|
Article ~ 28 April 2007 |
| Despite
heavy bouts of rain and cold conditions, 16 of the 18 participants
successfully completed the third annual 100-mile (160-kilometre) Addo
Elephant Trail Run through the Addo Elephant National Park. The event also
included a shorter 50-mile (80-kilometre) course which attracted 37 entries
this year, with 35 of those successfully finishing the course.
The trail run
once again attracted international interest with representation from
Singapore, Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. |
|
A first for 2007
was the growing contingent of women who took part in the 100-miler with six
women entrants this year. |
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Contestants had to keep an eye out for some of the Park’s Big Five species
on sections of the course. However, their safety was ensured by Park rangers
who patrolled these sections to ensure no incidents occurred. The trail run
also saw contestants cross part of the Zuurberg Mountain range in the Park,
with its breathtaking views and pristine fynbos, grassland and forest
vegetation. Heavy rain the day before the event forced the organizers to
re-route the course due to extremely muddy and slippery conditions on the
original trails. Feedback from the contestants was still positive, however,
with many still commenting on the scenic beauty of the alternate trail. |
| AO
Okreglicki from Cape Town took first place in the 100-miler in a time of 21
hours and 30 minutes. Second place was claimed by Reiner Stucky in a time
of 22 hours and 54 minutes while joint third place went to Raymond Cranston
and Michael Webb in a time of 23 hours and 33 minutes. The first lady to
cross the 100-miler finish line was Jo MacKenzie from Maclear in a time of
23 hours and 39 minutes, which earned her fourth place overall. Two times
100 miler defending champion Bruce Arnett was forced to retire at about
110kms. due to an injury. |
| Local
runner Michael Hendricks took first place in the 50-miler in a time of seven
hours and four minutes, with Vuyisile Aaron Benzi finishing a few seconds
behind Hendricks. Another local runner, Chris Antonie, finished third in a
time of seven hours, fifteen minutes.
The youngest
competitor in the 50-miler race was 20-year old Greg Raubenheimer.
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| The
tough 100-miler course saw contestants running through the night, with only
torches and luminous markers for direction, with temperatures dropping to
below freezing in places, and into midday of Sunday. |
|
A group of
cyclists traveled the route in pairs accompanying the 100-mile contestants
who had to report to marshals at regularly-spaced checkpoints. This ensured
that any runners who strayed off course or injured themselves could be found
if they failed to check in. The professional Medi-Clinic team looked after
the participants along the route and at the finish; a 4x4 ambulance and
vehicles from the Mountain Rescue team also followed the route, ensuring the
safety of all the runners. |
|
Race dates
are chosen each year for their proximity to the time of full moon to provide
the 100-miler contestants with better light as they run through the night.
The date for next year is 01May 2008. |
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Thanks to the incredible
commitment and dedication of the crew manning the check points and on the
route, both the 100Miler and 50Miler were extremely successful and without
incidents. |
