Geelong Mountain Bike (MTB) Club has wrapped up its most successful junior Winter Racing series ever as participant numbers continue to soar.
The club had over 130 entries in six different categories for its final Dirt Squirts Winter Racing event on Sunday in the You Yangs, its biggest ever event.
Ashley Goldstraw, the club’s junior coordinator, said it was “super exciting” to see a record-breaking turn-out for the end of the season.
“There was just a really good buzz, good atmosphere,” Mr Goldstraw said.
“We had the coffee van there, parents were all out enjoying the nice weather. It took a little bit of organising with so many kids, but it all went smoothly.
“We had a bunch of people out there at 8 o’clock setting up for a 10 o’clock race. We had some of the junior girls doing registration, there’s a lot of involvement from some of the kids as well.”
The club’s junior program began in 2011 with “about 10 kids”, which slowly increased to about 50 over the next 10 years.
Over the past two years, however, numbers have skyrocketed, with the club now holding competitive races for boys and girls in under-11, under-13 and under-15 age categories as well as participatory rides for under-6s and under-8s.
“Last year and over summer, we were getting 80 to 100,” Mr Goldstraw said.
“We had our first time getting over 100 (junior riders) last summer and now we’re consistently getting 120 kids.
“We only introduced the under-15 category a year ago. Once they finished under-13s it was hard for them to go and race in the adult (events).
“Now kids are getting to 14 and then starting to join the adults racing on Friday nights and Saturdays, which is really good. Having that (under-15) age group has given them more of a pathway into adult racing.”
Geelong MTB will combine with Forrest MTB Club to hold a racing weekend in Forrest on September 16 and 17, then hold a number of training days through term four before starting its Summer Series in January.
Mr Goldstraw encouraged anyone interested in mountain biking to contact the club or check out its FaceBook page.
