Longbeach School year 6 pupils Jack Rickard and Ryan Price have been ramping up their weekly exercise in preparation for the annual Ruralco Longbeach Coastal Challenge in November.
They are entering a new section of the challenge, called the the Schools Challenge. It is a 12km event for mountainbike teams of three to five team members in years 5 to 8.
The pair have a couple of mates lined up to join them.
Ryan, 10, has been pounding the pedals, cycling 8km about four times a week.
While Jack, 11, has been swimming 5km and running 5km each week for the past few weeks.
He also has taken to mountainbiking trail rides along the Ashburton River.
‘‘And I push my motorbike around sometimes. When it runs out of fuel, I just push it down the (farm) lane,’’ Jack said.
In the past the pair have competed in both run and bike challenges.
‘‘It’s fun and it gives you fitness,’’ Ryan said of the Longbeach Challenge which included walk, run and bike events to suit all ages.
It’s taken them across rugged farm and beach terrain, through a water crossing and over hilly sections.
Jack and Ryan have just finished their rugby season so have some levels of fitness already.
They play prop and centre, respectively, for Southern Under 11s who had an ‘‘okay’’ season, according to Jack.
They also play school-aged basketball and are getting ready for athletics day and Ripper Rugby seasons.
Held across coastal farmland, the challenge is run by Longbeach School, and the Hinds and District Lions Club, which share the proceeds.
Longbeach School sports coordinator, and teacher, Harriett Sutton said for The Schools Challenge there were medals to be won for the top three teams as well as a trophy and bragging rights for the team that comes out on top.
Pupils could be from within one school, or in composite teams from multiple schools, although they had to be under one school name.
The new event had been created to encourage children to team up and challenge themselves, she said.
‘‘We want an event that encourages the children of Mid Canterbury (and beyond) to team up, and challenge themselves in a fun collaborative challenge – and what better way than across our amazing scenic tracks,’’ she said.
‘‘This event will encourage some friendly competition between local schools too which is always a bit of fun!’’
As the inaugural event in the Ruralco Longbeach Coastal challenge, organisers were hoping for as many teams as possible, especially from Longbeach School.
‘‘The more entered, the more competition there is for teams, and the sweeter it will be for the team who take out this first event! We hope this event will be well supported by our local community,” Sutton said.
“We are hoping other schools in our community will come to challenge us too.’’
The coastal challenge has been running for 17 years, and with Longbeach School getting 50 per cent of the profit, it is always well supported by parents, Sutton said.
‘It’s an event that cannot happen without the support of our school community, and we are very grateful to those who support it year in, year out.’’
- – The Ruralco Longbeach Coastal Challenge is on November 24. It includes events for all ages – walk (5km or 12km), run (5km, 12km or 21km) or bike (12km, 23km or 35km, eBike options).
- This year there is also a duathlon (23km bike and 10 to 12km run).
- The Schools Challenge 12km event is for mountainbike teams of three to five team members in years 5 to 8. Entry fee is $20 per person. Enter online at longbeachcoastalchallenge.com
