tygerberg

The Spur Cape Summer Trail Series® kicked off with a bang and a bluster as almost 800 runners took on the howling south-easter at the Tygerberg Nature Reserve.
 
There was excitement in the air as runners started trickling in at the start venue and, with the Tygerberg hills looming over them, the reality of the challenge that lay ahead started to set in. Uncomfortable as the wind was, it brought welcome respite against the usual summer heat.
 
The familiar faces of Bernard Rukadza, Raydon Balie, Franz-Eric Streicher, Michael Gombart and Katya Soggot were joined at the start line of the 12.1km long course Championship by up-and-coming youngsters Jarryd Dunn, Hayley Preen and Megan Leslie and it was clear from the outset that the racing at the front of the field was going to be fierce.
 
We were not disappointed and Balie put in a strong performance, showing his intentions for the Series, and claiming his first win of 2016 with a time of 55:07. Rukadza, on tired legs due to training for an ultra, crossed the line in second place in a time of 56:59, with the impressive Dunn not far behind in 1:00:02.
 
The ladies race was dominated by Preen, who is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. She crossed the finish line more than five minutes ahead of her closest competition in a time of 1:06:04. In second position was the surprise package of the evening, Sanja Steyn from Zimbabwe in a time of 1:11:44. An old Spur Trail Series® favourite, Katya Soggot had to settle for third place with a time of 1:12:14 as she recovers from injury.
 
Afrika, Leslie going for gold
In the short course Challenge there wasn’t time to blink as the up-and-coming Andre Afrika swept around the 8.1km course in a blistering time of 35:42. Behind him, Stefan Oosthuizen and Juan Carstens were chasing hard but they could not keep up – Oosthuizen claiming second place in a time of 37:14 and Carstens completing the podium with a time of 39:23.
 
Megan Leslie once again showed her class as she claimed another first place in the short course race with her time of 45:09, ahead of Tina-Mari Meyer in 46:53 and Linda Detering in 48:20.
 
It was a thrilling start to what promised to be another memorable Spur Trail Series® and we can’t wait to continue this Sunday when the Series moves to the beautiful Lebanon Forest in the Elgin Valley.
 
A big thank you to our awesome sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, BOS Sport, Protea Hotels and Outward Ventures for making these events possible and to everyone who come out to the races and make it all worthwhile.
 
We’ll see you on Sunday!
 
Click here for full results and here for photos.

Over 900 trail runners took on the Tygerberg hills on a picture perfect Cape winter's day this Sunday to bring the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ to its halfway mark.

With conditions pretty much perfect, all runners were treated to immaculate views of Table Bay as they made their way over and around the Tygerberg Nature Reserve. However, they were made to work for it as getting to the top of Tygerberg is no easy matter. 

In the 12km long course Championship race, newcomer Timothy Chambers surprised most as he beat both the seasoned Tsungai Mwanengeni and Raydon Balie to the line in a superb time of 56:11. Mwanengeni ran a great time, after running approximately 10km to get to the race and claimed second spot in a time of 58:47. Balie was the only other runner to break the one hour mark in 59:23 to take third place.

There was a tight battle for first place in the women’s race as two previous Spur Trail Series™ champions, Liandi van der Westhuyzen and Danette Smith lined up at the start. Smith beat van der Westhuyzen to the line by just over a minute as she came home in a time of 01:09:43, ahead of van der Westhuyzen’s 01:11:00. Third across the line, was master runner, Ester Brink in a time of 01:16:02.

Dierks, Jacobs dominate short course
In the 8km short course Challenge Llewelyn Jacobs went one better from race 1 while Mariella Dierks picked up where she left off a week ago to take control of the Series. Jacobs came home in a time of 36:56, just a few seconds ahead of Eugene Poss who crossed the line in 37:11. Third over the line was Andre Afrika in 39:28.

Dierks put in a stunning performance to claim first place in the ladies race in a time of 44:45. She finished four minutes ahead of her closest competition, Liezl du Plooy, who was home in 48:46, followed by Tannis Thorlakson in 50:41.

Tygerberg is well-known to be the toughest race of the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ and though the route was completed in the opposite direction than it has been done the past few years the new variations didn’t make things much easier and there were plenty of tired, but happy faces at the finish line.

With the Spur Trail Series™ now halfway, we’re looking forward to the fastest course in the Series this Sunday at the Taal Monument in Paarl. Weather conditions have been perfect at the first two races and this Sunday’s prediction seems like we’ll continue with sunny skies so if you’re still wondering if you want to run or not, now is the time to get your entry in.

A big thank you to our amazing sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, BOS Ice Tea, Protea Hotels and Graham Beck for their continued support and to all the runners who make these events so much fun!

Click here for results and here for photos.