CYCLING NEWS - The Wildehonde, a mountain bike group consisting of riders from various schools in Graaff-Reinet, recently competed in an Eastern Cape Schools Mountain Bike League in Gqeberha where they secured an overall third place.
Four years ago, Graaff-Reinet experienced the 'Pavement Warriors', according to Danelle Botes, the group's liaison officer.
"Schoolboys started building the most creative and interesting bicycle obstacle courses, to the utter dismay of some residents, on any pavement and/or open area they could find!
"On the other hand, their supporters and other avid cyclists applauded their efforts," Botes said. "Because cycling is not a recognised school sport locally, a private individual took the initiative for the building of the first skills track. At first, only one little Grade R boy from Weppie Preppie pre-school made this his playground. Then the single skills track was redesigned and a more challenging obstacles course was built."
And so the Wildehonde was born. Soon, the diverse group of cyclists gelled into a formidable pack, looking after each other and never leaving behind the slower ones. Consisting of learners from different schools with different backgrounds and language preferences, as well as having to break or adapt traditions of the past, the group had to overcome physical and other obstacles on their skills track of development and growth. The Wildehonde currently has 42 members.
The group look forward to an active programme for the rest of the year. On Friday 12 July, they will have a biking clinic and a few days later, on 21 July, they will compete in the next Eastern Cape Schools Mountain Bike League.
A fun family weekend is planned for October on one of their parents' farms in the Murraysburg district. The event will be an opportunity to test and apply all the new skills learned at their courses.
For more information about the group, contact Johann Sparrius on 082 574 4637 or Danelle Botes on 076 388 8479.
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