Crashes may see venue ditched

Michele McPherson | 11th March 2010

Picture: JOHN BORREN Abbey Gibson, 12 (left), and Brooke Ryan, 11, from Otumoetai Intermediate School, were two of three girls knocked off their bikes during the 21st Annual Sport Bay of Plenty Quadathlon for Year 7 and 8 students at Pilot Bay on Friday.

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Organisers are considering changing the venue for annual Quadathlon after three girls collided with vehicles while on the cycle leg.

The incident has prompted the school with the greatest number of competitors to pull out before the end of the event on Friday.

After the third crash organisers of the event for Year 7 and 8 students, Sport Bay of Plenty, decided to cancel the cycle leg of the relay - something Otumoetai Intermediate School, which contributes more than half the 700 competitors, had already done during the heats.

The parents of the two girls taken to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance are both disappointed they have heard nothing from Sport Bay of Plenty since the event.

Principal of Otumoetai Intermediate School Henk Popping said the school was working with Sport BOP to consider other options for the event, including a shift of venue or canning the cycle leg altogether.

The third crash occurred when the driver of a van allegedly opened his door into the path of 12-year-old Tauranga Intermediate student, Imogen Durkan.

- See today's Bay of Plenty Times for full story.