Signal Hill has been the training ground for several of our mountain bikers preparing for the up-coming South Island Schools’ Mountain Biking Championships.

On Tuesdays, after school, Nick Beekhuis and Chris Hamilton, have been taking students around the courses showing them good racing lines and talking strategies ahead of the racing. Having the event in Dunedin and getting the opportunity to practice on the courses, will hopefully put our riders in a strong position for success. These sessions will be continuing until the event.

Otago Boys’ High School was well represented at the Twizel to Timaru road cycling race, held last weekend. Recognised as the oldest race in New Zealand, it was two young OB’s riders who made their mark on this historic race. In the Under 19 category, Louis Harris recorded the fastest time. He was followed in second by former student, Ben Hogan. Incidentally, Louis’ sister, Ella, recorded the fastest female time overall.

Next weekend, Cole Gibbons and James Gardner will head to Christchurch to compete in the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Road Cycling Championships. The boys will both compete in the Road and Points races. Both boys have been putting in some serious training towards these. A special mention must be made to Cycling Otago and their Youth Development programme.

Remember, mountain biking is happening again in Term Four. For this, students will be taken around many of the great tracks existing in Dunedin. The group will be supported by local mountain biking gurus, Nick Beekhuis and Chris Hamilton. Rides will be on Tuesdays, finishing around 5pm. Students can sign up for this option using the Summer Sports Registration Form (available from the School Office).