Junior Eliminator Series: Maritzburg College & Series Results

The third and final round for the KZN leg of the Junior Eliminator Series took place on Sunday 7 June at a very ice cold Maritzburg College. It didnt take long for the sun to come out and match the hot racing action. Week on week the numbers for KZN grew and there was a great improvement on participation from 2014, we had a total of 27 schools including 3 development teams being represented in the team category. It has been great to see the growth and enthusiasm from schools in support of cycling, Maritzburg College being a prime example allowing us to ride through their school buildings and even having a floating bridge across their swimming pool!

The Junior Eliminator Series – Maritzburg College

We had a few of the top contenders absent from the last event due to Nationals and Provincials in various cycling disciplines that were on the go, freeing up spots on the podium for others to take over. Then there was those energiser bunnies like under 14 Sarah Ryan who raced at another event on Sunday morning(which she won) and still managed to get to the eliminator… and win again!

Under 14 Girls

1. Sarah Ryan (Wykeham Collegiate)
2. Emma Clipstone (St Marys DSG)
3. Kiara Muldoon (Northlands Girls High)
4. Owethu Mgaga (Ladysmith Development Cycling Club)

The under 14 boys continued to show speed and power way beyond their years setting up a nail biting final between Travis Stedman and Mitchel Potgieter. It was Travis however who just got the edge on Mitchel to pull a slight gap and come home for the victory.

Under 14 Boys

1. Travis Stedman (Winston Park Primary)
2. Mitchel Potgieter (Kloof Primary)
3. Johandre Marx (Maritzburg College)
4. Myles Crookes (Hillcrest High School)

With the newly crowned SA Marathon u/16 Champ Tiffany Keep absent from the event, it left a lonely Courtney Smith to take on the boys, she definitely had the crowds support as she charged through the course advancing through a number of heats till eventually being eliminated.

Under 16 Girls

Courtney Smith (Thomas More College)

One of the top contenders and current under 16 boys leader Sharjah Jonsson was absent from the final event as he had just been crowned KZN Enduro Youth Champ the day before and was competing in the KZN Downhill Championship on the Sunday. This left a huge opportunity for the other competitors in a fiercely contested age group. The finals, as in the previous two events was hard fought with Joshua Clipstone who was on great form the whole day managed to pull away from the rest leaving a very close fight between Cayde Muldoon and Cian Leveridge with Cayde edging out Cian on the final corner before the bridge to slot into second place.

Under 16 Boys

1. Joshua Clipstone (Thomas More College)
2. Cayde Muldoon (Northwood Boys High School)
3. Cian Leveridge (Thomas More College)
4. Matthew Hollinshead (Clifton)

First timer to the series and also freshly crowned u/19 ladies SA Marathon u/19 Champ Frankie Du Toit unfortunately had no competition being the only lady but struck fear into the boys as she competed along side them and advanced right up to the semi finals before being eliminated.

Under 19 Girls

Frankie Du Toit (Wartburg Kirchdorf School)

Once the under 19 boys had managed to dispose of Frankie, racing resumed as normal with the now usual suspects once again ending up in the final. The three Maritzburg College boys needed to find an answer for the speed of Dean Wortmann the lonely Warburg Kirchdorf School representative but the dominant of the four in the last two events. It all seemed too familiar as the boys sprinted off, Dean taking the lead, but then a slight error saw Dean sliding out on a corner and the Maritzburg trio pounced on the opportunity to take a win on home ground. After leading majority of the way, Ryan Naude feel victim to an inside corner maneuver by Felix Manke to allow him to take the lead and continue on to the finish line!

Under 19 Boys

1. Felix manke (Maritzburg College)
2. Ryan Naude (Maritzburg College)
3. Dean Wortmann (Wartburg Kirchdorf School)
4. Mitchell Meugens (Maritzburg College)

KZN Junior Eliminator Series – Overall Results

Being the third and final round of the Junior Eliminator Series, Champions need to be crowned. Spectators were treated to three weeks of exciting racing on three very different courses that were hosted by Northwood Boys High School, Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park and Maritzburg College.

Amongst the Under 14 ladies it was Emma Clipstone whose consistency paid off putting her on the top step at the end of the series.

1. Emma Clipstone (St Marys DSG)
2. Kiara Muldoon (Northlands Girls High)
3. Sarah Ryan (Wykeham Collegiate)

The top two under 14 boys were separated by a mere 100 points, the closest battle we have had so far with Travis Stedman just ousting Mitchel Potgieter.

1. Travis Stedman (Winston Park Primary)
2. Mitchel Potgieter (Kloof Primary)
3. Myles Crookes (Hillcrest High School)

With Tiffany Keep absent amongst the under 16 girls from the last event the door was left wide open for Courtney Smith to jump into first position.

1. Courtney Smith (Thomas More College)
2. Tiffany Keep (Thomas More College)
3. Ncamasile Mabaso (Ladysmith Development Cycling Club)

After two third positions in the under 16 boys, Joshua Clipstone’s victory at the final event leap frogged him onto the top step of the overall podium.

1. Joshua Clipstone (Thomas More College)
2. Gage Hansson (Cambridge College UK)
3. Cayde Muldoon (Northwood Boys High School)

Despite the slip in the final event, the previous two victories for Dean Wortmann were enough to secure his position at the top of the under 19 boys.

1. Dean Wortmann (Wartburg Kirchdorf School)
2. Felix manke (Maritzburg College)
3. Mitchell Meugens (Maritzburg College)

It was the overall winning team announcement that everyone was waiting for in anticipation especially with the prize of R10 000 for custom Enjoy Fitness cycling kit and a Rayne Cam. It was super close amongst the top 3 teams only being separated by a mere 900 points. In the end, it was Northwood Boys high School who narrowly squeezed out the competition to successful defend their title and walk away with all the spoils.

1. Northwood Boys High School
2. Maritzburg College
3. Thomas More College

KwaZulu Natal was a great success with a large improvement on numbers not only in riders but participating schools. Thank you to our three host venues: Northwood Boys High School, Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park and Maritzburg College. Without the tremendous support of the sponsors none of the series would be possible: Trek Bikes, Fox Racing, Enjoy Fitness, Skullcandy, Rayne Cams, OGIO and Paul Bothner Music. We are looking forward to the final leg of the Junior Eliminator Series which will take place across Gauteng from the 19 July, entries are already open and can be done online at: www.onemovement.co.za.