Extreme race for fallen hero
Bikers launch event to honour cyclist
FRIENDS of a Grahamstown extreme athlete who was run over by a reckless driver while out on an Ironman training run are gearing up for a back roads mountain bike race to Port Alfred in his memory.
The first G2C mountain bike race was a dream of mountain biker, endurance triathlete and businessman David Hanton, 44, who was killed outside the Grahamstown Golf Course three years ago while running with friend and training partner Johan Conradie, a senior regional court prosecutor.
The race will take place on the last day of the National Arts Festival and riders are expected to come from across the province for the 58km challenge.
Conradie said: “Dave spoke of his dream to have an adventure race [not only] by mountain bike but also on foot.”
“He wanted the race to go through more extreme, unchartered territory,” Conradie added.
Although Hanton would have preferred the race to start from the sea and go uphill to the Mountain Drive plateau in Grahamstown, there are too many farm fences to cross, making the route impractical.
“I think he would have loved G2C.”
Friend and Dispatch journalist Mike Loewe said: “David was a crazy hard man, a loveable Scot who embraced the Eastern Cape.”
“He and his wife, Sarah, helped a number of families when they lived in a rented farm home between Grahamstown and Bathurst,” Loewe said.
The driver of the car, Grahamstown army base Corporal Zingisile Nikelo, 41, was sentenced to eight months in prison, which was later reduced on appeal to a R20 000 fine.
A memorial stone was placed at the spot where Hanton died, and his friends have gathered every year since to plant tough Eastern Cape succulents.
Local golf club caddy Salty Mahlakahlaka, 56, said he kept an eye on the memorial – complete with Hanton’s medals and beautiful semi-precious gems scattered around – and often pulled out weeds and cleaned up rubbish.
The Saints and Sinners Cycling Club has organised next Saturday’s the race.
Visit: www.grahamstown2sea. — davidm@dispatch.co.za