Powerlifting
Masterton’s Harry Kent is hoping to bench press his way to glory at the World Powerlifting Championships in Rome next Wednesday. Kent qualified for the World Championships by winning his fourth consecutive open bench press title at the New Zealand Powerlifting Championships in Christchurch in August. Kent, who trains out of the Wai Weight Gym with Bevan Mackenzie, will compete in both the U94kg class Open and Masters [45-49 age group] in Rome and is under no illusions of how tough the competition will be in the first World Championships since before covid. His competition best is 162.5kg, while he has also unofficially pressed 165kg. The world record is 172kg, set in 2014, and Kent is a realistic medal contender.
Equestrian
Wairarapa’s Amanda ‘Muzi’ Pottinger will line up two horses as part of a big Kiwi contingent in Pau, France, this weekend for the last major event on the Northern Hemisphere calendar. Pottinger is starting her thoroughbreds Just Kidding and Good Timing in the five-star event. Seventeen-year-old Just Kidding has completed both Luhmuhlen and Badminton, while Good Timing is on debut at the top level. New Zealand is well represented at the prestigious event with world number four eventer Tim Price, along with Jonelle Price, Jesse Campbell, Samantha Lissington, and James Avery. The competition got underway overnight with the first of two days of dressage.
Cycling
Visiting rider Toby Evans powered through the field to win the ACM Wizwireless Watsons Rd Wainuioru Handicap Road Race on Tuesday night. The challenging 32 km out-and-back course, which featured two stiff climbs on the way out and a tough climb over Limeworks Hill on the return, was made even more difficult with a solid westerly headwind on the return leg. With the combined ascents and strong wind, the Scratch and Limit riders worked best together. However, this did not stop Evans from blasting past and sealing the win, with the fastest time of 51 minutes 41 seconds. Erik D’Arbois and Derek De Zwart were second and third, respectively, with D’Arbois claiming the John Chesmar Memorial Trophy.
