National award for 10-year-old speedway rider

Monday, 31 July 2017

Nervousness stops when the race begins and adrenaline kicks in, speedway rider Cormac Buchanan says.

'I like going fast, it's a really good buzz.'

The 10-year-old's achievements in the past season (October to April) led to him being Speedway New Zealand's Junior Solo Rider of the Year. Cormac was not at the awards evening in Wellington recently, but was ecstatic when contacted from the dinner with the good news.

He is the third Oreti Speedway rider to win the title in recent years, following Hayden Brookland (2016) and Sam Taylor (2015).

Riders are nominated for the award and are judged on several fronts, including season's results and attitude.

Senior rider Jake Gillespie and speedway writer and commentator Daryl Shuttleworth were Southland finalists for other awards this year. 

Cormac's main wins last season were in the Burt Munro Speedway Spectacular and Southland Junior Solo Championships at Oreti Park and Remembrance Championships at Moore Park in Christchurch. 

The rising star was runner up in the Youth Gold Cup and Short Track Nationals at Moore Park.

Cormac did remarkably well at the nationals after his bike became unusable with an engine problem in heat one.

Hayden Brookland came to his aid by sharing his bike with Cormac for remaining races in the 125cc section.

It got a bit hectic at times with the bike frequently going to and from the track with Hayden and Cormac interchanging. Hayden finished third overall in the 200cc ranks. 

Cormac and his parents, Stacey and Kate Buchanan, of Kennington, had no interest in speedway until Cormac's aunt, Shelley Clark, of Invercargill, suggested he give it a go four years ago.

Clark's partner, Jason Harpur, races sidecars at Oreti Park.

Cormac was in the peewee grade, for 5 to 9-year-olds, for two years. 

The speedway officials put a lot of emphasis on safety, especially with junior riders, Kate said.

Knowing Cormac had been given safety training and wore protective gear in races gave her peace of mind.

'I do get nervous because he puts a lot into it [races].'

Most days he practises for at least an hour on a dirt track on his parent's property. 

Cormac's three bikes are serviced by his father and main pit crew worker Stacey.

One of Cormac's goals is three years away from achieving.

'I want to do road racing on the track at Teretonga, but [rules state] you've got to be 13.'

He and Nick Olphert are the only pupils at Waverley Park School involved in speedway. 

Cormac was learning many life skills in the club, Kate said.

'There's so much you can get out of sport. It teaches you sportsmanship, to set goals and be humble,' said Kate, who is corporate and communications manager for Netball South and Southern Steel.

Cormac's other sporting interest is playing second five-eighth for the Star under-11 rugby team. He is a goal kicker.