Adventure News: SPUR HIGH SCHOOL MTB LEAGUE NEWS

Adventure News: SPUR HIGH SCHOOL MTB LEAGUE NEWS - Ndorfin, South Africa

HOME | ABOUT | CONTACT | SEARCH | ADVERTISE WITH US

Adventure News

Home > News

Wednesday, 28 July 2010
SPUR HIGH SCHOOL MTB LEAGUE NEWS

Dylan Hattingh

EXCITING START TO SPUR HIGH SCHOOL MTB LEAGUE IN WESTERN CAPE

The strong team from Montana High in Worcester took the early lead in the Western Cape division of the Spur High School MTB League when they scored a total of 51 points at the first league race hosted by Amarider at Contermanskloof Farm this weekend.

Despite the cold, windy conditions, 25 high schools were represented and according to series coordinator, Meurant Botha, the track proved to be ideal for mountain bikers from novices to experts.

�The route included a combination of moderate climbs and descents through various terrain on the farm as well as a few easy single track sections and great fun was had by all. We are delighted with the number of entries in the first Western Cape event and feel that the Spur High Schools MTB League is achieving it�s goal to create a fun racing environment where riders can compete as individuals while at the same time earn points for their High Schools, � says Botha.

Montana dominated the Sub Junior category (13-14 years) with four finishers in the top 10, including Stefan de Bod in 3rd place. Ivan Venter (Parel Vallei) won this division in a time of 43 minutes and 47 seconds and Sybrand Strauss (Stellenberg) came in second in a time of 45 minutes and 33 seconds.

In the girls category Marne Botha (Paarl Gimnasium) held off Angelique Le Roux (Hopefield) and Dominique Rocher (Durbanville) to take the win in a time of 38 minutes and 36 seconds.

The youth category (15-16 years) Paarl Vallei dominated with Dylan Hattingh and Paul Rodenbach finishing behind Somerset West Private�s Ruan Erasmus, while Pascal Rocher (Durbanville) finished first ahead of Pia Carstens (Montana).

The Junior category (17-18 years) saw Jeandre Fourie (Strand) finishing first in a time of 1h:9min:05sec with Jurgen Uys (Paul Roos) second in a time of 1h:13min:32sec and Sipho Madolo (Makupula Secondary) in a close third in a time of 1h:14min:23sec.

Kayamandi�s Makupula fielded a strong team over all categories and currently sits in 3rd place overall. The next event in the Western Cape division takes place at Helderberg Farm in Somerset West on Monday, 16 August.

The Spur High School MTB League in association with Falke and Sportsman�s Warehouse will incorporate around 25 new and existing events staged by local clubs across the country over the next three months culminating in the action-packed finals to be staged in Gauteng on 16 October 2010 at 2010 Dirt Festival, at Rietvlei Farm & Lifestyle Centre.

RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES FOR FIRST GAUTENG LEAGUE RACE

The Gauteng division of the 2010 Spur High School Mountain Bike League, which also forms part of the Anatomic School series, kicked of this weekend at Rietvlei Farm in Alberton with a record number of 316 entries.

According to event organiser, Deon Steyn, the increase in entries from the previous record of 225, shows that there is a growing interest in the sport of mountain biking. �We were delighted to see that schools as far afield as Howick High, Stanford Lake College and Louis Trichardt travelled all the way to Alberton for the event and are looking forward to the next two events in the series. With Waterkloof High currently lying first on the log, followed by Florida High in second and Garsfontein High in third, we�re looking forward to an exciting season,� says Steyn.

The Junior Men Category was won by Stephan Reyneke of Linden High, while Jac-Johan Steyn of Menlonpark High came first in the Youth Men Category and Neil Robinson of Trinity House took the lead in the Sub-Junior Boys Division. Tarryn Brent of Stanford Lake took first position in the Youth Women Category with Emily Chalmers-Banks of Howick High first in the Sub-Junior Girls Division and Lur� Viljoen took first in the Junior Women�s Division.

Spur Steak Ranches, South Africa�s leading family restaurant group, launched the Spur High School MTB league with support from Falke and Sportsman�s Warehouse in 2009 to create a safe, yet competitive racing environment for mountain bikers between the ages of 13 and 18 and saw more than 1600 riders, of which 887 were unique riders, compete around the country.

According to Meurant Botha of league coordinators Amarider, a non-profit organisation aimed at exploring and improving off-road cycling opportunities in Africa, the aim is to double the number of entries in 2010. All mountain-bikers between the ages of 13 and 18 are welcome to enter in one of three age categories: Sub-Junior (13-14), Youth (15-16) and Junior (17-18) for boys and girls respectively.

The next Gauteng event will take place at Hartebeespoort Dam on Saturday, 14 August.

For more information and league calendar visit www.spur.co.za/mtb or contact Amarider on 021-884 4547.