Oscar Elworthy

While at Takapuna Grammar School in Auckland, Harry Elworthy won the coveted Julian Dean road cycling trophy, appeared on breakfast television and earned an academic scholarship to the prestigious Duke University in America.  

His brother Oscar Elworthy is in Year 11 and appears to be an equally capable cyclist. In his first competitive season two years ago, Oscar won the National junior road race title in Feilding. Harry explains why he took up the sport.

"I followed my brother into it I guess. I turned up to the school time trials to get a place on the cycling team. I beat some older kids and decided to stick to it," he says.

In peak season Oscar trains up to 20 hours a week. He surprised even himself with his National success in Year 9.

"It was a pretty good first season," Oscar says.

Oscar has continued to flourish. In 2014, he was a part of the 46-member Takapuna team that claimed three national records, 17 medals, and 48 top 10 results at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships.

Oscar and fellow students Jacob Kench and Harry Waine make up three-fifths of the five-man Bike New Zealand Under-17 road cycling team.

The guidance of former pro riders Scott Guyton (School Coach) and Tim Gudsell (Personal coach) has been huge.

"Both guys have ridden internationally and have been a great help to me", Oscar says.

"They do all the things that good coaches do like pick me up when I am down, answer questions and motivate me to get better."

Two weeks ago Oscar had his first international victory when he won the four-day under-17 Canberra Junior tour title. He beat more than 50 competitors from New Zealand and Australia.

The event consisted of four stages, an opening day time trial, two road races and a criterium. Oscar won the time trial, finished second in the last road race and did enough in the other two races to preserve his lead. Oscar explains the challenges of being out in front on the last day.

"It rained really heavily during the criterium so I was really cautious. I didn't want to lose my lea, but at the same time I had to go fast enough to hold on."

The school season is set to commence soon. Oscar will compete at the North Island and National championships while Takapuna is expected to defend their Auckland teams' time trial title.  

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