Bearwood College Prep School is celebrating cycling successes with a double victory in the British Schools Cycling 
Association (BSCA). Six pupils have come out top in the U7s and U9s Boys National Mountain Bike Team Championships 2012/13
The U7s team, Lucas Dance, Jack Steiger and Sebastian Cant, and the U9s team, Jake Swainston, Callum Partridge and Adam Long, both achieved first place in the team competition in their respective age categories.
The six boys scooped gold medals and certificates as they rode into the winning slot in both the BSCA Southern Regional Championships and the National Championships.
Year 4 pupil, Serena McMaster, further contributed to the school’s achievements winning third place in the U9s Girls’ Southern Regional Championship race. “Once I’d finished I felt excited and exhausted at the same time,” said Serena. Callum Partridge added, “I’ve ridden in two races before but this was really hard work. I really enjoyed it though. It was great!”
Bearwood College welcomed 86 members of the BSCA between the ages of 7 and 16 and close to 350 supporters on Sunday 28th April. Riders travelled to the event from all over the country, as cyclists from local Berkshire schools competed against riders from Yorkshire, Lancashire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, London, Surrey, Staffordshire, Birmingham, Manchester, Kent, West Sussex and even Jersey – The Channel Islands.
This is the first time Bearwood College has hosted the annual National Mountain Biking Championships. Marlon 
Moncrieffe, Deputy Head of Bearwood College Prep School, has been instrumental in bringing the young cyclists to the magnificent 125 acre estate.
Mr Moncrieffe commented “The event flowed really smoothly. Everybody enjoyed being here and seemed to have a really good day, racing their bicycles or simply watching the excitement unfold at the event. I have had some really positive feedback!”.
Mr Moncrieffe is a passionate cyclist and a former UCI World Masters track cycling champion as a sprinter. “I am delighted that this event was a success for the College.” he commented, “It has inspired children to participate in a sport that they might otherwise not have done, and at a level that really means something.
It is just brilliant that not only have they got to take part in a National Championships, but some of them have actually achieved success.It probably has not sunk in for them yet, but these are national cycling titles that can not be taken away from them.”
The British Schools’ Cycling Association was set up to initiate and offer cycling opportunities for young people (under 19) through cycling skills training, leisure rides and competitions.
The BSCA divides the sport into 8 different disciplines, one of which is Mountain Biking. Established in 1967, the BSCA has helped to produce British cycling champions such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Nicole Cooke and Chris Boardman.
It is run entirely by volunteers across the 13 regions of the UK which align with those designated by the Sports Council.
Although the BSCA typically change the venue for the National Championships each year, Bearwood College aims to host future BSCA National and Regional Championships.