Nellies cyclists make their mark
Mandie Swart of Hoërskool Nelspruit finished in third place in the national finals of the Spur High School Mountain Bike League held at Bekker School in Magaliesburg.
She competed in the junior women category and won a bronze medal after four laps in a time of 01:05:23.
A record number of 355 riders representing the cream of high school mountain-bike riders from more than 69 schools across South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe entered the two-day event.
Nellies’ girls team finished in seventh place with 45 points and were ninth overall.
The team of Hoërskool Menlopark was in top form and secured four podium positions, and logged a number of top-10 positions to secure both the girls and mixed team national championship trophies. Grey College in Bloemfontein won the boys team category.
The league was launched in 2009 as a joint initiative between Spur and Amarider to create a fun racing environment for the youth, and has also facilitated the building of mountain-bike tracks on school property and community grounds.
Earlier this year the league cemented its position as one of the leading sport development programmes in the country when it was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2014 Discovery Sport Industry Awards.
The Spur School Mountain Bike League final is also considered an interprovincial derby with the top riders from each province selected to compete for their respective provinces.
Results
Junior Women – four laps:
1. Michelle Benson (98) of Waterkloof in 01:02:43
2. Janice Venter (78) of Menlopark in 01:03:16
3. Mandie Swart (92) of Hoërskool Nelspruit in 01:05:23.
Top 20 boys teams:
1. Grey College Bloemfontein (120)
2. Menlopark (89)
3. Parel Vallei (88)
4. Zwartkop (87)
5. Volkskool Potchefstroom (84)
6. Noordheuwel (70)
7. Paul Roos Gimnasium
8. Potchefstroom Gimnasium (69)
9. Montana (64)
10. Midstream College (60).
Top 10 girls teams:
1. Menlopark (73)
2. Volkskool Potchefstroom (69)
3. Waterkloof (68)
4. Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria (54)
5. Swakopmund (48)
6. Montana (45)
7. Hoërskool Nelspruit (45)
8. Midstream College (44)
9. Parel Vallei High School (41)
10. Lydenburg (40).
Top 10 mixed teams:
1. Menlopark
2. Volkskool Potchefstroom
3. Midstream College
4. Montana
5. Parel Vallei
6. Hartebeespoort
7. Noordheuwel
8. Potchefstroom Gimnasium
9. Hoërskool Nelspruit
10. Centurion.
