MOUNTAINBIKING: Teenager motors to national title

SHANE HURNDELL
Hawke's Bay's Vaughan Woolhouse has been mountainbiking for just two years.
But he knows exactly where he's heading, particularly in downhill racing. In his first attempt at a national championship in Nelson at the weekend Woolhouse, 14, won the national under-17 title.
"I couldn't be happier ... especially when you take into account I'll be eligible for the same grade next year," said the Napier Boys' High School year 10 pupil.
It's been a memorable summer for Woolhouse who is leading the national series in his grade after the first three rounds staged in Wanaka, Queenstown and Dunedin. In two weeks time the series will resume in Auckland before its ends with finals in Levin.
"I want to retain my lead," said Woolhouse who is trained by Wellingtonian Adrian Armstrong.
Woolhouse, who plays E grade rugby for his school, is aiming to compete in his first world championship in three years time. If his progress during the first two years in the gruelling sport is any indication he'll achieve his goal.
His Hawke's Bay Mountain Bike Club clubmate Aari Barrett of Havelock North was second, six seconds behind Woolhouse who scorched down the 2.5km course in 4m17.78s. Other Hawke's Bay finishers in the grade were 12th placed George Brannigan, 17th placed Brad Warren, 29th placed George Pratley and 31st placed Patrick McInnes.
Hawke's Bay's Ian Thurlow was 15th in the under-19 grade with a time of 4m35.67s.
While Woolhouse was winning his national title in Nelson at the weekend several of his clubmates featured among the major placegetters in the Gentle Annie event won by Palmerston North's Steve Pedley. Clive's Tony Loversuch was the best of the Bay starters in third, Gaz Johnson of Hastings was sixth and Napier's Ross Mepham 10th.
Napier's Sam Haslett was the first junior home, finishing 21st overall in the 80km 63-rider event staged on the Napier-Taihape Road on Sunday.