This year may slowly be coming to an end, but the 2016 Gauteng Summer Trail Series® has only just begun. This past Sunday saw the first race of the summer series kick off at the Hennops River, and what a cracker of a day to launch the series.
On Saturday evening Gauteng got hit hard with a storm, leaving the event organisers at Wildrunner stressing a little with the thought of what was awaiting them at the start/finish venue on Sunday morning. But thankfully, apart from a missing A-F sign board, all seemed intact and runners arrived to a picture perfect morning for racing.
The mood was set, the storm had gone, the calm had settled. Or was that just the quietness of the nervous XL runners about to take on the Hennops beast? The first group of runners to officially launch this exciting Summer Series®. This crazy bunch set off at 6:30am and put on an impressive performance of running.
In the men’s XL race Paul Davies unfortunately had a short lived victory after realising he took the wrong way home, making way for Richard McCafferty to claim his first XL Trail Series victory in a time of 1:50:43, coming in 2nd was Richard’s namesake, Richard Lawson who moved up a step after taking 3rd place at the winter XL race at Hennops earlier this year. 3rd place was Travis Green in a time of 1:58:45, the only 3 runners to beat the SUB 2hr mark.
Sanell Venter made a last minute call to upgrade from the long course to the XL. A wise move, as she came racing accorss the finish line in a time of 2:43:25 to take first place in the Ladies race. In second place was Audrey Khuboni in a time of 2:53:25. And wrapping up the Ladies podium over the line was Ilze Wagener.
The next group to take to the start line was the Long Course Championship runners. In the men’s race, Mike Bailey put out an impressive performance, being the only runner to come in under an hour, claiming first place in a rocket pace of 0:59:16. Second place went to Altus Badenhorst, and taking 3rd place, no stranger to the trail series podium, Mark Phipson.
Magretha Wang took 4th place overall and 1st place in the ladies race in a time of 1:07:46. Sprinting into second place was Cindy Starke in a time of 1:17:20 and coming in 3rd making this whole running thing look so easy, was Evangeline Scheepers in a time of 1:17:43.
In the short course race, Marco Botha was pleased to know that the pressure was slightly less with fellow competitor, Ezra Ferreira being out for the series with an injury. Until the Schlebusch’s stepped onto the line, which quickly made Marco realise it was GAME ON again. Luke Schlebusch put out a great run and came out on top, sprinting across the finish line in an impressive time of 0:29:30. Following closely behind his older brother was the younger Thomas Schlebusch in a time of 32:30. And putting up a good fight making sure he gets his podium was Marco Botha in a time of 33:42.
In the ladies race it was great to see Anita O’Brien back on the podium, claiming first place in a time of 0:36:17. Another regular to the short course podium, Caryn Phipson, came in second in a time of 42:09, she is also won first junior female over the line. Hot on Caryn’s heels was Wilmarie Nolte who took home 3rd place in a time of 42:25.
What a fantastic day of racing had by all. Great to see all the regulars back at another Spur Trail Series, and awesome to see a whole lot of new faces as well for what is set to be a thrilling Gauteng Summer Series.
It’s still anyone’s game to claim overall series top spots. Enjoy all the training this week and see you all next Sunday, 30 November at Segwati Game Ranch, for what promises to be an exciting morning of running along with some sneaky game viewing while you’re at it.
A big thank you and shout out to our sponsors and media partners Spur Steak Ranches, BOS Sport, Protea Hotels by Marriot, Runnersworld.co.za and WWF
For full results click here and for race photos click here.