3 August 2009
Report on Donald Ross at world Championships in Adelaide, Australia
BMX rider the OSNZ sponsors
Donald has just returned from the World titles this week. There were 67 competitors in the 13 year old boys category.
After 3 races Don progressed through to the ¼ finals which were knockout rounds. After a good start one of the top Australians crashed in front of Don on the first corner and Don had to slow down and go round him which put him back to 6th in the field.
In an attempt to make up 2 places on the next corner Don tried an ambitious move to pass and crashed. Making a move was the correct approach as to follow the field around after being slowed down on the first corner would have meant not qualifying.
That was the end of the worlds champs for Don.
The observations were :
1. most of the competitors are considerably bigger and stronger than Don and in a power sport he needs to develop.
2. Don will be under going a training plan from the national coach with a emphasis on speed and power but understand at his age this is a 2-3 year plan.
3. As Don was number 2 in New Zealand, he has qualified for the 2010 titles in South Africa.
4. The NZ National titles in April 2010 and the World titles in July 2010 are the upcoming goals.
Thanks to the OSNZ for supporting Donal and hopefully the relationship can continue.
Update on Don Ross, BMX rider sponsoredby OSNZ
Referring to the update of 14th April, re Don coming second in the NZ nationaltitles.
Two weeks after the nationals, end of April was the last major competition of the year which was the final of a Super class series of 8 race meets over the past 6 months with double points for the last meeting. It is a great format with 3 races deciding the top 8 riders who race 3 finals with the winner having the best overall placings. Don came first, with the NZ1 person from the Whangarei nationals coming second.
It is now 10 weeks of training 6 days a week with some days being twice a day. We travel to Adelaide on 14 May with racing for the World titles being 24th to 27th May.
Strength training is a major focus over the next 18-24 months as Don is 10-20 kgs lighter than most of the other major competitors.
Thanks again to OSNZ and WTP Ltd for the support. It was great for Don to have Max and Christophe attend the final day and provide Don with a tune up of the back and body.
Alan Ross
15 April 2009
Dear Max
I really appreciate yourself and Christophe attending finals day at the NZ BMX Nationals on Sunday. It was really neat of you to bring the massage table to loosen up my sore back. All my friends were very envious of me getting such special treatment.
I came second in the final so are ranked NZ 2 for 2009. Last year I was NZ 3. Given my results last year at the world titles (world 6) in China and the 2009 nationals I have qualified to attend the World BMX titles in Adelaide Australia in late July.
I have 4 months of hard training ahead of me, starting next week. Being a student at SET (School of Emerging Talent) and having my coach from Hamilton helping with preparation, will assist me to ensure I prepare as well as I can.
Thank you to the OSNZ for your financial and general support. It is a really nice feeling knowing that you have the backing from a New Zealand wide medical organisation that also helps keep my body in shape through various injuries which are unavoidable in BMX.
Thanks again and I hope our relationship continues.
Regards
Donald Ross
February 2009 update on Don Ross, BMX rider sponsored by OSNZ
February followed a similar pattern as second half of January with three race meets. Don placed 4th, 3rd and 2nd in the race meets with all the top riders attending. Don is the lightest of the top 5 riders by at least 10 kgs and in some cases by as much as 20Kgs so after Nationals over Easter in Whangarei he will need to work on strength training before Worlds Meet in July.
Don will be wearing OSNZ race top and colours on Sunday 12 April which is finals day for the NZ Nationals.
SET(School of Emerging Talent) which he attends is great opportunity and challenge in time management to complete all the training and school work. At the Whangarei Boys High School sports days on the 2nd and 3rd March Don ran the 3000m (4th place), 1500m (3rd place), 800m (3rd place), 400m (4th place), 4X400 relay (1st place), 100m (3rd place), he is also cross training in other sports.
This Friday SET have a Decathlon with most of the 28 students running one of the legs (3kms run, swim 500m, and then a 3km run). Don is the only Junior to attempt the whole event, of which none of the disciplines are cycling so it will be a good challenge, especially for someone who struggles to swim 20 lengths of the pool.
March is all about training. We will update the OSNZ at end of March before Nationals Meeting at Easter.
