In the heart of the Waterberg mountains, Lindani Game and Lodges and TrailAdventure played host to the first Top of the Waterberg 120km/30km gravel cycle race and 100km/30km gravel run.
Braving a brutal October heatwave, participants proved themselves to be well up to the challenge. Wilhelmus Potgieter came in first on the 120km cycle race with an impressive time of 05hrs13 minutes and Sue Wadley-Seddon was the first female across with an amazing time of 06hrs05. On the 30km cycle, winners were Carl Marais (Male) and Sasha Basson (female), each of them completing the Mini Challenge in just under one and a half hours.
Hats really need to be taken off to the 100km runners. It took the first man in, Henk Mulder, 10hrs38 to cross the finish line – an incredible time given the blistering temperatures. Truly inspiring were Suzette Von Broembson, (winning the female 100km race), Donovon Shirley and Arno Arno Van Der Merwe, crossing the line in 13, 14 and 15 hours respectively.
The emphasis of the Top of the Waterberg event is not just winning. Family and community involvement was a high priority. E-bikes are encouraged and it was a delight to see husbands, wives, moms, dads and kids riding together. The youngest entry was 8-year-old Ben Wadley, who did incredibly well coming in at just under two hours, and Messege Langa from The Bushveld Mission Children’s Home in Vaalwater rode his first 30km Mini challenge. Messege’s 17-year-old friend, Kamogelo Willem, take second place in the 30km race.
There was also the invaluable contribution of surrounding farms and local community manning the water tables, and local companies sponsored products and prizes.
Contestants said it was “a beautiful venue”, “a super-well organised event” and “a great route with really good back-up”. All of which bodes well for future events, putting the Waterberg on the map as a beautiful, outdoor, activity-filled, tourist destination, only two hours away from Pretoria!
Dates for Top of the Waterberg 2022 series:
09, 10 April 2022: Top of the Waterberg 2 Day 25/26km Trail Run
2 day 12.5km Trail Run
28 May 2022: Top of the Waterberg MTB event
29 October 2022: Top of the Waterberg 100/120 run/cycle; 30km Mini challenge run/cycle.
For more information:
Alan Van Coller: [email protected]/ 073 179 4313
Dominic Cullinan: sunherbs@gmail.com/083 289 5451
Shane Gouldie: [email protected]o.za/0823329552
Pictures: Supplied
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