Outward Bound gift scholarships to young cyclists

12th July 2010

Outward Bound gift scholarships to young cyclists

BikeNZ and Outward Bound are proud to announce their renewed partnership. Outward Bound is once again offering scholarships to talented young riders to attend their self development courses.

These courses offer the chance for under 19 riders to push their inner limits and develop their bodies and minds thru a variety of challenges in one of the most awesome terrains in New Zealand, the Marlborough Sounds.
                                                                                                                                       

Full scholarships have been awarded to promising road cyclists Ashleigh Neave (Hawkes Bay), and Jeffery McDowell (Rotorua).  Both of these riders have recently returned from racing the Tour of Canberra.

Cyclists who have attended these courses previously recognise them as a crucial part of their subsequent success. Elizabeth Steel, a 2009 scholarship recipient said “I don’t think that I left Outward Bound a changed person, just more solidified in many of my principals and especially in the belief in myself.”  Steel will represent New Zealand at the Junior Track World Championship in Italy in August.

Partial scholarships have also been awarded to mountain bikers Locky McArthur (Auckland), Madeline Taylor (Hawkes Bay), Charlotte Clouston (Auckland) and to Sam Baker (Auckland).

Taylor is the first of the 2010 recipients to attend the course. She hopes to use this opportunity to focus on her ultimate goal, competing at the mountain bike world champs in Canada later this year and says she is looking forward to “new people, new places, new everything in fact!  We will all be on the same page, where past performances are not clouding future goals.  I just can’t wait!  Oh and being away from school too!”

BikeNZ CEO Kieran Turner sees the scholarships benefitting the whole person not just the athlete. “Becoming a good bike rider involves more than just being able to ride fast. To make it to the top you need to have a huge amount of passion and drive and be able to fend for yourself and deal with adversity, especially when travelling overseas. The Outward Bound courses are a fantastic way to help our young athletes develop resilience and life skills that will not only help them to become better bike riders but help them throughout all aspects of their lives.”

BikeNZ are thrilled with Outward Bound’s generosity, recognizing the difference they make in helping young athletes to reach their full potential. As Richard Leacock, a 2009 recipient has expressed “Outward Bound taught me that a challenge doesn’t end where your mind stops, a challenge ends where your heart stops, as long as your heart is still going “there is more in you.”
 

Scholarship recipients:

Full scholarships:

Ashleigh Neave – Hawkes Bay
Jeffery McDowell – Rotorua

Partial scholarships:

Locky McArthur – Auckland
Madeline Taylor – Hawkes Bay
Charlotte Clouston – Auckland
Sam Baker - Auckland

Ends

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