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Team Manchester competitors celebrate on the podium

HIGH stakes failed to take the fun out of the Manchester heats for the Challenge 2000 cycling competition as youngsters from Team Manchester battled for places in the regional finals.

The competition aims to find the quickest and most skilful rider in the country and competitors must prove their prowess by negotiating a tricky obstacle course made all the more difficult by driving rain on the day.

The course includes a slalom, chicane, ramp, staggered slalom, limbo posts and bottle pick up where competitors must pick up a filled bottle and replace it while on the move.

Each rider is timed over the course and penalty points are awarded for any mistake made or obstacle knocked over or missed out. The rider with the fastest time and least number of penalties wins.

The Challenge 2000 heat at Boggart Hole Clough on Saturday was one of many running throughout the UK. Only clubs with the quality kite mark for providing exceptional training opportunities for young people are allowed to stage a heat.

The youngsters compete in school years and the first 3 in each category go through to the Regional Final to be held this year on 9th July at Preston.

Competitors will have the chance to win a mountain bike and a day at the indoor cycling track of Manchester Velodrome under the supervision of World Class Performance Cycling Coaches.

Team Manchester attracts young people from as far away as Hull as well as from all corners of Greater Manchester and encourages cyclists of all ages and ability from school year 3 upwards.

Gina Upex, a club official, said: "There's a great sense of commitment from the children and their parents who travel long distances to be here

"We welcome anyone. One lad who is autistic came here unable to ride at all. We treated him just like everyone else and now he's doing really well."

Although most of Team Manchester are boys, girls are welcome in the club.

Medals were presented on the day by northmanchester.net's John Risby.

He also handed over a cycle computer and two computer games donated by Manchester-based Crucial Entertainment to Daniel Woolfenden who won the prizes in a competition hosted by the Team Manchester website.

Manchester Heat Results:

School Year 6,7,8 = 9,10,11 year olds