HAURAKI PLAINS COLLEGE BY AMANDA FITZPATRICK
ALWAYS ON THE RIGHT TRACK
hen one door closes another one opens and
in the HPC MotoX team it’s happened again
and to their advantage.
It was with extreme disappointment but also
understanding that we had to withdraw 22 team
members from Trident Schools MX challenge hosted
by the amazing BOP MX Club.
Twenty two kids were refunded their money
graciously, the club was very understanding of my
predicament. At Hauraki we follow the Hauraki Way
which is something that this team is very good at, we
may not agree with it every time but we respectfully
and with pride back our principal who for 14 years
has backed this team no matter who the team
members are, it is the Hauraki Way or no way.
The introduction last year to only be allowed to
attend Secondary School Sanctioned events was
going to be tricky and we knew that BOP MX Club
had the ball rolling, but time was of the essence and
it ran out – we will go back next year as we have the
letter from Sport Bay of Plenty to say the application
is in progress.
Yes, the kids and families were as gutted as was I.
We all know the work that goes in from everyone to
get a team this size organised to be there, we are a
team that run a 1-1 ratio, and it’s my belief this is the
reason why our team spirit is so good – everyone
gels and gets stuck in to make those special school
memories for the kids, knowing all the time the kids
are safe.
So what to do with all this EOTC paperwork I have
to do to get these kids out of school and how do
we turn that disappointment and negative into a
positive?
With the backing of our Principal and Sports
Director, we were granted the day to ride at the
Sandpit at Woodhill as a training day in preparation
for the SS Sanctioned cross-country coming up on
September 13 at Maramarua. The opportunity to get
in some coaching with Coach Hump was too good to
be true along with nine Dads riding with us as well.
Not only did our team get in four hours of riding
we received an amazing discount from Louise at the
Sandpit who also understands we all do this for the
kids, nothing to be gained but smiles which are worth
a million dollars in my wallet.
Dene Humphrey said, “The conditions were trying in
places, but the skills of the kids were superb!”
“It was great to ride with everyone in the team, the
day was awesome, thanks Fitzee!” Lucas Leicester
commented.
Nothing much more to say but “when you do the
right thing you are on the right track, we are always
on the right track, as a team we have nailed it!”
Bring on September!
KIWI RIDER 21