A Festival of Pedal Prix

Over the weekend of Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June, our Pedal Prix program took part in the annual Festival of Pedal Prix, as Round 3 of the Adelaide University, Australian HPV Super Series.

Across the three days, Norwood Pedal Prix Racing fielded 11 teams, offering more than 70 students and community members the opportunity to take part. We welcomed 13 students from Magill Primary School as we conducted our first-ever Pedal Prix Experience, serving as a feeder program for 2026.

A brief recap of the results is below and read on for a day-by-day race report.

Friday 13 June, saw 6 of our Year 10 and 11 students take up Team Manager roles to guide and facilitate a Pedal Prix Experience for 13 Year 6 students from Magill School. Over the past few months, students have been busy training the new riders in vehicle handling, race rules, sportsmanship and race craft, so they could successfully navigate their first event. With some stunning weather and a keen field of over 40 primary schools from SA and Victoria, it was an exciting day to be a part of. The Magill students rode superbly, showcasing their ability to adapt and respond to the new experience, our NIHS students ensured the experience ran smoothly with rider order completely, pit wall communication and constant trike maintenance. The students in Sting 1, rode into the top 10 overall, completing 121 laps. The students in Sting 2 built their confidence through the day and in a close battle with East Parra Primary came through 1st in the Mixed Category. It was a successful return to the race track for Magill School who haven’t been a part of Pedal Prix racing since 2010.

Saturday 14 June, allowed our parents, staff, and supporters to experience the sport they spend so much time facilitating. This provides an engaging and competitive platform for parents to engage with their children in a truly shared experience. There is something awesome about the roles being reversed and our students cheering on their parents/ caregivers, or staff from the pit wall. An exceptionally wet day of racing was had, showing that even the masters teams demonstrate an excellent level of resilience.

Sunday 15 June rolled in with 7 trikes and nearly 50 students taking part from NIHS. A cool morning greeted the field as they watched the Pedal Prix Racing Super Sprint. Conditions were improving through the morning, and although a slippery start was ahead, the atmosphere was building as 120 teams from across SA and Victoria assembled on the grid. At 9:30am, the flag dropped and the high school teams were away for 6 hours of electrifying racing.

Team XP8

Team XP8 kicked off the race with a composed and strategic ride from Thomas (Year 10), who settled confidently into third place behind Bendigo Secondary College and Pembroke School. This strong position was maintained by senior riders Nick and Connor (both Year 12) until an unfortunate crash and mechanical issue saw the team slip to seventh place.

Demonstrating resilience and focus, Digby (Year 12) completed an impressive and lengthy stint, propelling the team back into third position. From there, Luca (Year 11) and Remy (Year 12) held their ground with calm determination, successfully defending against pressure from the fourth-placed team for the final two hours. Remy crossed the finish line nine laps clear, securing a well-earned podium finish.

Despite the mid-race setbacks, XP8 delivered a strong race – a testament to their teamwork, technical skill, and racing maturity.

Team Spurls

Team Spurls approached Sunday’s race with quiet determination, still carrying the memory of a narrow one-lap loss to Walford in 2024. They opened the race with a clean and confident start, immediately establishing themselves as strong contenders. The first half of the event saw a thrilling lap-for-lap battle between Spurls and Walford’s trike, Beeyonce, showcasing the skill and focus of both teams.

As the race progressed into the second half, Spurls began to build a steady lead, ultimately pulling away and holding off a determined push from Beeyonce to secure a convincing finish—nine laps ahead. A standout moment of the day was Year 10 student Grace K., who claimed the title of Fastest Lap for the Senior School, All Female teams, adding an individual highlight to the team’s overall success.

Team Spurls continues to demonstrate strength, strategy, and school spirit in every turn of the pedal.

Team Focus

Team Focus competed with determination and spirit in Sunday’s race. While the final placement may not have been quite what they were hoping for, the team demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and a genuine love for the sport. Highlights from the event included successfully navigating the challenges presented by Turn 1—avoiding multiple crashes—and maintaining impressive focus and control during several rain-soaked laps with limited visibility. It was a challenging yet rewarding race, and the team should be proud of their efforts.

Team Protégé

Team Protégé continued to show steady progress and strong teamwork in Round 3. Austin (Year 8) set the tone early with a confident and composed start, and fittingly returned to the track to bring the race home—securing an impressive 3rd place in the Middle School Category.

The team’s commitment to developing their riding skills was evident throughout the day, with a clear focus on keeping the trike upright and safe under race conditions. All riders are continuing to improve their lap times, reflecting growing confidence, technique, and experience.

It was a rewarding race for Protégé, highlighting the team’s growth and potential moving forward.

Team Enigma

Team Enigma began the race with a solid start, showing promise before an early mechanical issue prompted an unexpected pit stop. The team’s strategy of opening with experienced riders set a strong foundation before handing over to the enthusiastic Year 7 students, who embraced the challenge with great energy and commitment.

The race concluded on a high note, with Annabel (Year 8) delivering a confident and determined final stint to bring the trike across the finish line for a well-deserved 2nd place in the Middle School, All-Female Category.

Team Astro

Round 3 of Pedal Prix at Victoria Park was a standout success for Team Astro. This round was not just about speed—it was a true test of teamwork. From seamless rider changes to clear communication and unwavering support in the pits, every team member played a vital role. The group remained focused and energised throughout the event, responding to challenges with cohesion and a positive spirit.

Team Rampage

Team Rampage put in a solid performance in Round 3, with Maximo (Year 7) delivering an excellent start and achieving the team’s fastest lap of the day—a quick 1:48. The team finished 11th in the Middle School Category, with no major crashes and consistently clean riding throughout the event.

The riders continue to focus on refining their changeover technique, working hard to improve speed and efficiency in the pits. With every round, Rampage is making great strides and showing encouraging progress in all aspects of racing.

It was an awesome weekend of racing for Norwood Pedal Prix Racing, over the three days our teams travelled more than 2600km and showed excellent sportsmanship on and off the track.

We were fortunate to have to have the wonderful support of our Team Managers.

• XP8 – Phil Duncan & Colin Sweeney
• Spurls – Kimberley O’Brien & April Kelly
• Enigma – Jo Hess & Janine Basso
• Focus – Simon Clark & Ben Cox
• Protégé – Michael Burgan & Colin Sweeney
• Astro – Mick Hopton & Brenton Davey
• Rampage – Sara Maturana

Over the three days, our supporters and parents covered over 10 hours of track marshalling and countless other roles supporting our riders and students.

If you would like to get involved in the Pedal Prix Program, we are still seeking more riders (especially females). Please get in contact via dl.0787.pedalprix@schools.sa.edu.au

Ben O’Connell
Pedal Prix Manager