Mountain-bikers do it in the mud
2005-06-23
A GROUP of 16 riders from local team Huguenot Cycles took part in the Nine to Five team mountain-bike relay event that was held on Thursday, but the race was on for Dennis du Toit and especially for Joritha Prins in the Individual Women’s category.
Prins chased the South African ladies champion, Hannele Steyn-Kotze, for eight hours straight and the final result proved that she was only 1 minute 18 seconds behind.
Du Toit also crunched out a gutsy performance for his third place in the men’s individual class.
Ellane van Wyk also from Paarl took her place amongst the top eight solo women riders, only one lap behind Joritha.
The gap between Dennis and the second solo rider, Russel Palm, was less than nine minutes with both completing 18 laps.
Another Paarl rider, Thomas Babl, finished fourth in a time of seven hours and 43 minutes.
The winner of the men’s individual category was Tiaan Erwee from Somerset West.
In the junior team category three riders from Huguenot Cycles could not find a fourth member to complete their team.
Marc Kerr, Adriaan Louw and John Kent nevertheless decided to ride and ended up winning the category by doing 21 laps in total.
Three eight-year-olds from Wellington (and a 13 year old) also decided to celebrate Youth Day by taking part and came third in the Junior category.
Alexander Parsons, Oliver Linnejar, Hugo Slabbert and Laun de Kock finished delivered a very satisfactory performance.
“It was the first time that this 8-hour team relay event was held and it was a huge success. The weather was sunny, but the rain of that past week made the 7km course muddy and tough to ride,” said race organiser, Meurant Botha of Dirtopia.
More than 180 riders took part from all over the Western Cape and with their families and friends supporting them, it was a real social day at Delvera farm.
The headquarters of Dirtopia is at the Trail Centre shop on Delvera conveniently situated on the R44 between Klapmuts and Stellenbosch.
With other farm facilities like a restaurant, wine and cheese tasting, pottery, nursery, hiking to Klapmuts koppie and even a self-catering Lodge, the spectators had lots to do while waiting for the event to finish at 17:00.
The entry fees for the event was in aid of the Klapmuts Kop Conservancy and all hiking/ biking permits sold throughout the year from the Trail Centre, also support this Renosterveld rehabilitation project.
Riders could enter as four or two man teams and more than 50 riders competed in the solo category.
Categories included Open Men, Mixed and Junior teams. In total more than 9000 kilometres were covered by all the riders!
The next team relay event will take place on 10/11 September and will also form part of a national championship series for 24 hour races.
For full results of the Nine to Five event and more info, visit www.dirtopia.co.za or contact the Trail Centre at tel 884-4752.
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