Southland cyclist wins Youth Olympic Gold
 
Invercargill teenager Jeremy Presbury outsprinted fellow Kiwi Callum Saunders (Tasman) to win Gold in the Keirin at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in Bankstown, NSW last night.
 
After being forced to come through the repechage following a third placing in his heat, the 17-year-old Presbury dominated the rest of proceedings, winning the repechage, his semi-final and the final in a time of 10.936 seconds.
 
“It was a bit touch and go there for a while with having to go through the repechage, which I was a bit worried about, but after going over it in my head a few times I picked out a few things I could change from the first heat and went into the next races with a much fresher mind set,” he said.
 
“Getting a win in any race is going to mean something to myself, my family and to everyone who helps me along the way, but to do it in an event like this is extra special.”
 
Saunders had an easier run through to the final after winning his heat and finishing second in his semi-final to progress directly to the main event, and consequently round out the New Zealand one-two.
 
Of the remaining Kiwi riders in the Keirin, Zac Williams (Auckland) finished 11th while Quinn Karwowski (Tasman) did not make it through the repechage.
 
The six-leg omnium event got underway yesterday with Chad Elliston (Tasman) and Liam Aitcheson (Invercargill) sharing mixed results leading into the remaining two events.
 
Elliston finished second in the flying lap, fifth in the points race and third in the elimination yesterday, followed by a 13th place finish in the individual pursuit this morning. Aitcheson logged a 15th, a second, a seventh and a fifth in those same events.
 
The Kiwis will be back on the Dunc Gray Velodrome today for the last two omnium events and the men’s sprint.
 
For full results, visit www.olympic.org.nz.
 
ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>