Sunday 24 April saw round one of the Junior Eliminator Series for the Western Cape take place at Bloemendal Wine Estate, Durbanville. After the large storm on Friday, riders and spectators were pleased to be greeted by sunny and warm weather conditions with a grippy track.
This year saw the inclusion of two new age groups: under 10 and under 12 to join the older riders in the series. Despite their lack in vertical height both divisions stole the show with their surprisingly high turn of speed and stamina as well as incredible bike handling skills through the single track and even skipping the chicken run options to launch themselves off the jumps.
We were also pleased to see the growth in the female divisions with competition taking place the whole way through from under 10 to under 19. The guys were also happy to no longer have the likes of Jessi Nixon and Allison Morton racing against them and putting them to shame!
The Junior Eliminator Series is a great way for riders to be introduced to racing as the courses test the riders skills over obstacles and give riders a taste of racing action without needing the fitness to go flat out for a number of kilometer as with the longer cross country or marathon races as tracks are roughly 800m in length. The eliminator format is spectator friendly as majority of the course can be seen from standing in one spot, in the Junior Eliminator Series case – allowing parents, family members and friends to cheer their rider on the whole way round the course!
The day was filled with action packed elbow to elbow racing. There was only one strategy adopted by the riders – get out the saddle and go full gas! The energy and pace caught the spectators by surprise as riders made light work of the start climb to get into the single track first. Once in the lead there was still no tapping off as they winded their way down through the berms and over the bridges throwing in a bit of style as they whipped over the jumps.
Riders were rewarded for their effort with great prizes supplied by our sponsors Trek Bikes, Fox Racing, Skullcandy, Frog Bikes, Bontrager, OGIO, GoPro and Olympic Cycles. Prize money was also rewarded on a sliding scale, the more riders that entered the age group the more money was on offer to be won.
The second round of the Junior Eliminator Series for Western Cape will take place this Sunday 1 May at Laerskool Totius, Bellville. After meeting with the Headmaster he was very keen to showcase the school and re arranged the route we had already planned to include the riders going through the school hall! Entries for this weekend close on Friday 29 April (all entrants from round one are automatically entered). Enter now: www.onemovement.co.za
Results from Round 1: Bloemendal Wine Estate
Girls u/10
1. Megan Scholtz (Kenridge Primary)
2. Chloe Chesterton (Sweet Valley Primary)
Girls u/12
1. Kayleigh Scholtz (Kenridge Primary)
2. Olivia Penfold (Durbanville Primary)
3. Anna Marx (Springfield)
Girls u/14
1. Danielle Barnard (Durbanville Primary)
2. Julia Marx (Springfield)
3. Grethe Geringer (DF Malan)
Girls u/16
1. Carla Hollander (DF Malan)
2. Nadia van Niekerk (Bridge House)
Girls u/19
1. Allison Morton (Westerford)
2. Jessi Nixon (Fish Hoek)
3. Jana Barry (Parel Vallei)
Boys u/10
1. Matthew Jones (Kenridge Primary)
2. Schalk Loots (Welgemoed Primary)
3. Matt Laughton (Kenridge Primary)
Boys u/12
1. Alec Coleske (Kenridge Primary)
2. Hendre De Villiers (Durbanville Primary)
3. Ryan Veer (Totius Primary)
Boys u/14
1. W.G van der Walt (Montana)
2. Pierre le Roux (Durbanville High)
3. Krige van der Vyver (Paul Roos)
Boys u/16
1. Jamie Penfold (Paul Roos)
2. Joshua Laughton (Paul Roos)
3. Daniel van der Walt (Fairmont High)
Boys u/19
1. Joshua De Freitas (Parel Vallei)
2. Jarrod van den Heever (Paarl Boys)
3. Morné Hollander (DF Malan)
