The company waging KingsWay’s campaign for the 2023 Auckland Schools cross-country mountain biking competition is its strongest ever. Round 1, held at Riverhead Forest, resembled a battleground, as the team contended with foe, misfortune, and affliction, triumphing over all.
Our team were kitted in a striking custom racing strip, ablaze with KingsWay colours – all made possible by a fantastic sponsor (thank you, Markplan Engineers). There is absolutely no doubt the team look the business this season, a force to be reckoned with.
But no one was going to give it to them, and there was more than their rivals to contend with. The team was hit by illness, one member rising from her sickbed to the contest, and another struck with a gastro bug, losing his lunch mid-race. Talk about a gutsy effort. And there was no rest to be had on the day, as the fierce skirmishes of a morning’s racing gave way to an afternoon of intense action in the annual relays champs.
By the day’s end, every team member had a top 10 finish.
- Sienna Corbett, Tristan Corbett, and David Howie – 2023 Under-20 Co-Ed relay Champions! Seemingly fatally checked by the loss of their baton (race plate in this case), they never gave up – and who can forget how Noah Raikes raced to their aid to keep them alive.
- Dylan Steven, Ollie Raikes, and Ethan Gloy – 5th in the under-16 Boys relay category, and within a whisker of the podium.
- Sam Anderson, Noah Raikes and Josiah Beattie – 4th in the hotly contested U-20 boys relay category.
- Ethan Gloy – 10th in the U-15 Boys on debut – great effort Ethan!
- Sienna Corbett – 3rd U-16 girls – another podium, let’s go!
- Sam Anderson – 6th U-17 boys, gritty stuff
- The Under-20 boys category is new territory for the team, and what result – David Howie 1st, Tristan Corbett 4th, Dan Harrison 6th, Noah Raikes 9th
None of this would have been possible without top-notch ground support. The support crew of the 2023 company was fit for action behind the front lines as never before, with marquee, technical support, barbecue, and runners ready to leap to action and tip the balance at critical moments. Hats off to a terrific group of parents and supporters 
The 2023 contest has begun in earnest. The team has tasted success and is hungry for more.
“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot..!” Henry V
Next stop Hunua for round 2!