Alan Ross
Trainer
The OSNZ is pleased to announce that it is sponsoring Donald Ross in his endeavors as a BMX rider of world standing. As he tours the country in competitions it is hoped that OSNZ members will be able to offer assistance to him at these competitions. This will provide an opportunity for members to both raise the profile of the OSNZ and advertise their own practice by way of business cards, pamphlets and banners. All of these items are going to be made available through the OSNZ Secretariat in the near future.
On 12th December 2008, Don Ross, Whangarei’s world rated BMX rider, was presented with his sponsorship clothing and funding from the Osteopathic Society of New Zealand. Don has also been accepted to attend the SETS programme in Whangarei. SETs (School of Emerging Talent) is a unique educational center for aspiring athletes which enables them to develop their full potential at their chosen sport while continuing their academic work. It has a total of 35 students selected from all over NZ.
Along with the newly developing BMX park at Pohe Island, Whangarei can now boast that it now has not only a world rated BMX rider but a venue that will be right up there with the best in the world in terms of an ability demanding course that will test everyone from the top riders to the rank beginners.
At present Don is training hard and will be competing in Melbourne at 6 race meets in 4 weeks time.
The Osteopathic society of New Zealand congratulates Don and looks forward to watching his career continue to develop.
Donald Ross
At just 12, Whangarei cyclist Donald Ross has achieved more then many could hope to in BMX racing. The Whangarei Intermediate School student is now has world rankings of fifth in the 24 inch category and sixth in the 20 inch category, after successfully competing in the World BMX Championships in China.
Donald says he was pleased to make the finals at his age in the competition for both the 20-inch and the 24-inch categories. He came fifth in the 24-inch but was more please with the sixth place in the 20-inch because the 20-inch is more popular and has more competitors. Living just across the road from the Whangarei BMX track on Riverside drive, Donald had an interest in BMX riding from an early age.
He joined the Whangarei BMX club when he was seven and has been riding competitively for four years. He says he likes the thrill of racing, plus the chance to travel.
Donald says despite once going over the handle bars and injuring his neck, he is not worried about jumps, even the extra-large ones on China. “Sometimes I get nervous before the big races but not really when I’m doing the races,” he says.
His father Allan says Donald is committed to his vigorous training regime, which includes conditioning training and traveling to Hamilton for coaching. The family has bought a starting gate, so Donald can practice getting out of the gate at home.
After reaching the finals, Donald has now qualified for next years world championships in Adelaide. He says his ultimate aim is to reach the finals of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010. Donald says he would like to be a professional BMX racer but is realistic about his chances. “You have to be the best in New Zealand to make a career out of it,” he says.
For the meantime, he plans to continue with competitions in New Zealand and Australia, including the nationals in Whangarei next April.
Here is the second of the two people that the OSNZ is sponsoring as a way of keeping the OSNZ in the public eye, and to provide a vehicle that will allow members to show their support as well as advertise their own practice when they come and compete near you.
The OSNZ will provide you with advertising gear to enable you to show case both the OSNZ and your practice.
Jason Allen
Jason Allen is a 27 year old track cyclist and is the second New Zealand athlete the OSNZ is proud to sponsor. Jason started his track cycling career in Blenheim. He now bases himself for his rigorous training schedule in Christchurch.
As he tours the country in competitions OSNZ members will be able to both offer assistance to him and show case the OSNZ as well as advertise their practices at these competitions.
A race calendar will be shortly posted on this page.
Jason has competed both nationally and internationally, with many top achievements to his name. His best results have come on the track where he believes his future lies.
Some of Jason’s most notable performances to date are:
Bronze Medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne
Overall World Cup Medal Winner in the teams pursuit
2 World Cup Gold Medals in the teams pursuit
6 World Cup Medals
10 times New Zealand Champion
9 Oceania Games medals.
Jason has ridden professionally for the last 5 years, two seasons on the U.S circuit, and three in Europe. To ride for any pro team requires immense passion, dedication, sacrifices and self discipline.
Jason’s goals over the next four years include:
2009 – to medal in both the individual and teams pursuits at the world track championships in Poland
2010 – win gold in both the individual and teams pursuits at the Commonwealth Games in India
2011 – to win a world title in the individual pursuit at the World Championships
2012 – to win the Olympic title in the individual and teams pursuits at the London Olympic games.