The Super League format to the Trail Series® was launched in November 2019 for the 2020 trail running year, but like many many things, COVID-19 flung the handbrake up on that plan.
Fast forward two years and understandably at the beginning of 2022 no-one really had any certainty yet over how the first post COVID year was going to pan out. Likewise, we had no idea if indeed we were going to achieve the full Super League. So like most folks, we simply focussed on getting by, race by race.
Then 2022 took off like a supersonic missile, leaving a trail of loose ends and wish-we-had-time-too’s in its wake. And so it seems that all of a sudden we find ourselves a week out from fulfilling the first full six-race Trail Series® Super League.
And while we hadn’t really been pushing the TSSL theme, the results after 5 races are pretty exciting indeed…
Consistency counts
In yacht racing, consistency is king. You don’t have to win every race, you just have to be pushing at the sharp end all the way through to the final race.
Similarly, the Super League format rewards participation and consistency. The more races you run, the more points you get, the better you do. Simple.
The scoring starts with 400 for a win, and a point less for every position down the order from there - so 399 for 2nd, 398 for 3rd etc.
The battles that rage
In the XL Super League it’s extremely hot at the top. Wano Katjiri has just a 6 point lead over Charl Cronje. If Charl can put seven places between himself and Wano at the line this Sunday, then he will take the crown. Michael Moosbrugger leads the overall standings, complete with the highest TSSL score of 1936!
Amazingly, Tania Neethling and Robyn Gardener are tied on 1034 points a piece for second place in the XL Veteran Ladies category. So whoever takes the tape takes the second step on the podium.
Both Deemter Avenant and Marcelle le Roux hold the top spot in their XL Master Categories from otherwise faster individuals, proving the points value of being at all five races!
In the Long course Super League, Jacques du Plessis holds onto a tenuous 18 point advantage over Michael de Kwaadsteniet. Caro Jordaan has an unassailable lead in her category, and is the second highest points scorer of the TSSL 2022 with 1934 (just two points behind Michael Moosbrugger).
In the Short course Super League, we start with the battle in the Peewee category (6-10yrs) where just eight points separate the Fataar sisters and the battle for 2nd place.
He may have only completed two races, but Junior category speedster Finley Wilson scored a bullet in both races (OVERALL!) leaving him in second place behind Daniel van Reenen. If he rocks up and puts another bullet on the board, he could well win the Junior Super League in 2022.
One thing is for sure though, Sithandile Kokolo will be breathing down his neck having himself scored two 2nd places overall, and leaving him just 2 points behind Wilson in the fight for second place - or even first!
Ashraf Moosa is untouchable in the Senior Mens short course Super League. Karen Battiston is another who proves the value in consistency, and leads the Senior Ladies Short course category.
Birgit van Niekerk and Steve Finegan both hold a powerful and consistent scoreline in their respective Veteran short course categories.
Richard Rossiter has an unassailable lead over Sam Troost in the Master category, with Sam having done enough to hold onto his second place.
In case you missed the link, here it is again: Super League results link
The final race
The absolutely sensational trails of Oak Valley Private Estate make up the final TSSL race track for 2022.
A short and fast 5km will decide the Short Course Super League, a 13.5km the long and a 22.5km the XL.
Whether you are competing in the overall TSSL or not, come and celebrate the conclusion of the first Super League on the smooth and fun trails of Oak Valley!