Blonde girl power triumphs

By Jim Mynard
ST MARGARET’S School students weren’t about to let the boys have things all their own way when it came to human powered vehicle (HPV) racing.
Six girls from year 11 and four from year nine have taken up the challenge.
Year nine student Kristina Behrsin asked the pertinent question: “Why can’t we do HPV?”
St Margaret’s students had been linked with students from the Berwick Secondary College and were perhaps on the edge of the sport, but they formed their own team ‘Something Blonde’.
To top it off they had the benefit of HPV expert Terry Trevena as their coach.
The girls said they were grateful to the college for teaching them how the sport worked, but were also keen to have their own school team.
They have their own training vehicle and began training in April this year.
The girls went to Maryborough two weeks ago and were placed 28th from 78 teams in the 24hour event.
They were one of two allgirl teams and broke the girls’ record by 50 kilometres.
Mr Trevena said the big thing for him was that the girls packed three years’ learning into a few months.
“They have taken over their own riding and team management,” he said.
“They have a very high level of organisational skills, but they face big challenges.
There are some big schools gearing up to take their crown next year.
“They set a high standard and others are after it.”
Mr Trevena said the first week’s training was a little dodgy, but once they grasped the way things were done they took over.
“I was shell shocked in that first week,” he said.
Now two of their biggest fans are coach Terry Trevena and their principal Helen McDonald.