Cody rides to coveted role |
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 CODY HOBBS displays the style that saw him made captain of the New Zealand Mighty 11s heading for Australia. 108061AD By Colin Thorsen Pirongia 10-year-old Cody Hobbs has not stopped smiling since clinching the captaincy of the New Zealand Mighty 11s BMX team on Friday and winning his first national title. The top 39 Mighty 11s riders throughout the country were put through four qualifying motos, a semi-final and final at Cambridge BMX Raceway to select the five-strong team to represent New Zealand in Australia in June. Hobbs, Trent Jones (Whangarei), Scott Slegh (Hamilton), Jonathan Varty (Rangiora) and Vishal Patel (Te Kuiti) will compete in the Pacific Oceanic Championships, Mighty 11s Cultural Exchange and Mighty 11s test against Australia. Cody was outstanding, recording three wins and a second in the qualifying motos, second in the semi-final and a win in the final. He and Trent Jones finished first equal on points but the captaincy went to Hobbs as winner of the final. The Pirongia youngster had huge family support - his parents, two sets of grandparents, cousin from Hastings and aunty were all trackside in one of the temporary grandstands especially erected for the selection trials and national championship. “He went out to win the Mighty 11s qualifying and had trained to be captain but he would have been just as happy and privileged to be the fifth member of the team - he just wanted to make the team.” Cody was one of the youngest in the field at just two months over the qualifying age. The youngster showed he can handle all the euphoria and added pressure by quickly coming ‘back to earth’ to win the 11 year boys’ national title on Sunday. What’s more, he went through all his four motos, semi-final and final unbeaten. He erased the disappointment of last year when, as top qualifier for the final, he fell off his bike before the first corner, costing him his first national title. But he has learned from that experience. He now flies out of the blocks in an attempt to stay clear of trouble as the riders swarm like bees to the first corner. Cody has appreciated the support of New Zealand Mighty 11s team manager Phil Anderson, who has helped him with training and race strategy, along with Malcolm McOnie. It was a mighty weekend all round for Te Awamutu BMX Club. Connor Loomans of Kihikihi created history by winning the eight year boys’ event. He is the first club member to ever win four national titles in consecutive years. Codi Merito (Raglan) collected his third national title in as many years winning the nine year boys’ event. Full details of Te Awamutu riders who made the top eight at the nationals will appear in Thursday’s Courier. |