Nor'West News: March 06, 2018

NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday March 6 2018 7
Murray meets his match at CBHS
• By Julia Evans
A 17-YEAR-OLD Christchurch
Boys’ High student has
managed to do what the world’s
best rowers could not.
He beat Eric Murray.
Although it wasn’t on the
water, year 12 student Tom
Woelders took on the double
Olympic gold medallist and
four-time world champion
in a head-to-head erg race on
Thursday night.
Before the short and fast
500m race on their rowing
machines, Tom and Murray had
a quick warm up.
The race was over in just over
1min.
But when he looked down to
see his time, Tom said he was
surprised he’d rowed more
than three seconds faster that
Murray.
He clocked 1min 19.8sec,
while Murray lost by more
than three seconds with 1min
23.2sec.
CBHS rowing coach Ricardo
De Souza said Tom was selected
because he had the best erg time
in the school.
Mr De Souza said after
beating Murray it’s clear Tom
has a bright rowing future
ahead of him.
His good form is just in time
for the Maadi Cup, which
begins on March 19 at Lake
Ruataniwha, Twizel.
Mr De Souza said he never
doubted Tom could win.
“I always had my money on
Tom. Eric’s been out of rowing
for a while now. Where Tom’s
just finishing up the end of
his season. He’s been on the
water non-stop for the last six
months,” he said.
Tom he said he wasn’t too
phased by the calibre of his
competitor. But it was a “great”
experience going up against the
Olympian.
“It was a really good time. He
gave me a few pointers before
the race,” Tom said.
Although he wasn’t certain
he could beat him, it was a great
feeling looking down at the erg
and seeing his time was more
than three seconds faster than
Murray’s.
But beating Murray hasn’t
WARM
UP: Tom
Woelders
getting ready
to take on
Eric Murray
in a head
to head erg
race. PHOTO:
GILBERT
WEALLEANS
gone to Tom’s head.
His mind is firmly on the
next big competition, which
will be the last chance he has to
take out the Maadi Cup with
CBHS before he finishes
school.
“We’re just getting ready for
Maadi now,” he said.
After the race, Murray helped
the school name the two new
Laszlo boats in its fleet, which
the rowers will be taking to
Twizel.
Local
News
Now
• By Julia Evans
Fire rages, homes at risk
Road works
will add more
vehicles to
Main North Rd
AT LEAST 400 extra cars an hour
will be using Main North Rd
during peak times until mid-May.
It comes as the intersection of
Grimseys Rd and QE II Drive has
been closed to allow for construction
of two additional lanes on QE
II Drive as part of the Northern
Corridor work.
Traffic from Grimseys Rd is being
detoured down to Daniels Rd
and then onto Main North Rd.
New Zealand Transport Agency
delivery manager Colin MacKay
said it is a “noticeable amount” of
extra traffic.
“(The detour) will work well
when drivers are patient and give
themselves a few extra minutes
travel time.”
In May the intersection will be
temporarily open to one lane of
traffic. But from early September to
mid-October, the intersection will
be closed again as the new intersection
is constructed.
The new layout of the Grimseys
Rd intersection will mean that access
will be left in and out only.
Work is taking place between
Monday and Saturday, 7am to 7pm
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