The sun may have been shining but the mercury was having none of it as almost 800 brave souls arrived at the B’Sorah tented campsite in frigid temperatures for the first race of the Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series 2014.
The long course championship race saw runners traverse 13.4km of magnificent bush trails with great variety and wildlife and the short course was as spectacular but limited to only 7.1km.
Edwin Sesipi sprinted down the home stretch first in the long course to win in a superb time of 51:29 with Frank Keinhofer breathing down his neck in second and Pedro Calderon third. In the ladies long course, Marelise Retief showed her class and was the only lady to come home under the hour mark, winning in a time of 59:29. Takalani Ndundani and Estie van Heerden took second and third overall.
The 7.1km short course challenge race was always going to be a fast one! Ryan Mathaba blitzed the course to come home in a time of 26:44 in front of Mazu Ndandani and young Nico Kleynhans, an 11-year-old speedster. Nico’s performance certainly turned a few heads and his performance in the rest of the Series will be watched with great interest. In the ladies short course, Penny Taylor ran home in a time of 32:40 with Vimainasha Mhike second overall and Zoe Brentano third.
It was a cracking day’s racing and a brilliant start to the Series. With race 2 this coming Sunday already sold out, the Series is set to provide some top racing.
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