Unicycle champs on right track

Last weekend's Northland Regional Unicycle Championships is set to become an annual event, organiser and world unicycling champ Chris Huriwai says.

The two-day contest drew more than 60 competitors, the majority from Northland but some travelling from as far away as Taupo, Wellington and Nelson.

"I'm really happy with how it all went," Chris said.

"It was pretty much on par with the national event in the number of competitors and supporters, and the level of competition."

The 2012 event would follow the same format and most likely be held at the same venue, the Kaikohe Memorial Hall.

It was the first regional unicycling champs in the country and backed by health group Te Hau Ora o Kaikohe.

Events in the two-day champs included unicycle hockey, high jump and unicycle sumo wrestling. Sunday's contests in the street and flatland divisions were forced indoors by rain.

Three competitors stood out and cleaned up in every event - Daniel Wade (Dargaville), Samuel Tzikoucos (Kaikohe) and Sam La Hood (Dargaville).

Wellingtonian Chris Aitken, 16, said unicycling was "definitely" bigger in Northland than in the capital, which he said was due to Chris' work promoting the sport at Mid North schools.

He had enjoyed the chance to meet and compete with other unicyclists, winning the national category of the street and flatland events.

"In Wellington, I don't have anyone to ride with," he said.

If there had been a prize for most distant competitor it would have gone to Sophie Stirl, 15, from Dusseldorf in Germany, currently an exchange student in Johnsonville.

While unicycle hockey and freestyle unicycling were popular in Germany, street unicycling was less well known - so it was "pretty cool" to get some tips from a reigning world champion.

RESULTS

Long jump: 1 Daniel Wade (Dargaville), 2 Samuel Tzikoucos (Kaikohe). High jump: 1 Daniel Wade, 2 Samuel Tzikoucos.

Flatland: 1 Daniel Wade, 2 Samuel Tzikoucos, 3 Sam La Hood (Dargaville).

Street: 1 Samuel Tzikoucos, 2 Daniel Wade, 3 Sam La Hood.

Hockey: 1 Tautoro School, 2= Ohaeawai School and Kaikohe West School.