Surfers delivers intrigue and a glimpse into the future

The Discovery Surfers Challenge produced intrigue and euphoria as the 49th race was held in near perfect conditions.

There were several new twists in the different races and results, with 3,329 competitors finishing, while providing glimpses of what the future might hold.

Hanlie Botha became the first participant in any of the events to win on ten occasions when she won the 17.5km race from Kwelera to Nahoon in 82:31, while second-placed Andrea Ranger completed a groundbreaking 23rd Surfers.

Shale Biggs entered the top echelons of the race for the first time, finishing in third place.

Awonke Bungu notched up a third and, second consecutive win in the men’s race, joining Danny Biggs and Zolani Ntongana in delivering the treble.

Bungu’s winning time was 70:40. Alex Rossouw finished just 1:40 off the pace in second.

Simphiwe Majiki and Thandekhaya Siyongo were third and fourth in 74:29 and 74:42 respectively.

In the shorter race from Gonubie to Nahoon, Luthando Hejana won it for the third time after his 2014 and 2019 triumphs. He also won the 17.5km in 2015. On this occasion he finished in 40:54, nearly three minutes off his 38:00 of five years ago. Shaun Collins was second, improving on his third place in 2023.

Sam Norris, at just 14 years old, mixed it up with the older, more experienced competitors, finishing third, a mere 14 seconds behind Collins.

In the women’s equivalent, Caryn Lategan bagged a record fifth win in 46:55, with her sister, Lauren Ranger, second. Jo-Mari Le Grange, who finished fourth in the 17.5km in 2023, was third in the shorter race.

The 5km race further offered a glimpse into the future in both the boys’ and girls’ races for

U14’s. Carter Palmer won the boys race in 19:45 from Landon van Heerden in 21:00, with Caleb Giese third in another good display of talent.

In the girl’s race, Meila Toronyi won in 25:06, with Milarney Botha, daughter of Hanlie Botha, in second, and in third place was Kylie Lategan, daughter of Caryn Lategan.

Single ski paddler Willian Wood notched up a maiden Surfers win in 78:54, with the doubles pairing of David

Schaefer and Chris Batting next in 80:16, followed by Richard and Morgan Tebbutt, and Dylan Cloete and Oliver Fowles.

Brendon Thompson steered the second single ski to shore with Andre van Wyk in third.

The mixed doubles team were led home to Nahoon by Tyde and Madison Malherbe in 86:25. Multiple winners in the category, Andre and Helen Wood were second in 87:58 and Shane and Joy Roach third in 88:10.

Hanlie Botha became the first participant in any of the events to win on ten occasions when she won the 17.5km race from Kwelera to Nahoon in 82:31