Spur School Mtb League
The Spur Schools Mountain Bike League is a programme focused on growing the number of children on mountain bikes by running interschool mountain biking races around the country.
With more than 500 schools expected to compete nationally in the 2016 Spur High Schools Mountain Bike League, Gauteng based schools will give it their all from the outset to secure their spot for the national final in October.
Gauteng is leading the national log in terms of numbers boasting an impressive 2498 riders representing 83 schools in the 2015 season and a record 661 riders competing in the biggest regional one day event since the inception of the league.
Gauteng also holds the title of Spur Schools Mountain Bike League Interprovincial Champions for the past three consecutive years.
This weekend the 2016 Gauteng season will kick off with the Spur Tour de Vaal – presented by Anatomic on Saturday, 21 May at Phoenix High School in Vereeniging. Online entries can be done via the MTBZA app.
Only learners from grade 8 to 12 from Gauteng High Schools are allowed to enter the league. As the Spur Schools Mountain Bike League is an inter-schools competition, home schoolers can unfortunately not qualify.
Registration on Saturday will be at 07h00 with the first race for sub-junior boys setting off at 08h30, followed by all four girl categories (Sub Junior Girls; Youth 15 Girls; Youth 16 Girls and Junior Women) at 09:30, youth boys 15 at 10:30, youth boys 16 years at 11:30 and the junior men wrapping up racing at 12:30 with prize giving at 13:30.
According to league co-ordinator, Meurant Botha of Amarider participation at local events is growing at a steady pace as schools accept mountain biking as a recognized sport – some going as far as building dedicated tracks on school grounds to encourage after school practices and interschool sports days as well as employing coaches and managers to oversee teams.
“Although there are many kids finding their competitive edge on their bicycles, the Spur Schools Mountain Bike League’s focus is still to encourage more kids on bikes and more schools in action. It is important for all children to enjoy participating whether only starting out or having participated for a couple seasons,” says Botha.
This year has seen the introduction of Team Spur, James Reid and Ariane Kleinhans, who play the important role of encouraging League riders to follow their dreams and showing the reality of becoming sponsored athletes. Between competing at their various competitions, they have been mingling with keen riders, sharing valuable tips from how to better skills to handling pressure and form a vital part of the Spur Schools MTB League as they set the tone as role models for the young riders.
The racing format takes place on a marked track, generally over school fields and dedicated trails, where riders have to complete a certain amount of laps of a course that ranges between 2km-6km. The distance that needs to be covered is in accordance to the South African Schools Cycling Association rules and regulations.
For more information on the 2016 edition of the Spur Schools Mountain Bike League, visitwww.spurmtbleague.co.za, or contact Michelle du Preez at 021 8844547 ormichelle@amarider.co.za.
Adapted http://rekordeast.co.za/93757/everything-set-for-another-great-schools-mountain-biking-season/
