BIGGER AND BETTER: Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) head of public relations and corporate affairs, Norhayati Bidin (fourth right) shows the Bukit Siol X-Treme mountain bike challenge promotional banner as organising committee members look on. The mountain bike challenge will be held from Nov 24 to 25. — Photo by Lester Mekan Baha
KUCHING: Organisers of DBKU Siol X-Treme mountain bike challenge may hold the event on a much larger scale next year to coincide with the 25th anniversary celebration of Kuching North City Hall (DBKU).
DBKU head of public relations and corporate affairs unit, Norhayati Bidin yesterday disclosed riders from foreign countries may be invited to the exciting event.
“We have plan to hold it on a much larger scale next year as part of DBKU’s calendar of events and activities,” she said on the event which is now entering its 11th year.
According to her, this year’s event is on from Nov 24 to 25 at Bukit Siol of Jalan Semariang and is now open for entries.
“We are expecting about 150 entries and there may be those coming from neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia, Brunei and of course from other states,” she said on the two-day event jointly organised by DBKU and Sarawak Mountain Bicycling Association (SMBA).
Offering prizes worth RM12,000 plus trophies, the event is divided into five categories and will be flagged off by the Deputy Minister of Science Technology and Innovation Datuk Fadillah Yusuf.
Norhayati expressed confidence for the 2.5km mountain bike challenge to become another attraction for city folks and visitors to come a calling at Bukit Siol which is also DBKU’s headquarters and home to Kuching’s Cat Museum.
She said the event is being held annually with the aim to promote Bukit Siol as a good family recreation venue as well as to promote city folks to take up mountain biking as a healthy activity.
“The event is the result of careful and diligent planning and collaboration. The racing trail systems must serve the needs of multiple user groups and take environmental and geographical factors into account which will involve landowners in planning processes,” she explained.
Norhayati added the organisers are committed to follow the strict mountain biking rules set by Malaysia Mountain Bicycling Association (MMBA) particular where health and safety issues are concerned.
To promote the event as a family oriented recreation activity, there are suggestions for DBKU and its organising partners to include a children’s bike ride treasure hunt or relay race. This is encourage the participation of the whole family members in mountain biking and to promote Bukit Siol as a safe cycling haven for city folks to treasure.
For those interested in the race, entries are now open with fees of RM20 per participant is payable before Nov 22 closing date.
Those with further queries can contact Muhammad Abdullah and Zulaihi Seri at 010-964 3877 or 019-8898325.