Delivering packages around Auckland city has helped turn courier Jenna Makgill into a world champion.

Auckland City Harbour News, Friday, 15 August 2008

By SCOTT MORGAN

The St Lukes resident was the best woman rider in the Cycle Messenger World Championships held in Toronto during June.

The 22-year-old, who works for Urgent Couriers, says she wasn?t expecting to come away a winner.

"It?s kind of surreal. I just went there to meet other couriers and hang out."

But riding around the hilly streets of Auckland gave her the edge on the competition.

"Auckland is one of the hardest cities to courier in. Here couriers are more aggressive and people aren?t used to having bikes around," she says.

"There are more dangers and I?m really conscious that I?m going to get hurt."

The competition involved riding a set course for three hours dropping off and picking up packages at different checkpoints, while locking up her bike in-between deliveries.

((read more))

And just to make things that little bit more difficult, Jenna had to deal with unpredictable weather.

"It bucketed down three times, then the sun would shine. I spent a lot of time trying to keep my papers dry."

Jenna is also a former downhill mountainbike national champion, but says the two sports are completely different.

"In mountainbiking you always go into it trying to win.

"The courier competition is all about fun."

But she?s still keen to defend her title at next year?s world champs in Tokyo.

"What better reason to go to Tokyo and race. I can imagine it being really well organised."

Urgent Couriers managing director Steve Bonnici says they were really excited about Jenna?s success.

"She just wandered off and did it and the next thing we know she?s the new world champion.

"She?s really laid back and cruisy but she?s obviously got a really competitive streak when it matters."

-------------------

Mess media
==========