Sappi Lowveld approached various schools in the area to enter this year’s Sappi Mankele MTB Challenge, held on March 16 at the ever-popular mountain biking haven in Sudwala.

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They were given an incentive to have the most entries in this year’s race.
The winning school, the one with the most pupils taking part would win R5 500. There was also R3 500 up for grabs for second place and R2 500 for third.

Last year, Hoërskool Nelspruit took top honours, followed by Uplands (second place) and Laerskool Nelspruit (third place).

This year the honour went to Hoërskool and Laerskool Nelspruit.

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Formal handover ceremonies took place at the various schools, during which Sappi gave the top five schools an indigenous tree to plant, and a box of paper as a token of its appreciation for their participation in this year’s event.
Curro and Uplands took second place and Laerskool Laeveld were third.

The annual Sappi Mankele MTB Challenge, which this year also introduced a trail run, was more than just an exciting outdoors adventure for the cyclist and runner.

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It was an inspirational message that spoke to a community and told of a company’s passion for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle through the enjoyment of a rich, healthy environment.

As a major landowner in South Africa, Sappi recognises its responsibility to promote the multiple uses of its landholdings. The development of outdoor sports, such as mountain biking, allows it to offer the people of our communities the chance to gain a better understanding of how it manages its extensive natural areas and commercial plantations.

“Sappi is committed to enabling its communities to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and we were thus once again proud to partner with Mankele for this highly-anticipated annual challenge,” said Sappi’s regional communications manager, Elsabe Coetzee.