MTB challenge event benefits local church
ROB KNOWLES
WITH sun shining and the temperature pushing the 200C mark, a total of 273 participants took part in the second annual Woody Cape Challenge, held at Elephants of Eden in Alexandria last weekend.
There were four events held on the morning, including a 55km mountain bike (MTB) race, an 18km MTB race, an 18km trail run and a 6km fun run.
Ian and Lisette Withers, owners of Elephants of Eden, offered their farm as the base for activities. Participants passed through the farm into the Alexandria forest and through Kaba Game Farm which houses the Quest-Africa leadership school.
Participants in the 55km mountain bike event cycled through 20km of pristine forest managed by Sanparks as their Woody Cape section of the Addo National Elephant Park.
The event raised over R3 500 for the Alexandria Dutch Reformed Church towards their local community projects.
"This is an annual event which is expected to become a key event for the Alexandria district, contributing to the upliftment of the local community,” said operational owner at Zports in Port Elizabeth, Michael Zoetmulder.
55km MTB Challenge
A total of 102 riders took part, with 16 not finishing the course.
First place went Jade Muller from Port Elizabeth in a time of 2 hours 39 minutes and 38 seconds. Second place went to Craig Lindeque of Port Elizabeth in 2:53:49.9, and in third place was Marius Ferreira with a time of 2:56:20.8.
18km MTB Challenge
A total of 71 riders took to the course with only three people not completing the course.
First place went to Matthew Haines of Jeffreys Bay in a time of one hour 11 minutes and 23 seconds. Second place went to Tim Sanderson from Australia who completed the course in 1:12:04.1 and third place went to Christo van Rooyen 1:13:38.3.
| RHODES RIDERS: A team from Rhodes University took part in the Woody Cape MTB and Trail Challenge, held at Elephants of Eden in Alexandria on Saturday. From left (back row) are Thoko Sipungu, Dale Edwards, Warren Botha, John Dickason, David Leith and Nick Rocke, and (front row) Megan Blore and Kirsty Hodgskiss Picture: ROB KNOWLES |
18km Trail Run
A total of 59 participants experienced the race and only one runner was unable to complete the course.
First place went to Basie Bonaparte in a time of one hour 18 minutes and 28.5 seconds. Thoko Sipungu was second overall in a time of 1:21:39.8. Third place went to Christo Muller in a time of 1:22:24.5.
5.5km Fun Run
With 34 runners and only one retirement, this race proved quite popular among those who attended the day.
First place went to Jacques Human in a time of 29 minutes, 48.1 seconds. Next to cross the line was Jan Dakema in 30:44.7, and third place went to Nicholas Rocke in a time of 31:42.
