Curro Cup Mountain Bike Regional Challenge cycles through Gauteng

Curro Schools
(From left to right) Keiana Broodryk from Curro Serengeti, Kamogelo Rapao from Curro Academy The Blyde and Mailey van Staden from Curro Academy Wilgeheuwel

Following a successful start in Cape Town, the second leg of the Curro Cup Mountain Bike Challenge took place in Gauteng on Saturday, 12 March 2021, at Curro Midrand Sagewood Campus.

More than 90 learners from 12 primary and eight high schools across the region put their foot on the pedal for the second-ever inter-school sports challenge.

Curro Aurora Independent School took home the greatest number of wins, with Gemma Guebert taking top spot in the Girls Sprog category (11-12 years) and Josh Dike triumphing in the Junior Men (17-19 years) category. The school also came out on top for the best girls team (primary), best mixed team (primary), best boys team (high school) and best overall team (high school).

From left to right) Juan Holtzhause from Curro Krugersdorp, Josh Dike from Curro Aurora and Mothekgi Makgatho from Curro Academy Soshnaguve

Two other Curro schools also deserve a worthy mention – Curro Academy The Blyde came out on top for the best boys team (primary) and Curro Academy Wilgeheuwel for best overall team (primary). A full list of individual winners for each category is listed further below.

(From Left to right) Logan Fourie from Curro Aurora, Nicholas Black from Curro Aurora and Morena Nyathi from Curro Academy Protea Glen

The Curro Cup aims to highlight and celebrate the independent school group’s best sports stars and teams across 12 sporting codes including athletics, rugby, netball, hockey and eSports, swimming, golf, and mountain biking. As part of the mountain biking competition, riders pursue a short, marked course, undertaking a varied number of laps depending on their chosen race category.

(From left to right) Schalk Burger from Curro Aurora, Mashudu Bosch from Curro Academy Cosmo City and Sinalo Dlakana from Curro Academy Wilgeheuwel

“Curro’s commitment is focused on the development of cycling as a sport in particular female and beginner riders. Technical aspects of the course included A-Frames, Bearms and tassel top obstacles. The course included grass terrain which requires endurance to race. Laps varied from two to four depending on the ages of the riders. Children aged six to eight years would complete two of the shorter laps of the course and the older kids the longer course of about four laps. The course was about one to 1.5km long,” explains Jaco Kotze, co-founder of Cycle2Ride, an initiative supported by Curro and hosts of the competition.

(From left to right) Keiana Broodryk from Curro Serengeti, Kamogelo Rapao from Curro Academy The Blyde and Mailey van Staden from Curro Academy Wilgeheuwel

The final leg of the Mountain Biking Challenges is scheduled to take place in Durban later this month.

“This competition gives our learners another excellent opportunity to propel their dedication, passion, and talents to a national level. We know that sports play a critical component in child development as well as promoting health and fitness and encouraging competition amongst peers, and all of this combines to create an enriching learning experience,” concludes Curro Holdings CEO, Andries Greyling.

Full List of Winners (GIRLS)

CategoryNameAgeSchool
Sub NipperKamogelo Rapao7-8 yearsCurro Academy The Blyde
NipperLwandle Ndhlovu9-10 yearsCurro Academy Wilgeheuwel
SprogGemma Guebert11-12 yearsCurro Aurora
Sub Junior AElizabeth Opperman13-14 yearsCurro Kathu

Full List of Winners (BOYS)

CategoryNameAgeSchool
Sub NipperUminathi Zwane7-8 yearsCurro Academy The Blyde
NipperSamukelo Mabunda9-10 yearsCurro Academy Protea Glen
SprogMashudu Bosch11-12 yearsCurro Academy Cosmo City
Sub Junior ABenjamin Joseph13-14 yearsCurro Midrand Sagewood Campus
Sub Junior BZander Prins13-14 yearsCurro Krugersdorp
Youth Men AKaleb Nieuwenhuizen15 yearsCurro Academy Wilgeheuwel
Youth Men BThembani Ngobeni16 yearsCurro Academy Soshanguve
Junior MenJosh Dike17-19 yearsCurro Aurora