Mountain biking enthusiasts from the North West were out in full force representing their schools in the Spur Schools Mountain Bike League #2 at Lichtenburg High School at the weekend.

Deon Steyn and Attie Koekemoer, both regional event organisers, are ecstatic about the turnout and how the interest in the sport has grown in the region. ‘We’ve had our best turnout yet. At the previous North West event, which took place at Hartebeespoort, we had support from Gauteng riders but, at this Saturday’s event, which took place in Lichtenburg, we only had North West (and some Botswana) riders,’ says Koekemoer. The event has seen a 20 per cent growth in entries; receiving 205 entries from last year’s 161. ‘Lichtenburg will never be the same again and we look forward to the next event,’ says Steyn.

The event ended on a bittersweet  note as the current Junior Men’s leader Pieter du Toit from Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom raced his last schools’ race. He has maintained the series lead and the junior race will now be open to a new series leader.

‘I’m very happy with my last schools’ race win. In the past four years, I’ve  learnt the basics of racing and mountain biking at the Spur Schools MTB League. it’s been awesome,’ says Du Toit who’s been selected to represent South Africa at the 2017 MTB World Champs in Australia.

The North West #2 winners for the following categories are: Sub-junior Boys (14yrs): Simeon Joubert, Klerksdorp High School; Sub-junior Girls (14yrs): Nicole Botha, Noordheuwel High School; Youth Men (15-16yrs): Dian Fritz, Lichtenburg High School; Youth Women (15-16yrs): Joné van Eeden, Potchefstroom Gimnasium; Junior Men (17-18yrs): Pieter du Toit, Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom; Junior Women (17-18yrs): Danielle Strydom, Potchefstroom Gimnasium.

The Spur Schools Mountain Bike  League was launched by Spur Steak Ranches and Amarider in 2009. The initiative aims to provide a level of regional and national structure for the sport at a school level and encourage schools to adopt mountain biking as an official in-school sport.

The Spur Mountain Bike League   Interschools Final wraps up this season in Magaliesburg on 7-8 October. Schools go head-to-head on race day and the race moves away from the individual rider focus to a team-focused   race. Each school strives to qualify for this part of the league.

A cash prize of R10 000 is up for grabs and will be awarded to each school at the top of their age category. The primary and high schools finishing top of the points log at the end of each season are awarded the region’s School Champion floating trophy.

Entries are open for the next North West event (#3 Tour de Koedoe) that will take place at Koedoeslaagte in Parys on 26 August. Riders can look forward to the North West final that will take place in Rustenburg on 2 September.