg two they would have improved their overall 8th position by several places.
Britteny Baker started the relay from Taupo and rode strongly to be 7th rider into the first transition changeover point. The two girls efforts were closely matched by Logan Gamble and Brandon Kinnaird who was final rider to pass under the finish banner back in Taupo main St. Their time was 5:35:52
Coming in second overall and winning the college category, four 14 and 15 year old boys from Palmerston North Boys High School in the Kia Kaha team rode at a blistering pace without mishap to come in under the magical 5 hr mark with an outstanding time of 4:52:53. Two of the boys in the Kia Kaha team were also in previous 2009 winning intermediate team (Ashhurst School).
Jordan Castle was first rider for the relay who was feeling so fit at the changeover he decided to continue and ride the full 160km. Andrew Bengston, Daniel Terpstra and Takumi Clarke were the other boys in the team.
Each school receives $1000 for the efforts of their champion kids. Last year Ashhurst school used the money to design and purchase 10 very distinctive cycle shirts for the school cycling team.
Two of the boys Jordan and Daniel recently competed in the other major code of cycling and were in the winning team of 3 at the NZ Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Relay in Rotorua on 16th October. Just goes to show there is no barrier between road cycling and mountain biking if the dreams big enough.