Kempton cyclists race to keep Glen Marais track going
“Without the community, our track cannot survive,” a supporter of the track said.
Cyclists from across Kempton Park came together on Saturday for a free race at Riverfields MTB Trail. This trail, on the corner of Blaauwklippen and Mulder avenues in Glen Marais, is open to the community for free but relies on riders for donations for the upkeep and security of the track. A security officer monitors the area daily.
“Without the community, our track cannot survive,” Conraadt van den Heever, who helped build the mountain-biking paradise, told Express.
Winners on the day included Aiden Choles in the men’s open category and Carmen Grobler who took the lead in the women’s open category.
Stephan Ruizendaal was named winner in the u-23 men’s category, but no female rider competed.
Youngster Chanté van der Sandt won the u-16 female category, with André van der Walt taking the lead for the u-16 male category.
For the little ones, up to the age of 12, there was a 5km race. Kaylee Pretorius was first for the girls and Bryzen du Toit first for the boys. The youngest cyclist on the day was seven-year-old Jess Thomas, who competed in the 20km race.
In the fat bike category, Johann van den Heever won the men’s category and Trudy Pieterson the women’s category. Bjorn Barnard was the best u-12 fat bike rider.
The winner of the buffalo category, riders that weigh more than 100kg, was Hein Gerber.
Participants were able to make donations on the day. According to Van den Heever, all the funds go towards paying security. “It would be nice if we had money left for the track’s upkeep.”
Non-riders got to socialise under gazebos, over cups of coffee, burgers and pancakes.
Organisers gave a special thanks to the Erasmus family who owns the piece of land where the cycling trail is built.
“Without them it would have been impossible to build the track for the community.”
