After four weeks of trail running fun in Gauteng, the popular Spur Trail Series™ moves to the Western Cape as the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ kicks off next weekend at the Paul Cluver Estate in Grabouw. The Series will kick off with a bang as runners can choose to take part in either the short 9km Challenge, the long 16km Championship or for those looking for an extreme challenge, the Spur GLB46 Ultra will take place on the same day. With most of the entries gone, time is running out for runners to secure their spot on the start line of one of the most popular trail running series around.
We can look forward to some fast times at the Spur GLB46 Ultra as winner of the Helderberg Mountain Challenge, Dylan Solms is set to go for gold in the men’s race, while Ryan Winter will also be in the...
The Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series™ came to a conclusion this weekend when more than 900 runners took on the final race of the Series at Leeuwenkloof on another picture perfect day. This brand new venue certainly charmed everyone present with challenging climbs, flowing single track, beautiful bushveld views and a surprise section through an old mine tunnel.
Edwin Sesipi continued his dominance in the long course Championship, claiming his fourth straight victory as he stormed home in the 13.9km course – several minutes ahead of his closest competition, Fidel Ncube, in 57:34. Ncube claimed second place in a time of 01:01:46 to also take second position in the overall Championship at his first ever appearance in the Spur Trail Series™. Third across the line was Frank Kienhofer in a time of 01:06:57 to complete the men’s podium.
In the ladies long course, Lerentia Strydom was all business as she took her...
Race 3 of the Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series™ took place at Segwati Game Ranch on a cool and crisp Highveld morning as nearly 1,000 runners finished the penultimate race of the Series.
In the long course 10.5km Championship race, Edwin Sesipi stamped his authority on the Series and claimed his third win out of three to seal his position as king of the Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series™ for 2015. He held off the challenge from Michael Bailey as the two went head to head for the second time this winter. Sesipi eventually came out on top in an exceptional 40:27 with Bailey coming home in 41:53. Third over the line went to Jacov Lalou in 44:26 to round off an impressive overall podium.
In the ladies Championship race, there was a change of order as young Robyn Claire Kaltenbrunn swapped her second and third places from races one and two...
Hennops River was the scene of the second instalment of The Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series™ for 2015 as more than 1100 participants enjoyed a superb morning along the banks of the Hennops River.
As is customary, race 2 sees the addition of the XL course, an 18,7km route that offers a great variety of trail.
In the men’s race, it was the familiar face of Tranquil Gumbo who stormed his way to the title by winning in a time of 01:34:48 and by a phenomenal margin of nearly 10 minutes. Jaco Lalou claimed second over the line with a time of 01:43:17 with Rob Stewart taking last spot on the overall podium taking home 3rd place in a time of 01:43:47.
In the ladies race Estie Brits and Georgina Ayres went head to head and were running strong together before Brits pulled away around the 10km mark and opened up a comfortable...
The 2015 edition of the popular Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series™ kicked off with a record number of entrants as almost 1200 people crossed the finish line at B’Sorah tented camp this Sunday. Add to that superb weather and a super fun atmosphere and it was a spectacular start to the Series.
The long course Championship saw runners tackle a fast and winding 13.5km route and had names such as Edwin Sesipi and Michael Bailey on the start line to ensure the pace would be kept seriously honest.
The wait to see who would cross the line in first place was not long as the leading men roared into the finishing straight with Sesipi pipping Bailey by a matter of seconds. Both men dipped under the previous record time, coming home a shade over 49 minutes.
Third over the line in the men’s race went to Jason Bennima, who only arrived from New Zealand...
On a picture perfect summer day, more than 700 runners made their way to Oak Valley in Elgin to be a part of this year’s Spur Cape Summer Trail Series™ one last time.
In this, the final race of the 2015 Series, runners were treated to a 7.25km short course, a 15.3km long course and the once-of 24.6km XL. Good times were expected as Oak Valley is a fast course traditionally, but the quality of runners that took part certainly contributed to the blistering pace that was set at the front of the field.
Nicholas Rupanga made it clear that he is well and truly back from injury and took his second straight win in a Spur Trail Series™ XL race as he beat Julian Atkinson to the line in a superb 1:43:10. Atkinson wasn’t far behind and finished in 1:44:23 as Ryan Winter secured third position and the final step on...
If you took part in the recently finished Spur Cape Summer Trail Series™, or even if you didn't, make sure you tune into SuperSport 8 on the dates in the table below to see all the action from this super fun Series. Who knows, you might have been caught on camera and be famous!
See you on TV!
It was picture perfect day as a packed field lined up to take on the third 34km Spur Silvermine Mountain XL trail race at the beautiful Silvermine Nature Reserve.
With names such as Nicholas Rupanga, Dion Middelkoop, Chad Gordon and Katya Soggot at the start line, it was sure that the racing would be as hot as the temperatures and we were not disappointed. While Rupanga returned to the Silvermine trails in the hope of securing his first victory in this race, Soggot was lining up with plans of claiming a hat trick of victories and improving her current record.
The race was tight from the outset, with Rupanga, Middelkoop, Gordon and Morné van Greunen staying together almost all of the way. Going through checkpoint 1 the leading bunch looked strong, pushing each other as they vied for positions. Rupanga and Gordon pulled away after this and increased their lead as they...
Almost 700 trail runners braved a chilly morning this Sunday to make their way to the scenic Lebanon Forest in the Elgin Valley and frolic on some spectacular Overberg trails. It was a picture perfect morning and the early wake-up call was well worth it as the race stood up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful and most enjoyable ones of the Spur Cape Summer Trail Series™.
It might have been a cold start but things started heating up as soon as the races took off. Bernard Rukadza continued his epic form in the 13.4km long course Championship and once again led the pack for most of the race before bounding down the finishing straight to yet another victory in a time of 53:43. The only two runners who have been able to keep up with Rukadza in the Series have been Raydon Balie and Tsungai Mwanengeni and...
At one of the biggest Spur Cape Summer Trail Series™ races yet, almost 1000 runners took on the shady paths of the Constantia Greenbelt in what has become one of the most popular midweek races in the city.
Bernard Rukadza continued his winning streak in the long course Championship, moving one race closer to yet another Spur Trail Series™ title, while Katya Soggot carried on where she left off at race 1 two weeks ago by claiming her second victory on the trot.
Rukadza had his work cut out for him and was chased across the finish line by Contego teammate, Tsungai Mwanengeni in the 10km long course Championship race. He set a blistering pace from the outset and finished the hilly course in 34:13, only 12 seconds ahead of Mwanengeni. Raydon Balie and Riaan Wildskut also gave it their all, Balie taking third position 3 seconds behind Mwanengeni and Wildskut crossing...