Local News for Local Communities
Issue 1,187
Friday 6th June 2025
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
100 Year Old Post Office Building Page 3
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HOOKED ON TRIATHLONS Darfield High School Year 7 student Blake Smith (10) became hooked on triathlons when he was just six years old. He competed in several triathlons such as the Weetbix TRYathlon, McDonald’s Youth Duathlon and the Rolleston Kids Triathlon until he was old enough to complete in junior triathlons. His first junior triathlon was the Canterbury Classic 2024, where he competed in the aquathlon and won his age group. He also competed in the Sea 2 Sky Triathlon 2024 but his mum, Gemma, says it didn’t go well. “He wasn’t used to swimming in the ocean with a whole group, so it was a bit of a shock. We didn’t have a wetsuit, so he was cold and almost last out the water, then his shoelaces broke in transition. I thought he would give up at that point, but he was determined, he rode a very fast bike leg and clawed back to middle field before the run and then finished in the top 15.” From there Blake was hooked and joined the Canterbury Tri Club in Term 4, 2024 – he had to be 9/10 years old to join. Gemma says that in triathlon your age is taken as to the age you are turning that year. “This doesn’t work well for Blake as his birthday is November, so he is competing with 11-year-olds even though he is 10.” She says he trains twice a week around Canterbury. “He loves it and doesn’t want to miss a session. His favourite part of a tri is the bike followed by the swim – his least favourite is the run.”
Blake Smith has been excelling in both triathlons and swimming, recently competing with the Selwyn Swim squad.
Continued on page 12... Windwhistle Golf Classic 20th Year Page 8
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