TREVERTON COLLEGE SCHOOL TEAM COMPETES IN THE RHINO PEAK CHALLENGE

THIS week, pupils and a staff member from Treverton College embarked on the challenge to reach the summit of Rhino Peak and back again.

Travers Pellew, the school’s sports co-ordinator, led the team with Daniel Jonck and Caleb Jennings, both

Grade 11 pupils. Grade 8 pupil Riley Babich competed alongside her father, Alex Babich.

Pellew came in second place overall, followed by Daniel in third place.

Daniel was the first pupil in. Caleb completed the challenge with a sub 5-hour time.

Riley, 14, took home the youngest competitor prize.

The Rhino Peak Challenge (RPC) is a conservation fundraiser that takes place at the Maloti Drakensberg World Heritage Site each year.

A limited number of RPC ambassadors set themselves the challenge of ascending the famous Rhino Peak (3 056m) and raising funds for the RPC beneficiaries.

Since its inception in 2016 the challenge has raised almost R5.2 million for Wildlife ACT,

The Endangered Wildlife Trust and EKZNW. These funds are spent specifically on projects involving vultures, rhinos, and cranes.

To complete the challenge, the ambassadors must each finish the 21km course to the summit of Rhino Peak and back.

There is no time limit and participants may walk or run the course.

Over the years a number of the country’s finest trail runners have taken part in the challenge. The current fastest known times are 2 hours and 15 minutes for the men and 2 hours and 45 minutes for the women, set by Kane Reilly and Holly Page respectively.

However, most ambassadors adopt a far more leisurely pace, completing the challenge in times ranging from 4 to 9 hours.

The real focus of the RPC is the fundraising.

DANIEL Jonck and Caleb Jennings with Travers Pellew, Treverton College Sports Co-ordinator.