Cape Winter Trail Series™

The Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ kicked off with a bang at the Paul Cluver Estate as more than 1000 runners came out to take on the epic trail of Paul Cluver Estate during the weekend. There were some nervous runners during the week as a cold front hammered the Cape in the week leading up to the races but the weather improved significantly as the weekend arrived. Runners at the GLB46 Ultra on Saturday had to deal with cold and wet conditions but on Sunday we were treated to perfect trail running weather and though conditions were muddy underfoot this only added to the trail fun!

Robinson takes the GLB46 Ultra
Almost 100 runners took on this magnificent ultra that makes its way up and around the Groenlandberg. Will Robinson showed his intentions from the get-go and made it to checkpoint one first. He hung on to the lead throughout, eventually winning the 46km race in a time of 3:51:04. Not far behind was Damian Wills who made Robinson work for his victory and crossed the finish line in 3:55:59. Completing the podium was Mark Pikker in a time of 4:26:02.

In the ladies field Mags Haacke won the race comfortably in a time of 4:52:29. Marcy Loubser was the second lady over the line and the first veteran lady in a time of 5:35:49, with Phillippa Burger taking third place in 5:40:28.

Rukadza stamps his authority
Things most definitely picked up speed on Sunday as more than 900 runners descended on the Paul Cluver Estate to take part in the first race of the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™. 

Bernard Rukadza picked up where he left off in the summer Series and started strong in his bid to win his fifth straight Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ as he blitzed the 16.7km course in 1:08:59. One minute later Duwayne Philander crossed the line in a time of 1:10:01 with Peter Tsawayo completing the podium in 1:11:03. 

In the ladies field, Liandi van der Westhuyzen showed her class and took top spot in 1:27:47, almost four minutes ahead of her closest rival, veteran Leeann Dawson who finished in 1:31:29. Matilda Randle was the third lady over the line in a quality time of 1:33:24.

Exciting talent in the short course 
It was business as usual for Riaan Wildskut as he wrapped up yet another short course victory with another blistering run. He came charging down the hill to finish the 9.1km course in only 34:07, chased all the way by Andre Afrika who finished in 34:19. Shortly after them, Willem Swanepoel sprinted down the finish shoot and clocked a time of 35:46. 

One of the most exciting performances of the day had to have been that of 13-year-old, Mia Doyle who won the ladies’ short course in a magnificent time of 44:19. Her toughest competition came from Rachel Bateman who came in second in a time of 44:42, with veteran Ellie Courts following shortly after, crossing the line in 45:25.
After a great day of trail running it was back home to wash the mud out of the running kit. The Sunday blues would have been tempered significantly with the thought that the second race of the Series is only one week away at the Tygerberg Nature Reserve.

A big thanks to all the runners who came out to Grabouw and of course to our sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, adidas, BOS and Protea Hotels for their continued support. And a special thanks must go to the Paul Cluver Estate for opening their gates to the masses and hosting us at this beautiful property – such a privilege!

Follow us on Twitter @WildrunnerZA and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/trailseries for any updates on this and other Spur Trail Series™ races.

For full results click here and for more photos click here.

The weather gods decided to save the best for last as the final race in the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ 2014 in Kleinmond took place under incredible skies and ideal running conditions. 

More than 950 excited runners turned up one final time to embrace the day and tackle the might of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve.

As is tradition, race 4 included the XL race of 24km and some of the country’s finest trail runners were out to have some competitive fun on some of the Cape’s best trails.

In the XL the pace was frenetic from the outset as the leading group of elites were shadowing each other and stretching the legs before the first big climb of the day at the 13km mark. It was on this climb that Ake Fagereng made his move and broke away from the leading pack that included the likes of Dom Wills, Simon Muller, Noel Ernstzen, Charl Souma and Derrick Baard. Fagereng kept the hammer down and flew down some technical single track to open up a gap that was never pulled back to win in a terrific time of 02:02:34. Dom Wills took second place overall in 02:04:18 and Simon Muller claimed that coveted last spot on the overall podium by coming home in 02:08:48.

