2019 Perago Trust recipient Rico D'Anvers gives an update on his training and competition
Hi Perago Team,
Sorry I have not been in contact, I have been busy with exams and final school assemblies.
Thought I’d send through some photos and a quick blurb about recent achievements and upcoming events.
Firstly, thank you so much for the kind donation to help me pursue my passion for BMX racing. This is going to be an enormous help in the early months of 2020, as I plan to head to four UCI World Cup rounds held over two weekends in Bathurst and Shepparton, Australia. Competing against the Olympic Gold Medalist, and all the other top Elite men riders from across the world is going to make these events easily the most difficult races I have attended, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and an opportunity to develop myself as a rider and athlete.
Recently, I competed at the BMX North Island Champs over Labour Weekend in the Junior Elite Men category, coming away with first place. After 13 years in the sport, this is my first North Island Title, hence it is something I am very glad to achieve. Since then I have had to take the load off my training to enable me to study for my exams. Which went relatively well and is a huge relief to have ticked off!
I am fortunate enough to be awarded a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship for Waikato University starting next year. This has been a goal of mine for the past four years, so I am extremely grateful and happy to be chosen for such a prestigious scholarship. I will keep this scholarship providing I endorse NCEA Level 3 with Merit from the recent examinations.
At the final school assembly I was awarded the ’St Paul’s Great Oak Award’. Which is given to one male and one female who is chosen by the other year 13 students who exhibits the following qualities: loyal, displays respect, acts with integrity, brings humour to a situation, role models positive behaviour, handles adversity with courage, follows through with his or her promises, takes responsibility for his or her actions, and exercises forgiveness and tolerance. I am very humbled and grateful to receive this award, and am glad that my peers see me in this way.
Thanks for the support.
Rico D'Anvers
