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Youngest team ever to tackle Gibb quest

Headshot of Jakeb Waddell
Jakeb WaddellBroome Advertiser
Keats Sullivan, 11, Caleb McMahon, 10, Wyatt Smith, 12, Harry Rahman, 11, Cayden Sullivan, 12, and Safie Matthews, 12 training for the Gibb Challenge.
Camera IconKeats Sullivan, 11, Caleb McMahon, 10, Wyatt Smith, 12, Harry Rahman, 11, Cayden Sullivan, 12, and Safie Matthews, 12 training for the Gibb Challenge. Credit: Broome Advertiser

Six Broome children are set to make history later this year when they become the youngest group to participate in the ultimate Kimberley quest.

The annual Gibb River Road Mountain Bike Challenge will be held in May, bringing competitors from across the State and beyond for a 660km five-day trek between Derby and El Questro Station, near Kununurra.

Among those who have entered so far are a group known as the Gibb Groms — six students aged between 10 and 12 — the youngest to ever take part in the event.

Cayden and Keats Sullivan, Caleb McMahon, Wyatt Smith, Harry Rahman and Safie Matthews have been busy training for the event, which comprises running, swimming and riding components.

Not only will they be the youngest ever to compete, but they will be Broome’s first team made up entirely of school students.

Saffie, the only girl in the group, said it was an awesome feeling to make history.

“It is unreal that we are the youngest team to ever enter, it feels like a big achievement,” she said.

“Training with the other boys has been really fun, we are all pretty competitive which I think is really good.”

Cayden, 12, said he and Harry came up with the idea and gathered up a few of their friends.

“We were out riding one day and then we just said, ‘Let’s do it’,” he said.

“Since then we have been riding through Minyirr Park, behind the airport and trying to get fit.

“We are looking forward to finishing it and knowing we completed it and it’s done, that will be the real achievement.”

Tracy Sullivan, mother of Cayden and Keats, said the team had organised everything themselves, found their own motivation and come up with fundraising initiatives.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service will be the principal beneficiary of this year’s event, a service members of the group and their families have had to use before.

GRRMBC event director Simon Rimmer said he was blown away by the Groms and their commitment.

“This is without a doubt the youngest group to ever compete,” he said.

“It is great to see young people giving back to an organisation that has helped them and their families at such a young age and it has been inspiring to say the least.”

The event will kick off on May 19 and requires entrants to raise $1000 to enter. To donate to the Gibb Groms, visit mycause.com. au/page/191593 the-gibb-groms.

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