In the ladies XL race, it was long course Championship Series winner Liandi van der Westhuyzen who continued to impress by claiming victory in a time of 02:34:05, more than 17 minutes ahead of her nearest rival, Marianne Johnson. She ran an impressive race herself and crossed the finish line in 02:51:29 with Shaan Corrie rounding out the top three overall ladies with a time of 02:58:22.

First victory for Philander
In the long course Championship 14,5km race, everyone was wondering whether the incredible Bernard Rukadza could make it four wins on the trot in this Series but Duwayne Philander had other ideas. He improved his three podium placements in the Series to grab his first win, peering under the culvert first on his way to the finish line in a time of 01:00:56. Series winner Rukadza came home second in a time of 01:01:27 to wrap up yet another Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ victory, his fifth in a row! 

We knew from the starting gun that we’d have a new face on the top step of the ladies long course race with current leader, van der Westhuyzen running the XL. This time it was Matilda Randle, who has two second places this Series, who claimed victory in a time of 01:19:16. Series regular, Arlene Potgieter was hot on her heels to take second place in a time of 01:20:57 with Annie Kloppers claiming the last overall podium spot in a time of 01:21:48.

Afrika seals the Series in style
In the men’s short course Challenge race, no time was wasted as runners raced over the 8km course in a little over 33 minutes. André Afrika sealed his Series by grabbing first place in 33:02 to go along with two other first place finishes and one runner up finish this Series. Second over the line and a mere 5 seconds back was Llewellyn Jacobs who crossed the line in 33:07 to claim second overall in the Series after a consistent showing of two fourth place finishes and two second places. Third over the line went to Nick Rembeyi in a time of 35:52.

In the ladies short course it was Mariella Dierks who claimed overall victory with a stunning time of 43:23 to just pip Ellie Courts. She crossed the line in 43:31 to claim first position in the veteran category with Michelle Nel right behind Courts to take third place overall and second open lady with a time of 43:33.

It was a tremendous way to cap off another amazing Spur Trail Series™ and on behalf of the Wildrunner team, we salute ALL those who took part whether you ran or just supported! We hope to see you all again in the summer.

Next up is the KZN Spur Trail Series™ and we can’t wait to jol in the beautiful surrounds of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Entries will open at the end of the month, get yours early to join in the fun!

A big thanks to our sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, adidas, BOS Ice Tea and Protea Hotels for their continued support and special thanks must go to the Kleinmond Municipality for their assistance and hospitality.

Follow us on Twitter @WildrunnerZA and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/trailseries for any updates on this and other Spur Trail Series™ races.

For full results click here and for more photos click here.

It was another epic trail running day as a packed house lined up at the iconic Taal Monument for Race 3 of the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ 2014.

Race 3 would see the long course Championship runners tackle a 13.8km loop of the Paarl Mountain Reserve which includes a trip up some 400 steps and between two of the largest granite boulders in the world, second only to Ayers Rock.

Despite the tricky conditions under foot, the pace was relentless from the start and once again it was the incredible Bernard Rukadza who broke the finishers tape in an astonishingly quick time of 52:35 (an average of 03:48 minutes per km!). In the process Rukadza sealed his fifth Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ in a row, a remarkable show of consistency, talent and mental strength.

Peter Tsawayo and Duwayne Philander traded places on the podium this week as Tsawayo stormed home in second place in 52:46 with Philander clocking 53:23 to take home a well-deserved third place overall and will make for an exciting Series Finale in Kleinmond! 

In the Ladies Championship, it was three wins in a row for Liandi van der Westhuyzen as she continues to shine and lead the way for our aspiring junior female runners.

Van der Westhuyzen crossed under the arch in 01:06:54 sealing her Series victory, with Kelley Hess from the USA claiming second lady over the line with a time of 01:10:33 and Arlene Potgieter stepping on the podium this week after her fifth place finish in Race 2 with a time of 01:14:00.

