Jenna with brothers Bayden, 9 (left) and Lachlan (10) Clearwater.
Jenna Clearwater
Age: 12.
Lives in: Palmerston, Otago.
School: East Otago High School.
Family members: Scott (Dad), Joy (Mum), Lachlan (11 years) and Bayden (9 years).
Q What sports do you play?
A. Touch rugby for school and also Galaxy Touch, netball, volleyball and motocross. I gave up swimming halfway through this year. I do any sporting event I can at school, too. I always do the athletics, swimming sports and running events.
Q What are your big achievements in these sports?
A. In touch, I was part of the Year 7/8 East Otago High team who won the gold medal at the Koru Games last year. We also won the Otago title for our grade. For motocross, I have had a few podium finishes when I was riding the mini track. I moved up to the senior track at the end of last year so am still getting comfortable riding it. Probably the biggest motocross I've attended so far would be the Mini Nationals in 2017 but also the Michael Godfrey Memorial Motocross and the Gold Nuggets motocross are huge events.
I have qualified for the North Otago and Otago cross-country races, the North Otago and Otago swimming sports and the North Otago and Otago athletics through school for the past three years too.
Q What (or who) do you credit your sporting talent to?
A. Mum and Dad have been really supportive of me doing sports ... I don't think they've ever said no to me doing a sport. Anyone who has been my coach has been awesome and encouraging. Mr Herewini from school has been a big influence on me for touch ... he pushes us hard in training, but it pays off.
Courtney Duncan has always been a role model for me for motocross. It's even better that she's from the same town as me!
Q What do you most enjoy about sport?
A. I love that it keeps me fit and I really enjoy the time with friends and being part of a team.
A. I don't really like the travel to the motocross events that are far away ... sometimes we are driving for six or seven hours. Also, unpacking and cleaning my gear after a motocross isn't much fun. Getting injured has to be the worst thing though because it can put you out of all sports until you are better again. I had a big crash at a motocross and I wasn't allowed to do any sports for a couple of weeks ... I hated that.
Q What do you like to do when you're not busy playing or training for your sport?
A. I really enjoy helping Dad on the farm. I am happy helping shifting sheep, drenching, lambing and tailing. I help out in the shearing shed if I'm not at school too. I also like to chill out with friends, watching TV or just hang out with my brothers.
Q Do you have a goal would like to achieve in few years or so with your sport?
A: In motocross, I would like to get on the podium at the women's nationals in the future.
I would quite like to play touch rugby for Otago too. I just want to do the best I can in any other sports.
Do you know a motivated, can-do kid worthy of a profile?
Drop Alice Scott a line: alice.scott@alliedpress.co.nz
