Schools Mountain Bike league continues to grow – 135 riders from 16 schools compete over weekend
The 2020 FNB Schools Mountain Bike league, aimed at creating excitement for children and their bicycles, kicked off on 25 September at the IJG trails, Kleine Kuppe Gate.
FNB Namibia Communications Manager, Elzita Beukes, said that this event has been held for the past nine years and started with a small group of enthusiastic cyclists.
“The event has grown in leaps and bounds over the years and last year over 150 school children, aged between 4 and 18 took part in the various events. FNB Namibia, through the FNB Namibia Foundation Trust has always placed great value on sport and sponsorships in a variety of sporting codes from tennis, to netball, table tennis, rugby, soccer and horse-riding have been part of the bank’s support policy.”
This year, due to COVID -19 and all the challenges that this pandemic has brought with it, FNB Namibia was not expecting the levels of participation as last year, with many schools having not yet organized themselves for extra mural activities. Despite this, 135 riders from 16 schools as far afield as Gobabis arrived to participate.
“We did not wish to cancel the league as we have many youngsters who have been participating for a number of years and are looking forward to another year of cycling in a safe environment with tracks that encourage and not scare them. We are thus thrilled at the level of participation and the enthusiastic response to being able to race again. Groups and races were separated by 45 minutes to enable the cyclists to arrive and leave before the next Group and in this way, also adhere to all COVID-19 protocols,”said Beukes.
The FNB Schools Mountain Bike League consists of five races and the final is planned for 14 November 2020.
All races will be held at the IJG Trails, Otjivero street, Kleine Kuppe, with entry fees only N$20 per cyclist. The next event is set to take place on 9 October with all information on start times and COVID-19 protocols available on Facebook and Instagram.
