By TBHS | Posted: Wednesday November 8, 2017
2017 saw our largest team attend the South Island MTB Championships in many years. For three days during the third term holidays, twelve of our boys slid through some muddy hillsides as Dunedin turned on its “liquid sunshine” for us.
The 280 participating riders rode in three distinctly different races.
The Downhill races were first up, an event that saw our riders on Signal Hill scream down treacherously steep, slippery slopes at death defying speed, “huck” some huge jumps, and shred through massive rock gardens. Timaru Boys’ had three riders in this highly skilled event, and Liam Barclay took 2nd place in the under 20 boys’ event.
Next up was the Super D, an enduro style of Mountainbiking that still boasts some tricky downhill riding, combined with a little pedalling. Cadell Tompkinson took a 3rd in the under 17 boys, and we had many other impressive rides in fields of around 30 for each age group.
The final day of racing was the fast paced XC (Cross Country) racing, and with conditions drying out, the track was fast and tacky. Hayden Jefferson took line honours in the under 17 boys’, and Sam Ritchie came in 4th.
Overall, out of the 70 schools entered, Timaru Boys’ came an impressive 6th overall. With the large Timaru Boys’ gazebo set-up at the finish line (thank you PTA) our own bike mechanic (thanks Chris Barclay ), a free bike van (thanks James at The Cyclery ), mums and dads helping with food, transport etc, we felt and looked like the best set-up school by far, generating a real team buzz that attracted many to our site (mainly the girls wanting to hang-out with our fine mannered boys!). Roll on 2018!
