HUNDREDS of young cyclists took part in the NE Schools mountain bike championships at Penistone Hill on Sunday, with local riders to the fore.

In the Under-9's event, held over 15 minutes plus one lap, Ralph connolly (Holycroft School) was fourth behind riders from Sheffield, Bradford and halifax. Aaron Fletcher (Sutton C of E) was sixth, riding in his first race.

In the Under-11 event held over 20 minutes and one lap, Joseph Mercer (Water Street, Skipton) finished four with Bronte School riders, Mark Holden and Bryn Price seventh and ninth.

The Under-13 race was held over an undulating switchback course through two quarries with the time of 25 minutes and one lap really testing the riders. Rebecca Furness (Bronte) rode her best ever race to beat National circuit Race Champion Sarah Todd in a sprint finish through the mud.

Rebecca's gutsy win was well deserved as she had to recover from a fall on the last lap.

Tim Charlton (Bronte) was fourth, and second boy with a good ride in the latter part of the race. Dora Connolly (Bronte) finished fifth and was third girl, taking the bronze medal.

Joseph Juszczenko (Bronte) also rode well to finish sixth and third boy while William Holden (Bronte) finished a superb eighth in his first ever race.

Bronte Middle School capped a good day for the school by taking the Under-13 boys teams event and the Under-13 girls team prize.

The boys team was: Tim Charlton, J Juszczenko, W Holden. Girls: R Furness, D Connolly.

"The riders all did remarkably well. Conditions were very difficult aftera hailstorm just before racing began left conditions slippery and very muddy in places," Rod Fletcher, who is regional development officer for the British Schools Cycling Association.

n Bronte's boys team (right).

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