2008-09 - Tasmanian Institute of Sport

In January 2009 Rowena Fry won her first National
Cross Country Mountain Bike (MTB) title in Canberra
and also won the National Short Course Championship
one day later. In March 2009 Rowena travelled to
Thredbo NSW to win the Oceania Cross Country MTB
title. I would like to acknowledge the work of National
MTB coach Neil Ross who has work closely with
Rowena as she recovered from glandular fever. More
information on the MTB program is available in the
MTB program report.
Wesley Sulzberger signed a professional contract for
the 2009 season with French team Française des Jeux.
His first race for the team was the Tour Down Under
which saw him race next to childhood hero Lance
Armstrong. Wesley raced fantastically all week and finished
fifth in the overall classification. Wesley then
travelled to Europe where he competed against
Matthew Goss in the early spring classics.
Matthew has progressed each year as a professional
cyclist which was proven in the semi-classic Ghent to
Wevelgem where he finished a very impressive third.
Matthew was also the first Tasmanian since Tasmanian
Hall of Fame inductee Michael Wilson to compete in this
Peter Loft
finished third in
the individual
pursuit and
fourth in the
scratch race at
the Australian
Track
Championships.
year’s Tour of Italy. It will not be too long before we see
a TIS athlete compete in the prestigious Tour de France.
The first week of February 2009 saw us travel to
Adelaide for the Australian Senior, Under 19 and Para
Track Championships. Belinda Goss defended her
National Point score title for a second consecutive
time. Belinda backed this performance up with a second
placing in the 10km scratch race.
Under 19 cyclists Amy Cure, Peter Loft and Luke
Ockerby did not miss their chance as they made their
bid for Junior World Championship selection. Amy won
the Individual Pursuit Championships, coming within a
second and half of the junior world record.
She continued this form to finish second in the scratch
race. Peter Loft finished third in the individual pursuit
and fourth in the scratch race. Luke Ockerby raced to
second in both the scratch race and omnium. Newest
TIS scholarship holder, Ryan Hughes, raced well to win
both the individual pursuit and one kilometre time trial
in the LC2 category of para-cycling.
Newest TIS scholarship holder Ryan Hughes.
To round of this very busy period, Amy Cure and Ryan
Hughes showed their versatility at the Junior and Para-
Cycling National Road Championships. Amy won a silver
medal in the individual time trial and Ryan returned
with two gold medals in the individual time trial and was
crowned National Road Champion in the LC2 category
of para-cycling.
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