A total of 61 schools participated in the Mpumalanga leg of the Spur Schools MTB League this year in an attempt to qualify for the national finals at Bekker School in Magaliesberg from 3-4 October to compete for the coveted Spur Schools MTB League trophy and top spot on the provincial log.
Junior men finls Franco Pelser (gold), Andreas Kuhn (silver) and Martin Oosthuizen (bronze).
Once again Hoërskool Lydenburg has completely dominated the league and wrapped the season as Mpumalanga champions with 728 points. They are ahead by almost as much as Uplands College (363 points) and Nelspruit Hoërskool (337 points) earned to put them in the second and third positions. Secunda High School filled the fourth slot with 307 points and will also compete at the finals. Lydenburg High School has also been the proud winners of the “geesbeker” at the Spur High Schools MTB Final two years running.
Mandie Swart of Nelspruit HS, junior Mpumalanga champion with sister, Monique Swart who took the youth women title.
Marnique de Swardt of Nelspruit High School in action during the MPU leg of the Spur Schools MTB League.
The Mpumalanga Teams
Hoërskool Lydenburg: Mignon Black, Sune Booyse, Constant Furstenberg, Keegan Clark, Joshua Schülz, Donald Hlase, Bongani Ngwana, Stephnie Fritz, Nathan Kurensky, Rikus Booysen, Kaylee Lindeque and Henyo Kruger.
Uplands College: Andreas Kuhn, Kirsty Shuttleworth, Tamryn Hawley, Ryan Terry, Abigail Alexander and Kyla Hamer.
Nelspruit High School: Sisters Mandie and Monique Swart, Armand Lombard, Mike Odendaal, Ruben Helberg and Reyno Beukes.
Secunda High School: Marnique de Swart, Stehan Muller, Bernard Henrico, Daniel van Heerden, Jandre Stander and Reynardt Engelbrecht.
Category winners Zandri Strydom (Cambridge Home School), Luchelle Phillips and Rickardo Broxham (Ermelo Christian School) will also be part of the Mpumalange provincial team.
Junior Men’s running an obstacle at Mankele with Andreas Kuhn (Uplands College) followed by Franco Pelser (Rob Ferreira Hoërskool).
Conventional mountain biking can be a lonely adventure over terrain that non-cyclists consider dangerous, but the aim of the Spur Schools MTB League is much broader. Promoting cycling as a school sport is part of the deal, so the routes try to balance skill and fitness with fun.
Youth men in action during the MPU leg of the Spur Schools MTB League season.
For further information, follow us on @SpurMTBleague, log on to SpurSchoolsLeague on Facebook or visit www.spurmtbleague.co.za.
