Whanganui helps NZ Skaters beat the Aussies

WHS students Renee Teers (left) and Monique Cleeve (former student) do well at the Oceania Speed Skating Championships in Timaru.

The Whanganui speed skaters who represented New Zealand at the 2018 Oceania Speed Skating Championships in Timaru over Easter all performed with distinction as the home team regained the Trans-Tasman title from Australia.

Chase Morpeth and Drew Brennan in the Cadet Boys (Under 15) were most impressive.

The two youngsters were the smallest and youngest competitors in their age group but both came away with a clutch of medals.

Brennan took a bronze medals in the 5km points race, the 500m and the marathon in an impressive display.

Morpeth earned silver in the 300TT and both Whanganui teenagers were in the gold medal-winning relay team.

In the highly competitive Junior Girls (Under 19) grade, Renee Teers brought home a bronze in the 5km elimination race and the 500m sprint.

She was a member of the New Zealand No1 Relay team, which took the gold from Australia.

Monique Cleeve threatened the podium all competition, making the 500m final but getting piped at the line by Teers.

Cleeve finally got a well deserved bronze in the 42km marathon behind the Timaru pair of Arianna Snook and Leah McDonald, with Teers fourth for a Kiwi sweep.

Cleeve also picked up a bronze as a member of the New Zealand No2 relay team.

McDonald was the overall Junior Women's Champion after a tough battle with Australia's Giselle Stogdale.

Andrew Jones was up against some class opposition in the Senior Men's class.

He picked up a good bronze in the 15km Elimination behind Australians Jaiden Lannigan and Mitchell Ross, being the lone New Zealander left at the finish, although he couldn't overcome the Australian pair's teamwork.

Jones got a string of fourth placings in other events but would have been disappointed not to have reached the podium more often, based on his recent form.

Whanganui's Rebecca Smith (former WHS student) coached the Cadet Girls grade to a win over their Australian rivals.

By Staff Reporter
Wanganui Chronicle 9/4/18