Christ’s College gears up in SI titles race
05 Aug 2024
College cyclists have set the pace in the 2024 South Island title race, with Wilbur Talbot and Riley Crampton in flying form.
Both Wilbur and Oscar Talbot have displayed their class in the South Island Cyclocross Championships in Blenheim. Wilbur has taken the title in the U15 junior championship – finishing nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival – while Oscar has finished 3rd in the highly competitive U20 senior event.
In the South Island School Road Championships in Christchurch, Wilbur and fellow College cyclist Harrison Tapper have taken the top two spots in the U15 individual time trial, recording 04:52.97 and 04:53.57, respectively. Thomas Mortlock has also claimed a top-10 finish.
In the U16 time trial, Riley Crampton has proved too strong for his rivals, recording 04:31.80, while Ben Crawford has taken 5th spot and Oscar Talbot 8th in the U20 event.
In the U16 team time trial, College – featuring Cooper Godfrey, Arthur Brown, Thomas, and Louis Audeau – has finished 3rd, covering 14 kilometres in 24:46.92, while the U20 team – comprising Riley, Wilbur, Harrison, and Oscar – has also finished 3rd in 20:20.50.
In the individual road race, Wilbur has again taken the U15 title honours, with Harrison 6th while Riley has finished 4th and Louis 9th in the U16 event. Both Ben (4th) and Oscar (7th) have taken on the top South Island senior riders in the U20 road race.
Overall, College has finished 3rd in the team points competition, with the boys navigating illness and three riders having to gear up for a higher age-group category.
