George Herald | MTB League for young riders

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MTB League for young riders
09:30 (GMT+2), Thu, 19 July 2012

Young riders at the MTB League. Photo: Joggie Van Staden.

SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Mountain bike riding has grown phenomenally over the past couple of years and in South Africa we are blessed with wonderful weather and even better places to ride.

With this has grown the number of races riders may partake in. Most of these races are aimed at adults riding longer distances, while children are left behind.

The Spur School MTB League is specifically aimed at school children and to introduce and promote the fun element of riding on gravel roads and trails, while giving it a competitive edge while building recognition of this Olympic sporting discipline. The cross country style format where the riders ride a short circular course which allow riders to pass through the start/finish area a number of times, give their supporters and spectators an opportunity to see them for an extended period of time during the race and not just at the start and finish as with marathon/fun ride type of rides.

The first in the series of three in the Southern Cape races was hosted by MyTracX at the Waterworks next to Denneoord. Riders were able to earn prizes in their respective age categories, while earning points for their schools to recognize the top high schools in each region who are then invited to participate in the national final.

In the Junior Men category Estian Maree of Outeniqua High was the winner, while Adian van Niekerk of Glenwood House beat Dominic Miller by a minute for first place in the Youth Boys.

Louis Visser jnr. took an easy win over Johnathan Botha in the Sub-Juniors, both riding for Langenhoven Gimnasium, while Nadia van Niekerk of Glenwood House took the winning place in the Sprogs Girls category. Young Carlo Coetzee of Plettenberg Bay Primary was on his usual best form, riding his new bike finishing a good three minutes before Zinedine de Nil and Kish-Chant Conradie, both from Knysna Montesory in the Nipper Boys class. But it was the Nipper Girls Hadassaa and Saomone Conradie who stole the day by riding the 2km course (with Dad running behind them ).

With a food stall that supplied everything from hamburgers to pancakes and coffee, everybody was catered for while ER24's medics and ambulance put the riders (and parents) at ease with their presence as medical support.