Champ proves tough enough

By Gavin Staindl
DESPITE all her talent and skill on the bike, Courtney Field owes much of her success to her friends – who a few years ago were nothing short of cycling bullies.
As Courtney, 14, prepares for the national road championships in Shepparton this week she was reminded of what drove her to greater heights as a 12-year-old.
“She would come off the bike crying because one of the competitors had told her that her face resembled a cow pâté,” Courtney’s mum, Michelle, said.
“In the under-13s the races are mixed-gender, so the boys would work together to box her out because obviously, there was nothing worse than losing to a girl.
“But Courtney would often slip out the back and had to work even harder up the side to beat them.”
As her mum recalled the story in front of the same boys at a recent cycling meet, the now friends nodded in agreement. “It wouldn’t matter if we tried stopping her, she would win anyway,” one of the friends said.
Now, the Berwick Year 9 student is looking to add to her incredible winning streak when she races in Shepparton.
After taking out the National Junior Track and Sprint championships last year, Courtney turns her focus to the road where she seeks to pull off a remarkable quinella.
“It’s pretty rare, not many people can be good at the sprints and road race,” Courtney said.
Courtney’s sprinting talents were identified last year when she was named Champion of Champions, but as she is well aware, road racing requires a far greater endurance capacity.
But if anyone is capable of winning on the track and the road, it’s Courtney.
Last weekend, Courtney streaked into the final of the school sports road cycling championships by eclipsing opponents at the zone championships held at Casey Fields.
Despite a gear failure, Courtney rolled to a comfortable win with St Margaret’s Chloe Baggs putting in a gutsy performance to finish second.
The final of the school sports championships will be held in conjunction with the Jayco Herald-Sun tournament on 12-16 October.