ORETI Park Speedway has had a mortgage on the Youth Solo Rider of the Year trophy for a long time, and this year’s Speedway New Zealand Awards recently held in Christchurch crowned yet another local rider with the honour.
In the past, Hayden Brookland, Cormac Buchanan and Kadin Cracknell have all claimed the title but, this season, Ryan Colvin deservedly claimed the award in his last season of junior riding.
The Invercargill teenager had a stellar season, claiming the Southland 200cc Youth Solo Championship early in the season where he managed to fight off some classy competition to claim the silverware.
Oreti Park Speedway’s biggest event of the year is the Burt Munro Challenge and, again Colvin got to show his class on the big stage, impressing many with another stellar victory and another addition to his already growing trophy cabinet.
Colvin was thrilled to win such a prestigious event in front of a hearty local crowd.
Colvin’s success wasn’t over by a long shot with him staking his claim at Moore Park in Christchurch. Colvin dominated the junior division, winning the New Zealand Short Track Championship. A clean sweep of wins gave him the Canterbury 200cc Solo Championship, and the Canterbury Remembrance trophy.
The only blip on the radar in Christchurch was caused by a mechanical failure, where Colvin placed second in the SNZ Youth Cup but, testament to this youngster’s attitude, he never gave up and second was a satisfying placing.
He took home an impressive haul of accolades from the recent Oreti Park Speedway prize-giving — 1st in season points for 200cc Youth Solos, 1st-equal in most grid starts, and named the Most Promising Junior Solo Rider 200cc, the icing on the cake for what has been an amazing season of speedway.
Colvin also spreads his talents far and wide with the youngster being a black belt in taekwondo, having competed overseas, and trains younger fighters in the sport.
Speedway is certainly a family affair for the Colvins, with older brother Lucas stepping up to the senior ranks in the past couple of seasons, also turning in some impressive results in the elite grade.
Colvin’s parents Mel and Shaun are also active members in the club with Mel on the Oreti Park Speedway Committee and a grade rep for the junior grade, while Shaun is always trackside supporting his boys.
Colvin now turns his attention to the 2021/22 season and the senior grade, a big step up from the small track he has dominated, but a challenge he is certainly looking forward to.
His ultimate goal in speedway is to race overseas, adding to the rich history of speedway riders from New Zealand competing and winning on the world stage.
- Daryl Shuttleworth
