The songo.info kids with their blue WP number boards for next season.
On Sunday the 12th November I met Ntlantla Nonkasa and the songo.info kids at the clubhouse in Kayamandi, writes head BMX coach Brad Stow. I arrived earlier than planned but when I drove down towards the clubhouse I was pleasantly surprised to see that the bikes had already been loaded onto the trailer and all the kids were ready and waiting. To say they were excited is an understatement!
This was the last BMX event for the year and consisted of race #11 of the WP points series in the morning followed by WP BMX Champs in the afternoon. This was the first time the Western Province Cycling has held a WP BMX Champs and followed the same format as SA Champs. It’s basically a once off race in which the winner in each age category is crowned Western Province Champ.
Spirits were high throughout the long day at Zone 7’s BMX track.
songo.info was represented by the following kids: Sithembiso Mbikahlobo, Zaphela Ntlakanipho, Alunamida Mathafeni, Uyathandwa Macwili, Akho Mayekiso, Yongama Mdletye, Awethu Mtekeli, and Simamkele Magoqwane.
The team we selected for this event included a few of the songo Tots as well as some younger kids who have not raced much. One of the highlights of the day for me was the camaraderie and support the kids showed each other. There was no arguing or jealousy and the older kids helped the younger kids without me even needing to ask them to do so.
Good vibes in the songo team.
Overall, it was a very successful day of racing and the songo.info team walked away with many trophies and medals which is a great sign showing we have lots of potential and talent running deep within the songo.info programme. It also showed me that we need to allow more kids the opportunity to race BMX and perhaps have a different group race each event which will give more kids a chance to take part.
The songo.info team has learnt and grown a lot this past year and I think it was a successful year of racing. I feel we can still learn and improve next year and a few areas in which we will focus on are preparing the bikes and gear before the event as well as time management, particularly for the older kids.
The 5 and under class has been a great success and has allowed the songo Tots to race their BMXs too.
A massive thank you to our sponsors, Ninety One and Specialized Bicycles, for their continued support. Without them none of this would have been possible.
Proud!