The Junk Yard Dogs Bike Group from Portage la Prairie is hosting the Manitoba Cycling Association's annual Birch Mountain Cross Country Classic today at Birch Mountain Trails, about 45km south of Portage. Trevor Shackleton, an executive member of the Junk Yard Dogs, says the event has been going on for a number of years now, adding the group from Portage usually does pretty well in the races.

"We've been hosting this event for quite a few years, so our mountain bikers usually excel because Birch Mountain happens to be our home course. It's got a lot of hills and it's a tough course, but most of our kids and adults do very well on it."

He outlines the order of the races.

"The 10am event is going to be the U-11 and U-13 age group, then the 11am event is going to be the U-7's and U-9's, then at 1pm is going to be the U-15 to the elites, which is 17 and up."

For more information on today's event, click here.