HBHS Cycling Success

Sam Dobbs (Year 10, left) and Sam Gaze (Year 11, right) have both won their age group competitions in the Central Hawkes Bay Tour, one of the first national rounds of the junior selection process for international racing in Camberra.  They respectively competed in the Under 17 (48 starters)  and Under 15 (24 starters) Boys' races.  Rain and fog made the first and second stage conditions very challenging, and a number of boys crashed during the time trials.  Sam Gaze was first overall,  in King of the Mountains and going in to the last stage.  Sam Dobbs won the prologue (time trial) by two seconds, was second  in the first road stage, and gained the Hill Climb jersey.  The next major race the boys are involved in will be held in Rotorua in two weeks. 

Selections for the New Zealand team will be made in July, and Gaze is hopeful that he will make the cut.  His goals for 2012 include the Mountain Bike and Junior World Road Cycling championships in Spain.  He also aspires to compete in the Canada Tour, where Year 13 Scott Crieghton achieved such a pleasing result last year.  Sam Gaze wanted to make a point of thanking his father for taking him to the competition, and Andrew Barlow - the owner of Place Makers Racing Team.   Sam Dobbs would like to extend his thanks to his Mum for her support, and to his coach.