Sutherland High School, Centurion greeted riders with a chilly five degrees yesterday for the first stop of the Gauteng leg of the Junior Eliminator Series. Despite a fair number of riders absent due to SA XCO Champs in Cape Town on Saturday there was a large field of 22 school teams with enthusiastic riders who treated spectators to some highly entertaining racing with hotly contested heats finishing in nail biting sprint finishers!
The u/14 Girls were dominated by Savannah Blem who won two out of three heats due to a crash, but still finished second in that heat, Catherine Greer steadily improved with a third, a second and a first to finish second overall with Alison Critchton taking the final step of the podium.
- Havannah Blem (Sutherland)
- Catherine Greer (Sutherland)
- Alison Crichton (Sutherland)
The u/14 Boys hosted our youngest competitor, Tyler Lange(11) who fought his way right up to the semi finals. James Moore flew back from SA XCO Champs on a red eye flight to be at the event, and for good reason as he streaked ahead of the pack to take the win. Paul Meyer recovered from a crash in round 1 and worked his way back up into the finals to finish second ahead of Marco Moolman.
- James Moore(Heronbridge)
- Paul Meyer (Menlo Park)
- Marco Moolman (Menlo Park)
Despite a tiny entry of only three ladies in the u/16 division, they were very entertaining as they tussled for positions swapping over a number of times. In the end, it was Kelsi Chomse who got ahead to take the overall victory with Prayer Mbulawa just edging out Danielle Muller.
- Kelsi Chomse (Fourways)
- Prayer Mbulawa (Diepsloot MTB Academy)
- Danielle Muller (Hartbeespoort)
A large field of u/16 Boys wowed the spectators with an incredible display of speed and power as they shot around the course wheel to wheel in nearly every heat. The final was no different as they blasted out the start shute, Wian Smith finished in third behind Duncan de Waal, but it was a day of dominance from Jared Cowan who won all his heats for the day that saw him on the top step of the podium!
- Jared Cowan (Sutherland)
- Duncan de Waal (Hartbeespoort)
- Wian Smith (Affies)
With the largest number of entries for the day, the u/19 Boys gave the spectators a show second to none – the dust had barely settled from the start when the riders were making their way back across the finishline. Jacques Lloyd proved too strong for the field as he took out a victory in every heat including the finals, the craziest thing however was he DROVE back from SA XCO Champs in Cape Town overnight to be at the event! Deon Du Toit and Ruan de Villiers wrapped up the podium in second and third respectively.
- Jacques Lloyd (Zwartkop)
- Deon Du Toit (Montana)
- Ruan de Villiers (Pretoria Boys)
Round two of the Junior Eliminator Series for Gauteng will take place this Sunday 26 July at the PWC Bike Park, Bryanston. Entries are open and can be done online: www.onemovement.co.za.
Click here to view more photos from Round 1 of the #JES_2015 Gauteng.
