Adventure News: Fierce Competition Expected at Gauteng Spur School MTB League Race

Adventure News: Fierce Competition Expected at Gauteng Spur School MTB League Race - Ndorfin, South Africa

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Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Fierce Competition Expected at Gauteng Spur School MTB League Race

Michelle Benson of Waterkloof finished first in the youth women's category of the 2011 Spur Schools MTB League Finals
(Photo Courtesy Peridot)

Fierce competition can be expected when more than 600 mountain bike riders will take to the track at Hartebeespoort High for the first leg of the 2012 Anatomic Spur School Mountain Bike League on Saturday, 28 July.

All mountain-bikers between the ages of 13 and 18 are welcome to enter in one of four age categories: Sub-Junior (13-14), Youth (15 years), Youth (16 years) and Junior (17-18) for boys and girls respectively.   Racing starts at 09h00 with the Sub Juniors, followed by the youth category at 10h00 and 11h00 in two age groups due to the number of entries and the junior category at 12h00. Prize giving should take place at 13h30.

Riders are welcome to register on line at www.highschoolmtb.co.za or from 18:00 to 19:00 at the Clubhouse at Harties on Friday, 27 July. Late entries can be done on Saturday from 07h30 to 08h30 and numbers can be collected until 11h00. Hartiess hostels are available for bed and breakfast to help all the schools that travel from far. Contact Bettie Botha at sport@hsharties.co.za or +27 12 253 1017 to do bookings.

According to event organiser, Deon Steyn, the league has grown tremendously over the last couple of years and spectators can look forward to an action packed weekend when riders battle out it out for top positions on the log.   Judging from the 2011 season schools likely to finish amongst the top ten this weekend are Waterkloof High, Grey College, Centurion High, Menlo Park, Florida High, Help Mekaar College, Potch Volkskool and Standford Lake College.

The Spur High School Mountain Bike League is set for a bumper 2012 season with 32 events to be hosted in nine regions across the country as well as in Lesotho, Namibia and now also Zimbabwe and culminating with the National Finals at Bekker School in September.    School teams that finish within the top three positions in each category at the respective regional finals automatically qualified for the finals.   There is however no restriction on the number of riders a school can field and any school is welcome to enter a team.

The League, which was launched in 2009, sported 2300 riders in 2011 compared to only 887 riders in the first year. According to league co-ordinator, Meurant Botha of Amarider, the Spur High Schools Mountain Bike League is successfully expanding the footprint of mountain-biking as a sport.

By promoting existing events and facilitating new events in as many locations as possible, we are making participation easy and accessible. The League gives high school pupils the chance to represent their schools in cycling in the same way as they do with the more traditional team sports. It also provides an annual showcase for promising, young talent, mentions Botha.

For more information, league calendar and results, visit www.spur.co.za/mtb or contact Amarider on 021 8844547.

Nicolas Poppich of Waterkloof finished third in the Youth Men's Category of the 2011 Spur Schools MTB League Finals
(Photo Courtesy Peridot)