The 2010 Anatomic High School MTB League got off to a cracking start at Rietvlei Farm, Alberton, on Saturday with 316 pupils from 66 schools taking to the trails for the ‘Tour de Vlei’.

When the dust had settled, Waterkloof Hoër emerged victorious from the day’s racing with 97 points, with defending champions Florida three points back. Garsfontein is lying third, and Trinityhouse fourth.
 
In the sub-junior category for 13 and 14 year-olds it was regular protagonists Neil Robinson and Joel Hieber who duked it out, a photo-finish giving the top spot on the podium to the former. Either way, Trinityhouse was the winner, leaving local lad Ryan Heukelman from Marias Viljoen Hoër to stand on the final step.
 
Howick High from KZN put together a strong contingent of eight riders, their trek over Van Reenen’s paying off with a dominant performance by 13-year-old Emily Chalmers-Banks, helping to propel the Midlands school into fifth overall for the day. Emily outpaced tiny Cian Oldknow of Fourways High who was in turn comfortably clear of Robyn Grobler of Sutherland High.
 
The race distance was upped for the Youth category (15 to 16 years olds) and here it was powerfully-built Jac-Johann Steyn from Menlopark Hoër who was first, though Ryan Gibbons (making it a brace of podiums for Trinityhouse on the day) had closed to within just three seconds after four five-kilometre laps. Werner van Heerden (Garsfontein) was third in what was easily the most populous category, with 106 starters.
 
Taryn Brent from Stanford Lake College won the girls’ division at a canter, followed home by Ilze Kriel and Maresa Oosthuizen (Garsfontein and Riebeeckrand Hoër respectively).
 
The big guns – Junior boys and girls – provided the third and final act of the day’s proceedings and it was pre-race favourite Stephan Reyneke of Linden Hoër who delivered on expectations. Despite his status, after five laps he was just eight seconds clear of Dalmayne Kotze of Florida, with Allan Britnal of Sutherland completing the leading trio.
 
Junior Girls victory went to petite Lure Viljoen, spearheading a large contingent from Helpmekaar, with all riders decked out in their distinctive brown and yellow colours. Carmen Cresswell (Springs Girls High) was a distant second after the four laps required of the fairer sex, with Claudia Bold of Overkruin Hoër third.
 
When the school flags and banners had been stowed, the braais packed away, winners rewarded, and the spot prizes of Thule bike racks handed out to those who had stayed for prizegiving, the consensus was that the route – which included a tough climb followed by a technical descent – was an appropriate one for a cross-section of riders spanning five years (not to mention varied fitness and equipment levels), and had been a challenge for all.
 
The next round of the Anatomic High School League takes place at Hartebeespoort High on August 14 and with points awarded all the way to 25th position in the boys’ categories and down to 10th for girls, schools need to pull out all the stops to get their top riders into the start pens.