Ashburton Courier: September 17, 2020

SPORT
28 Ashburton Courier, September 17, 2020
Cycling siblings on top
MICK.JENSEN
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Siblings Amwolf, Konrad and
Tineke Artz have cleaned up
at theTinwald Cycling Club’s
junior winter seriesand plan
on taking their good road
form on to thetrack.
The junior cyclists won
their respective A, Band C
gradecompetitions and
Konrad finished just two
pointsbehindhis brother in
theoverall points
classification.
The energetic trionow
have ashort break before
they jump on fixed wheel and
brakeless bikes to raceatthe
Tinwald velodrome.
The winter road racingran
foraround 10 weeks andwas
covid­interrupted.
Amwolf,11, Tineke, 9, and
Konrad, 8, enjoyed amix of
time trials, short races, team
relaysand ahill race.
They practised anumber of
roadracing skills, including
drafting andtight turns, and
tookpartinhandicapped
races ranging from 100m up
to 8000m.
Amwolf Artz said he
enjoyed cycling because it
was ‘‘fun, competitive and
awesome’’.
He preferredthe track
because he went faster and
could clock up speeds of
Cycling siblings Tineke, Konrad and Amwolf Artz.
around 50km/h.
Hissiblings said they had
no particular preference and
enjoyed jumping on the two
different styles of bike.
Theyoungsters are
coached andencouragedby
Tinwald Cycling Club
volunteers Don Kirdy,
Amanda Evans and Don
Sutton.
They are able to borrow
both road and track bikes and
cycling shoes, if needed.
Theupcoming track season
starts soon andwill include
training nights on Monday
and Tuesdays and Friday
race nights.
Mother of the cycling
siblings, Lauretta Artz, said
there was agreat family
atmosphere at the club.
‘‘It reallyisanamazing club
andthe facilities for atown of
Ashburton’s size are amazing.
‘‘The clubmakes cycling
affordable and being able to
borrow bikes and tapintothe
cycling knowledge is just so
good.’’
She said her children had
startedatWhizz Wheels at
thevelodrome six years ago
andhad progressed up the
grades.
Basketballers on court
Year 7and 8basketballers
from Intermediate schools in
Christchurch and Dunedin
have descended on
Ashburton this week for one
of the few inter­school
tournaments taking place at
the moment.
Tenboys’teams and eight
girls’ teams, including oneof
each from Ashburton
Intermediate, have been
playing at the three­day
tournament since Tuesday.
Co­ordinated by Ashburton
Intermediate Year 8teacher
Robyn Mearsand with help
from Basketball Mid
Canterbury and basketball
parents, the tournament is
being held in the sports hall
at EA Networks Centre and
on allfour courts.
Strict covidprotocol is
being followed.
There are nine round robin
games for the boys and seven
for the girls. Semi finals and
Ashburton Intermediate teacher Jade Tonks with the girls’
team ahead of agame against Heaton Harriers.
finals will be played today.
Robyn Mears said it was
great thatasporting
tournament likethis wasable
to go ahead.
It was usually played in
Christchurch andhad been
made possible by the CAIMS
(Canterbury Association of
Intermediate and Middle
Schools) principals whohad
sat down, discussed the
logistics and made it happen.
So much hadbeen
cancelled because of covid
situation anditwas great to
be able to host this
tournament, she said.
Rugby on, crowd of 100
Spectators willbelimited by
covidrestrictions to 100
when MidCanterbury takes
on North Otago in asenior
representative rugby game at
Hinds on Saturday.
The match will begin at
2.30pm and will alsobe
livestreamed. Spectators
needaticketfrom Mid
Canterbury Rugby,ordered
via its Facebook page and
limitedtotwo per person.
North Otagowill be atough
test, as they comeoff a24­7
loss to South Canterbury at
the weekend, relinquishing
the Hanan Shield. Mid
Canterbury beatBuller41­17
at Hanmer at the weekendin
amatch thatgave coach
Jason Rickard achance to
blood some new players.
Thatgame followed a31­31
draw with South Canterbury
the previous weekend.
The Heartland
Championship was axed
back in March by New
Zealand Rugby but the three
HananShield unions formed
their own challenge series
based on homeand away
fixtures played over five
weeks. Buller rugby also
joined in for three games.
Mid Canterbury will play
North Otagoagainon
September26, at Oamaru, in
their final game of the
season. The Hammers will
not havethe opportunity this
season for aHanan Shield
challenge against South
Canterbury.
Mid Canterbury Rugby
chiefexecutiveIan
Patterson said covidhad
resulted in unprecedented
challenges but the unionhad
beenlucky to have some
rugby at seniorrep level. One
positive spinoff wasthat
moregamesmight be
livestreamed in the future
now unions had the
technology and know­how.
Saturday’s match will be
livestreamed via alink on the
union’s Facebook page.