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THE OLD VIRGILIAN - 31Rules Top which has been signed by allplayers in the 2014 team. It has beenframed and will go on proud display inthe College’s History Centre, alongsideanother recently acquired piece – anAustralian cycling top signed byOlympian Sid Taberlay.• From tragedy to triumph - it was atumultuous year for Tasmanian touristairline Par Avion and its ManagingDirector Shannon Wells. The yearculminated in Shannon’s companywinning Best Major Tour andTransport Operator at the AustralianTourism Awards— the first nationalaward for the family business in itsmore than 25 years of operation.Accepting the award, Shannon paidtribute to pilot Sam Langford, 29, whodied in an accident with aphotographer who was shooting theSydney-Hobart yacht race. “Theaccident in late December was anabsolute tragedy and we’re still tryingto get around that the best we can,”Shannon told The Mercury.In 2014 Par Avion launched a flighttraining program in partnership withthe University of Tasmania with theflying school attracting interest frominterstate and overseas, particularlyChina.Par Avion operates tours to theremote South-West National Park.Shannon’s father, Don, bought ParAvion 25 years ago - “My father hasbeen in aviation his whole life, fromthe air force, aged 17, then aerialphotography and working for theoriginal Airlines of Tasmania”.• SVC mountain biking star ScottBowden was recently featured in TheExaminer. The lead paragraph sumsup his standing with the Tasmanianriding community – “FEW ridersbetter encapsulate Tasmania’s loveaffair with mountain biking morethan Scott Bowden”.As Tasmania continues to expand itsworld-class catalogue of trails and a hostof riders turn their talents to elitecompetition, the 19-year-old hasefficiently racked up Australian andOceania cross-country titles at under-23level as well as claiming the OpenMen’s National series. Scott’sincreasingly impressive CV could seehim make a late push to representAustralia at next year’s Olympic Games.While Victoria’s London Olympianand Commonwealth Games bronzemedallist Dan McConnell secured onespot in Rio de Janeiro by winning thenational title, Bowden said thecountry’s second allocation is lessclear cut.‘‘The Olympics are in the back of mymind having won the elite nationalseries,’’ he said.‘‘It goes without saying that Dan hasone of the spots, but I would like tothink I could challenge for the other.’’With McConnell absent from two ofthe five rounds of the national series,the Hobart rider took full advantage,claiming the title in Toowoombawhere he also won the Oceaniaunder-23 crown.And in Bright, Victoria, he added theNational under-23 crown in an80-minute race which also saw strongfinishes from fellow OV Ben Bradley(fourth).Bowden’s route into mountain bikingwas almost as windy as some of thecourses he now tackles. He previouslycompeted in national titles of BMXriding, cross-country running, trackand field athletics and triathlon.He eventually found his way to roadcycling, and will contest this year’sNational Road Series. According toThe Examiner, “Mountain bikingreared its head when he was a studentat St Virgil’s College. They had 75acres of land where a couple ofoutdoor education teachers (led byMr Scott Williams and Mr SteveAitken), had built six kilometres ofmountain bike cross-country track.That put me on the right path, I metmore people in the sport and startedto get really motivated.’’Having deferred University for a year,Scott will travel overseas hoping tofollow in the bike tracks of Tasmaniannational champions OV Sid Taberlayand Rowena Fry by competing inworld cup events and possibly theworld champs in Andorra inSeptember, before resuming plans tobecome a physiotherapist.Good luck with your Olympicquest Scott!• Daniel Groom and Mitchell Free(Captain) and Matt Harris representedTasmania in the Pizzey Cup and theTennis Australia Cup. Tasmania tiedfor third but on count back was pacedfifth. Daniel was named as one ofeight in an Australian tennis Team ofMerit following outstandingperformances in circuit events.July 2015 Vol. 23 No. 33