Matthew Lester, from Alberton High, has been selected to represent, not Eastern Gauteng, not Gauteng, but South Africa – at the Track African Continental Championships – to be held in Abuja Nigeria next month.

Matthew: “My journey with cycling began in the peak of Covid 19 in August 2020. I began riding during lockdown due to being unable to do any physical activities. My father had an indoor trainer which used to lie around the house and I asked him if I could start riding and keeping fit until we were allowed out of our houses. Eventually lockdown ended and I began racing and that is when all the fun began. I enjoyed seeing how much I was improving at it and after a while I considered myself a cyclist. My greatest influence during my journey is my grandfather (Jack Lester) and my father (Norman Lester). They were both Springbok cyclists in their days and their knowledge of the sport has been nothing more than helpful in my racing and training. My grandfather, Matt Minnie, who was the previous head master of Alberton High School has also been a big help during the process. It was because of him that I was accepted into Alberton High without hesitation (2020) and it has made my focus on my academics as-well as my sport improve drastically.”