On a BMX high

Two Tauranga teens heading to Scotland to compete at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships will be putting their sibling rivalry to one side this month to cheer each other on.

Hannah Mason, 16, and her brother Daniel Mason, 14, have both quali ed in the top eight of their respective grades to represent New Zealand against the best riders in the world at the Glasgow event from August 6-13.

Argy bargy

“I was pretty excited when I found out I was going,” says Hannah. “Even if I don’t place, I’ll be going up against extremely fast girls so the experience will de nitely help me progress.”

Daniel is ranked fth in New Zealand his age grade while Hannah is ranked second in hers. It’s the rst time they’ve reached the worlds in what can be an aggressive sport. “ ere’s a bit of argy bargy when everyone’s looking for the gaps and trying to get through to the front,” says Hannah.

“You’ve got to be fearless.”

She enjoys racing despite a serious crash last year that left her on crutches. It took the Ōtūmoetai

College student over a month to recover.

“You can’t let it put you o . You have to be mentally strong to get back on the track,” says Hannah. “I still love the whole adrenaline rush with the atmosphere, the crowd and the racing.” She credits her younger brother, Daniel, with pushing her to be better. “He’s really fast, so we’re pretty even on the track,” says Hannah.

Push o each other

“ ere’s tough competition at the worlds so Hannah’s a good training partner,” says Daniel. “We’re similar speeds so we have the advantage to push o each other when we train.” e road to being nationally ranked BMX riders has meant up to six days a week of training at an individual and group level, both at the track as well as gym workouts and mental health coaching. “I’m Year 11, so trying to juggle training and study is hard. It a ects sleep, which is key in sport. I’ve been sick a couple of times, too, so I lost a couple of weeks,” says Hannah.

“We haven’t trained this hard ever before.”

“I’d like to achieve quarters or semi- nals,” says Daniel. “I feel fast in New Zealand so I’m looking forward to seeing what riders from other countries can do.”

Polly is a beautiful girl who can be a little shy at rst. But once she gets to know you, she’ll show her cheeky side. She loves to hunker down in her cosy cat bed and watch the world go by – now she’s hoping to meet her new family.

Our Polly Pocket is still a little wary of new people, so is looking for an understanding home prepared to put in a little time to see her sweet personality ourish. She needs a quiet, adult home where she can feel safe and be allowed to do things at her own pace.

Give this cutie a chance to come out of her shell! Have you got a chilled out, adult home looking for a feline to just t right in?

Call the Tauranga centre on: 07 578 0245. Ref: 576369.