Record entries to Northland Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Competition

Nat Young, from Whangārei Boys' High School, at the Northland Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Competition.

The rise of mountain biking among Northland youth was illustrated at this week's Northland Secondary Schools Sports Association's Northland champs.

Ben Haselden, president of the Whangārei Mountain Bike Club, which hosted the event, said 70 youngsters from seven Northland schools entered the Northland Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Competition, a huge increase on the 25 who entered last year.

"That's a sign of just how much the sport is growing here. That's a huge increase,'' Haselden said.

As it turned out, four entrants were unable to make the event due to injury, with Kerikeri High School students taking out the major events at the Parihaka Mountain Bike Park.

In the Boys' Downhill race Mason Younger, from Kerikeri High, was first, followed by Adam Pilling, from Kerikeri and Noah Barton-Smith, from Whangārei Boys' in third.

In the Girls' Downhill Lily Wilson, from Kerikeri High came first, with Holly Askew, from Whangārei Girls' High second and Kyah Young, from Whangārei Girls' High third.

In the Boys' Cross Country race Adam Piling came first, with Sean Alexander, second and Nat Young third, with both from Whangārei Boys' High.

In the Girls' Cross Country Lily Wilson was first, with Kyah Young second and Holly Askew third.

Northern Advocate photographer Michael Cunningham went along to capture some of the action.

Calais Henare-Thompson, Tikipunga High, at the Northland Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Competition this week.

Jamie Kidd, Whangārei Boys' High School, going down hill.

Wyatt Gill, from Whangārei Boys' High School.

Jakop Donaldson, from Kerikeri High, goes cross country at the Parihaka Mountain Bike Park.