Sports

New Mountain Biking Course in NE opening Friday

by Bernard Perera

Picture show ANCL Chairman Janadasa Pieris receiving a Rider cycle which is to be awarded to the winner by Amal Suriyage, President Mountain Biking Association. Also in the picture (from left) Tony James (Course designer), Fazley (Secretary, NMBA) and Shabbir A. I. Jafferjee (Treasurer NMBA), Sujeeva Jayatilleke (Circulation Manager, ANCL). Pic by Rukmal Gamage

The newly laid out mountain biking course at Nuwara Eliya will be baptised on Friday 22 April when the National Mountain Biking Association conducts it Rider Cyclo-Cross 2005.

The course which was used last two years was limited to two kilometres. This was extended by eight kilometres to confirm with international levels.

The course designer being Tony James a British national who served the National Mountain Biking Association free of charge.

James speaking to Daily News said that Sri Lanka has everything needed for mountain biking. These have to be looked after carefully using the Global Positioning System set down by the international governing body for the sport.

James a rider has been competitor in England and reached the sixteenth position among the top riders. He says to compete at international level a rider has to ride for more than 30 kilometres. On this new course the riders will have to do three laps which has all required obstacles, hill climbs and down hills.

He said Sri Lanka is the ideal place for mountain biking. there is a possibility of designing another course in Ingiriya a few miles away from Colombo.

The Rider Cyclo-Cross 2005 will provide all competitors with a tough course and is sure to witness a keen tussle specially in the open event. This event and the boys u-19 event will serve as trials to pick riders to undergo training in the national pool.

The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd is the media sponsor for the third successive year.

Already a large number of entries have been received by the organisers. Last year over 500 participated.

Monty Gopallawa, Governor of Central Province will be the chief guest on the occasion with ANCL Chairman Janadasa Pieris and Mayor Nuwara Eliya C. Karunaratne as the guests of honour.