MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Local junior sports star, Linél Engelbrecht, a learner from Curro Mossel Bay, finished the 2018 sporting season on a high note.
After winning the Madibaz XCO Mountain Bike series convincingly, she competed in the Jakkalsvlei Aramex MTB Challenge in the challenging 40km distance.
At the picturesque venue of hosts Jakkalsvlei Wines, participants were treated to an exciting day of racing, a great atmosphere and fantastic food.
The event has grown in popularity and is possibly one of, if not the best, of the organised races in the region.
Linél set a blistering pace early on, only to be caught near the finish.
The first female podium spot went to Liezel Pretorius, the second to Linél and third to Alissa Coetzer.
The triathlon season is now in full swing and Linél has once again not disappointed by taking race wins in both league events hosted by the Eden Triathlon Association at the Fairy Knowe Hotel in Wilderness.
She also competed in the gruelling Standard Bank Ironman 5150 Funtri event held in Port Elizabeth. Out of a field of 79 female athletes, she finished second Junior Female and third Female Overall.
The Funtri event is a non-stop triathlon comprising a 400m open water swim, a 20km cycle time trial and finishing off with a 5km run.
Participants found the cycle leg to be quite challenging, with prevailing strong winds that hampered all.
The past weekend, the Eden Cycling Awards were held in George. The awards are for the recognition of cycling achievements in the Eden District as well as the presentation of cycling colours.
Linél received Eden Colours for MTB XCO, MTB XCM, honours for road cycling for winning the Eden ITT Championships and other races during the Youth Cycling Festival.
She was also awarded Western Cape colours for road cycling after having won a bronze medal at the SA Road Cycling Championships in the Individual Time Trial (ITT).
Linél's hard work, dedication and sacrifice surely have paid off.
Being an extremely talented multi-sport athlete with a plethora of achievements for the year, she was awarded the coveted Eden Cycling Junior Sportswoman of the Year trophy for 2018.
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
