JOHN BISSET/Stuff
South Canterbury s top skaters will not be able to compete in the world championships this year. Pictured, from left, are Charli Nevin, Ella Benson, Roshean O Connor and Charlotte Clarke.
New Zealand’s top speed skaters will miss out on an opportunity to compete in the World Speed Skating Championships for the second consecutive year due to Covid-19. The championships are scheduled to take place in Cartagena and Arjona, Colombia, from September 4 to 11, but national coach Bill Begg said he had received news New Zealand would not be attending. A letter from Skate NZ, also known as New Zealand Federation of Roller Sports, says “due to the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide, the Government requirements for quarantine, and the health and wellbeing of our skaters and management, the NZFRS board have determined that the team will not be able to attend the event”.
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“But there was still some quality skating, particularly in the women’s section.” South Canterbury’s Charlotte Clarke won the women’s 50km in 1 hour, 36 minutes and 52 seconds, with Erin Green, of Blenheim, finishing second (1.41.46) and South Canterbury’s Roshean O Connor coming third (1.42.16). “Charlotte had been battling injuries, including a broken bone in her foot, but she’s come back and recovered in good shape,” Begg said. “The marathon race was ideal for her, as it was less intense than the sprints.” South Canterbury’s Callum Sandri won the Junior Boys’ 25km event with a time of 1 hour, 09 minutes, 36.41 seconds, narrowly beating teammate Brayden Teague (1.09.38.50), while fellow South Canterbury skater Tom Crawford recovered from a fall to get back in the action and finish in third place (1.09.52.16).
“As a result, there were crashes galore by our skaters.” Begg said standout individuals were Kyla Beveridge, who won the juvenile 300 and 800 metres race, with Grace Worner and Lauren Crawford finishing 2nd and 3rd in both, bringing the tally to six podium clean sweeps for this grade. In the primary girls section, Mia Rich won the 200m time trial and was 3rd in the 800m which teammate Oceania Purukamu won after being 3rd in the 200m time trial. Meanwhile, Callum Sandri took out the juvenile 300m time trial and 800m race, and Jan Kuepper finished third in the senior men s 300m time trial.