‘Anti-social’ Barker College students disqualified from mountain biking competition at Thredbo ski resort
EXCLUSIVE
Students at one of Australia’s most prestigious private schools have been disqualified from a national sporting competition for ‘anti-social behaviour’.
Riders from Barker College on Sydney’s north shore were forced to withdraw from the recent Australian Mountain Biking Interschools Championships at the Thredbo ski resort in the Snowy Mountains.
Several students were caught using closed cycle lanes overnight, with one boy taken to hospital with serious injuries after falling off.
The competition was held from March 4 to 8 and attracted more than 1,200 boys and girls from 300 schools across the country to participate in mountain bike events.
Students at Barker College, one of Australia’s most prestigious private schools, have been disqualified from a national sporting competition for ‘anti-social behaviour’
Competitors from grades 7 to 12 take part in the annual championships, which organizers describe as five days of action, racing and good times.
A spokeswoman for EVT, the company that operates Thredbo, would not identify any school whose students breached behavior guidelines, but Daily Mail Australia confirmed Barker’s involvement.
“At the recent Australian Mountain Biking Interschools competition, some competitors were disqualified due to anti-social behaviour,” the spokeswoman said.
“We have no further comment.”
Barker College is an independent Anglican coeducational day and boarding school in Hornsby, charging up to $40,625 per year in tuition fees.
Barker principal Phillip Heath told Daily Mail Australia that several students from his school had withdrawn from the mountain bike race.
Barker College riders had their points stripped at the recent Australian Mountain Biking Interschools event (above) at Thredbo ski resort
“The school is aware that a small group of Barker students who took part in the Australian Mountain Biking Interschools competition earlier in March entered one of the mountain bike trails after the route was closed for that day’s competition,” he said.
“One of the Barker students was injured and taken to hospital.
“Barker team members and parents who accompanied their children at this match were spoken to by Barker staff following the incident.
“As a result of failure to adhere to racing protocols and school conduct expectations, several students were immediately withdrawn from the competition.”
A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said paramedics were called to the Cannonball cycle path in Thredbo at around 7.50pm on March 5 and treated a boy in his mid-teens for injuries to his hip, wrist and pelvis.
According to a race schedule, the only event on the Cannonball run that day ended at 4:00 PM.
The injured teenager was taken to Cooma and then Canberra Hospital.
The police were not present at the scene of the accident or other major incidents during the match.
Several students were caught using closed cycle lanes at night during the Australian Mountain Biking Interschools competition (above) and one boy suffered serious injuries
Barker’s motto, Honor non Honores, means “seek honor over rewards.”
Famous alumni include Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett, comedian Chris Lilley, film director Phillip Noyce and rugby league player Mitchell Pearce.
Two other private schools in Sydney denied their students had trespassed on cycle paths at night or behaved anti-socially during the mountain bike race.
Promotional material for the competition outlines the consequences for participants if they misbehave.
“Thredbo has a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-social behaviour,” warns a statement on the resort’s website.
‘Riders must always behave in a sporting manner whilst showing respect for fellow competitors, staff, guests and the natural Thredbo environment.
‘Failure to do so will result in immediate disqualification from the event and revocation of lift access privileges.’
Snowy Mountains Grammar School continued its dominance in the Australian Mountain Biking Interschools competition, winning the overall school trophy for the third consecutive year.