New bikes and helmets worth celebrating

Celebrating the six new bikes to add to the fleet are Mark Ollerenshaw (left), Casey Lee-Thurston, Raymond Broughton, Blake Hogan, Hamish Beissel, Portia Ross, Cameron Russell, Emily Mayhead, William Heron, Justyn Rose-Anderson, Elijah Gilsenan-Hailwood and Koby McDonald.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 120913WCSMMOUNTAINBIKES1

Wanganui Intermediate School is celebrating receiving six new mountain bikes, courtesy of Waikato's Grassroots Trust.

Teacher Nigel McIlroy said the six new bikes and helmets were welcome because the school's existing 12 bikes were a bit of a motley collection that they had to "beg, borrow or steal" to acquire.

"There are bits and pieces of bikes put together so it's nice to have brand-new ones."

Mountain biking is part of the school sports programme and he said the pupils were keen but did not have enough bikes until they approached the trust for funding.

Mountain biking was a good way for children to let off steam outside the classroom and "just have a lot of fun". The bikes were delivered last week.

Mr McIlroy said the bikes were great news but news of changes to Harakeke Mountain Bike Park was not so good.

Logs in the forest will be felled as they have matured, removing some of the trails. There is also a possibility the land will be cleared for dairying.

"It's a great place for the kids to ride," Mr McIlroy said.

"There are still other places to ride, but Harakeke caters for all skills and abilities. You can split them up and they can ride to their own skill levels."

He hoped some of the park would be kept for mountain biking.