College sports: World champion sailor sets course for studies

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

After a month beating world champions on Mediterranean courses, yachtie Michael Bullot is back in New Zealand to try to sail through Bursary studies.

The Westlake Boys' High School student is the world's first sailor to win the Laser Radial Open and Youth World Championship titles.

Bullot, aged 17 and a member of the Murray's Bay Yacht Club, was consistently in the top 10 finishers of races at both regattas.

Despite the breeze favouring the lighter sailors, Bullot won his first two races and was only out of the top 10 finishers when he copped two yellow flags, putting him out of a fifth race.

The double victory in Barcelona helped to overcome disappointment at his fourth place in a Laser fullrig at the ISAF youth championships in France. "I was a bit disappointed with fourth. I mean it's really good, but I was gunning for the win."

New Zealand also picked up two other gold medals. Bullot teamed with Chris Kitchen and Kate O'Brien to win the teams gold. O'Brien, of St Cuthbert's College, was the leading girl in the competition.

RUGBY LEAGUE

The New Zealand under-18 side's 0-2 series thrashing by an English Academy team was a wake-up call for New Zealand rugby league, under-18 coach Michael Rawiri said.

He said that unless money was poured into developing young talent, the national senior side would eventually be playing for third place behind Australian and Britain.

New Zealand under-18 lost 8-34 and 16-76 in the test series.

"Their forwards were faster than our backs. They were big. We're usually big, but they were bigger," Rawiri said.

The New Zealanders were on the back foot before they even ran on to the field. They were up against 18 and 19-year-old professionals, with five of the English Academy team already playing in the Super League.

England have pumped £4.3 million ($14.9 million) into rugby league development and the Academy side prepared for a year for their New Zealand tour.

Three of the Kiwi under-18 squad were 17 and 18-year-olds playing their first season in the Bartercard Cup, but the rest were straight from school.

"They [England Academy] had 22 staff to 44 players, while we had a coach, manager and trainer. The boys had one pair of training shorts and one t-shirt," he said.

The side had three days of preparation and Rawiri was appointed coach only 10 days before the first game. He was confident England would now beat Australia.

HOCKEY

Auckland Grammar and Westlake Boys' High remain unbeaten after four rounds of the boys inter-city championships, tied at the top of the table on 12 points.

Grammar have scored 15 goals and have yet to concede one.

Epsom Girls' Grammar head the girls competition, winning three of their four games and a scoreless draw with Kings two weeks ago. Epsom were too strong for Westlake girls last week, winning 4-1.

AEROBICS

There will be one-arm press-ups, high-kicks and splits at the national secondary school championships in Auckland on Sunday.

Kylie O'Loughlin (Epsom Girls' Grammar) and the Ali twins, Genevieve and Annabelle, from St Cuthbert's College, are favourites for titles after the three teamed to finish fifth in an international event.

O'Loughlin, a New Zealand junior international development squad member, will compete in the individual section. The Ali twins will feature in the duo event.

This week:

TODAY

Intercity boys hockey.

Auckland regional premier girls soccer.

Counties-Manukau netball.

TOMORROW

Intercity girls hockey.

FRIDAY

Auckland: basketball, squash.

SATURDAY

New Zealand secondary schools North Island, South Island knockout rugby league.

Auckland: rugby, soccer, netball.

Counties-Manukau: rugby, Lenco Cup rugby.

North Harbour: rugby, netball.

SUNDAY

New Zealand secondary schools aerobics championships, Auckland.

New Zealand secondary schools judo championships, Hamilton.

Auckland: sport climbing, cycling.

MONDAY

Auckland: girls rugby semifinals.