10to4

What a wet, muddy, exilerating and exhausting weekend we had at the 10to4 Mountain Bike event over Valentines Day weekend! Braeburn Group of Schools were proud sponsors of the Mini 10to4 event again this year and what a year it was.

With unprecedented amounts of rain, which started to fall Thursday night, everywhere and everyone was coverd in mud! This did not make for easy riding and people were forced to retire from the main races due to mechanical issues. Poor Mr Craven, who was at his first ever 10to4, entered into The Classic but lost his back wheel! Many people did finish though - covered head to foot in mud, one of our parents reported that her wheels stopped turning at points during the race because they were so caked with mud! A number of children completed The Slide which made us very proud. We were especially impressed with Isabelle from Year 4 who finished the 39km race as the youngest competitor this year, crossing the line with the biggest smile ever!

The Braeburn Kids Activity Tent was well used throughout the weekend and was bigger and better than last year. There was giant jenga, dominoes and draughts as well as a train set, polydron and lots of arts and crafts opportunities. The original Lion King movie was screened in one of the activity tents on Saturday night, which was a welcome relief from the rain for many children and parents.

Sunday was the Mini 10to4, the highlight of the weekend for BNIS. Races planned covered either 2km 4.5km, 9km or 13.5km however Mr Masafu, Mrs Gould and Leafy - the event manager - quickly realised that these distances were not going to be possible in the conditions before them. Thinking on their feet they created alternative routes within the Race Village for our youngest competitors. Those brave enough to still take on the main course, were told to only attempt one 4.5km circuit as the conditions were so tough. Some of the 13.5km competitors did attempt a second circuit but only four were able to finish both laps. Despite the challenges ahead of them, 39 children attempted the course and many of them finished (even if some of them did have a bit of help from a vehicle when the going got tough). The weather was not kind to the children, the heavens opened on a couple of occasions during the race but it did not dampen theirdetermination!

Braeburn Nanyuki won a number of medals and were delighted to be awarded the overall school winners' trophy again! We now cant wait until next year!