Goeieman powers his way to another victory
16-year-old Dawood Goeieman has certainly found his rhythm as he collected his second victory on the bounce by cruising home in 31:27 for the 7.8km short course Challenge race with Andre Afrika hot on his heels, crossing under the arch in 31:36 for second place overall and first Open Male. Regular Trail Series™ podium placer Riaan Wildskut claimed the last spot on the overall podium by finishing in 32:12.

In the Ladies short course race Hanlie Jordaan, fresh off a third place finish in the long course of Race 2, claimed her first win of the Series by coming home in 39:17. Star Junior runner, Megan Leslie was second overall but first Junior Lady in a time of 40:23 with her sister, Caitlin Leslie taking third in a time of 40:53 ahead of Mia Doyle after a sprint finish.

The final race of the Series will take place on Saturday the 16th of August in Kleinmond and it promises to be a humdinger! There are categories still to be claimed and we look forward to seeing you there.

A big thanks to all the runners and of course to our sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, adidas, BOS Ice Tea and Protea Hotels for their continued support. And special thanks must go to the Taal Monument and Paarl Mountain Reserve staff for their assistance and hospitality – such a privilege!

Follow us on Twitter @WildrunnerZA and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/trailseries for any updates on this and other Spur Trail Series™ races.

For full results click here and for more photos click here.

Wet and testing conditions greeted more than 800 runners who ignored their snooze button and warm beds to embrace a cold day and hit the trails at the second race of the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ 2014. You could have bet your mother-in-law on the outcome of the race as Bernard Rukadza powered his way to yet another win, this time at the Tygerberg Nature Reserve. 

Despite the notorious climb to wake the legs up, the pace was quick and the pack was led up the hill by young Raydon Balie. Rukadza was running well and in the end proved too strong as he cantered home in first place in the 12.7km Long Course Championship race in a time of 55:06, with Duwayne Philander landing his second runner’s up position in a row as he crossed under the arch in 56:01. Peter Tsawayo completed an identical podium to Race 1 by claiming third over the line in a time of 56:11. 

In the Ladies Championship race, it was 2 out of 2 for Liandi van der Westhuyzen as she proved too strong for the rest of the ladies field by cruising home in 01:10:09 to win by more than 4 minutes over second placed lady Matilda Randle. Randle going one better than last week’s third over the line in a time of 01:14:38, with Hanlie Jordaan taking home the last position on the podium with a time of 01:15:17. 

Doyle Dominates 
In the men’s 8km Short Course Challenge race, it was junior runner, Dawood Goeieman who improved on his third over the line from race one to top spot this week with an amazing performance, winning in a time of 37:43 over last and this week’s runner up, Andre Afrika. Afrika crossed the line in a time 38:17 with Llewellyn Jacobs completing the overall podium with a time of 38:22. 

In the Ladies Challenge race it was once again 13 year old, Mia Doyle who blitzed her way to another first place finish with an incredible 49:31 in testing conditions. Can Doyle make it a hat trick this weekend in Paarl? She has the talent and the form! Coming home in second place but first veteran over the line was Ellie Courts who ran a superb race to finish in 50:36, with Tasmyn van Rensburg hot on her heels coming home in 50:56 to take home third over the line and first open lady. 

Super Medic, Richard Dellbridge comes to the rescue again! 
A special shout out must go to Richard Dellbridge who selflessly gives up his race to aid injured runners out on course when duty calls. For the second week in a row, Dellbridge of the Wild Runner Athletics Club came to the assistance of an injured runner and immediately helped in stabilising the said runner who was evacuated out on a stretcher with a dislocated elbow. We are grateful for your expertise and big heart Richard! 

A big thanks to all the runners and of course to our sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, adidas, BOS and Protea Hotels for their continued support. And special thanks must go to Penny Glanville and the Tygerberg Nature Reserve for their assistance and hospitality – such a privilege to jol in this beautiful part of the world! 

For full results click here and for more photos click here.

Follow us on Twitter @WildrunnerZA and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/trailseries for any updates on this and other Spur Trail Series™ races.