The EMG YORKSHIRE CYCLING CLUB, one of the leaders of cycling development in the Boland, traveled to Gariep for the annual Eric van Enter Inter-Provincial Schools Competition as part of the Boland Cycling Union Schools Team.

The event was hosted over 3 days, from Thurday 8 July to Saturday 10 July 2010.  EMG YORKSHIRE had a strong representation in the Boland Team with Daniston Perrins, Luc Green, Lee-Arthur Green, George Perrins, Jean Claude Jantjies, Graeme Ockhuis, Franklyn Stoffels, Angelo Diedericks, Dino Daniels, Xabiso Maxam, Shaun Gayiya, Michael Magongo, Byron Martin and Joshwill Davids.

The riders in the different age categories, from under 10 to Juniors participated in the Team TimeTrial, Road Race, Hill Climb and a Criterium. The Criterium was completed on a 1km circuit route inside the Aventura resort’s grounds. Team spirit at this event is the name of the game and riders had toaccumulate points for their provinces in the different races.

The Eric van Enter is mainly a development event with its different characteristics. Surely Cycling South Africa needs to build on this and make their Transformation and Development programme more sustainable and using the Eric van Enter as one of the steps in their Development and Transformation Plan.

Riders need to come through the ranks and be present at national classic races as well as national championships. CSA, with the assistance of its provinces need to ensure that moreblack riders come through the ranks and compete at the top end of racing. The Boland Schools Team was 25 riders strong. The Boland had a very strong Under 14 Team and theboys showed some guts to win the Overall Under 14 title of the 2010 Eric van Enter. Competition inthis category was strong, especially between the reigning under 14 SA Road Champ, JC Jantjies andthe silver medalist at the SA Road Champ Janrich Kotze (North West). J.C. Jantjies had a strong team in the likes of Graeme Ockhuis and Ivan Venter (younger brother of Jaco Venter riding for Team MTN).

On day 1 the Boland Under 14 Team, consisting of Jantjies, Ockhuis, Venter and Lee Arthur Green rode a strong Team Time Trial to finish in 1 st position. In the afternoon Jantjies did an early breakaway in the 60km road race. He rode away from the bunch after just 20km into the race. After about 50km into the race, Jantjies was joined by Kotze of North West. Kotze went on to win the final sprint from Jantjies.On day 2 Kotze also showed his strength to win the Individual Hill Climb event. Jantjies finished 2nd and Venter (Boland) 3rd.

The Criterium final was the last event of the 2010 Eric van Enter and this was a thriller in the under 14 category. Jantjies and the other Boland youngsters were also determined to make this race theirs. The Boland riders started to attack early in the race. Attacks were launched by Jantjies, Venter and Ockhuis. Kotze from North West stood strong and did not seem rattled by the Boland riders. With 8 minutes to go of the 15 minute criterium it was only Jantjies, Kotze and Venter at the front of the race and they had a 38 sec lead over the main bunch. Venter then tried to get away from the two by attacking on numerous occasions but to no avail. In the final straight for the sprint, Venter dashed to the line first with Jantjies on his wheel. With about 150 meters to the line Jantjies jumped out of his saddle, passed Venter and took the 1 st position in the under 14 criterium event. Kotze was second and Venter third.

The Boland under 14 Schools Team won the overall title with 18 points and North West finished second with 12 Points. North West repeated their performance of 2009 and took the Overall 2010 Eric van Enter title. They won the 2010 Eric van Enter Schools Competition with 21.5 points. Second was Eastern Province with14 points and third Free State with 13.5 points.In the under 16 category Franklyn Stoffels and Angelo Diedericks of EMG Yorkshire also had a good road race and finished 15th and 11 th respectively in a starting bunch of 80 riders.

The EMG Yorkshire riders will now be starting to focus more on the track to prepare for the SA Track Championships at the Bellville Velodrome early October.The Eric van Enter Competition was for five consecutive years in Gariep and Cycling SA will soon release an advertisement for provinces or race organizers to tender for the hosting of this popularschools event.

Compiled by : Ian Goetham
12 July 2010