The Spur KZN Trail Series® has kicked off with a bang, in less than a week we’re already two races down and got two more exciting races to go.
Race 1 – Rocky Bay, Scottburgh
The racing launched with a cracker of a day on Sunday 2 October at a stunning new venue for the Spur KZN Trail Series® in the form of Rocky Bay Trails. A great looking set-up welcomed over 200 runners to the race village.
Runners got to enjoy a beautiful ocean sunrise and hot cuppa J while registration took place.
A variety of runners from all spheres showed up on the morning of the race, we had your racing snakes, leisure strollers, families, newbies and old dogs. Along with a large number of spectators there to cheer on all the crazy trail runners.
The trails at Rocky Bay are considered fairly fast with lots of flowing single track through indigenous forest patches, interspersed with some farm road jeep track running in the local sugar cane fields.
Although starting 15 minutes after the Championship (Long Course) it was Adam Khebesi of the Challenge (short) course, who arrived back first across the finish line in a rapid time of 27:59 ahead of second placed Lance Arnold, and coming in hot on his heels in 3rd place was younger brother Scot Arnold. Fourth person to arrive was also our Championship course winner, Grant Cummings in an impressive time of 45:11. Local veteran triathlete, Donovan van Gelder, was second and third place over the line in the Championship men’s race was Zothile Moto in a time 47:23.
The competition among the ladies was thrilling with Pusuletso Dladla beating Zoe Papadakis over the line by only 23 seconds in the championship course in a time of 53:07, wrapping up the ladies Championship over the line podium was Daniella Arrigo. 15 year old Tate Stewart won the ladies Challenger course, shortly followed by Sharon Geeson in a time of 34:36, and taking 3rd was Malu Zuma.
Impressive running at the first race of the series, with some great friendly competition.
Nearly the entire field of runners stayed for an eventful prize giving while enjoying their BOS Sport and a bacon and egg roll. The weekend saw a lot of rain, but over the event itself the sun shone proudly and conditions were great.
Race 2 – Kenneth Stainbank Night Run
After giving the legs a little rest for the start of the week everyone rejoined for Race 2, with a number of new runners as well, on Wednesday evening, 5 October, at Kenneth Stainbank for the night run.
Night racing is always exciting and even more so when it takes place in the beautiful Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve. Participants started to arrive from 5pm and the excitement started to build as darkness fell.
The long course started a few minutes late after a last minute rush by a few participants arriving in the nick of time.
This year a new course had been put together in consultation with one of the local residents, this meant that the long course was made up of two unique laps and not the same lap twice as in the past. The change was very well received with all of the championship course participants arriving back on the finish line with a palpable buzz.
Grant Cummings, proving to be hot favourite for the King of the Championship, took his second win for the series in the men’s Long Course race in a time of 44:37. In second place was Dean Moore and taking 3rd over the line was Michael Baker.
Making a loud noise in the ladies Championship race, also taking her second win for the series, was Pusuletso Dladla in a time of 50:37, she is just on fire at the moment. Closing off the podium for the ladies race was Stephanie Montgomery in 2nd place and Zoe Papadakis in 3rd.
The challenge course was dominated by the youngsters, who as always raced hard off the line. There was some confusion when they caught up with the back of the 10km runners thinking they were off course, but this was unfounded and all finished well, with one or two adjustments made to ensure fair results in the spirit of trail running.
Winning the men’s Challenge race over the line was Owen Bhengu, 2nd place Dylan O’Brien and in 3rd place for the 2nd race in a row was youngster Scot Arnold.
In the ladies race, Tate Stewart once again showed why she is the clear favourite for the Challenge series win, by coming in way ahead of second place Jenna O’Brien. Sharon Geeson took a step down from Race 1, but still clinging on to the podium in 3rd place.
It was smiles all around on the well-lit finish line. The prize giving was once again packed with all 150 runners who participated attending; shrieks of excitement from the prize winners and rounds of applause for our Sponsors and winners finished a great evening of trail running.
It’s been a super exciting series so far, with great running and a whole lot of fun had by all. Some heated racing going on up front as well as a bunch of friendly rivalries and banter amongst friends and families.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at Race 3 on the 16th of October at Blythdale, a thrilling new venue for the Spur KZN Trail Series®. This will be the first time that this venue is run on.
A shout out and big thank you to our sponsors and media partners Spur Steak Ranches, BOS Sport, La Sportiva, Protea Hotels by Marriot, Runnersworld.co.za and WWF
For full results click here, and for more photos click here, Race 1 and Race 2.