Adventure galore at 15th Lilyfontein
A VERY successful 15th edition of the Lilyfontein Adventure Race was enjoyed at the scenic Areena Riverside Resort on Saturday.
Teams took part in different divisions, with the main Corporate Challenge and Corporate Challenge Duo teams heading out at 4am, with the other teams following at later times.
In the end, the winners of the monster 110km Corporate Challenge and Corporate Challenge Duo events went to the teams Bush Wackers and JJ, respectively.
Duo team, JJ, consisting of Jason Reed and Jason Peach were the first over the line in the 110km race, finishing in 11 hours, 21 minutes.
Team Ener B came in 46 minutes later to take second place, while the Harmses took third in 12:17.
“I last did the Lilyfontein Adventure Race 15 years ago when I was in matric at Port Rex,” said Reed. “Today was a crazy experience, anyone taking part will have life-long memories.”
“Riding at sunrise through herds of wildebeest and zebra at Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve was really something.
“The run took us through some serious hills and through gorges and each checkpoint appeared like a mirage in the distance.
“It was such a great feeling to reach each one and take a step closer to the finish,” Reed added.
Corporate Challenge winners, Bush Wackers, made it over the line in a time of 11:41.
The team of Donovan Sims, Garth Peinke, Sophia Warren and Adrian Saffy comfortably managed the terrain to finish an hour and 11 minutes ahead of their closest challengers Ok Go.
Saffy, who is from Bloemfontein, was a first-time entrant in the race, having been invited by multiple winner Sims. “I am used to much longer races of four to five days but the run leg of today’s Lilyfontein Adventure Race was brutal, the terrain is hilly and it’s very hot and humid in the valleys with no breeze to cool you down,” said Saffy.
In the 60km Corporate Crocs, the team Three Kings and a Queen, consisting of Michael Webb, Dean Findlay, Dylan Webb and Athena Sims claimed the win in 7:09, 42 minutes ahead of Team Rookie in second, while the Tokoloshes took third in 9:57.
The 60km Corporate Crocs Duo event was a very close-fought race, with the top three teams finishing within 19 minutes of each other.
In the end, team Helmet Heads, consisting of Brett Ansell and Wayne Land took first in 7:13, with team Bx2 finishing in 7:29 in second, with Safari Prawns just three minutes behind them in third place.
The Under 19 division was also a 60km race and was won by team Unexpectables from Lilyfontein.
The team of Johan van der Walt, Zachary Swart, Chane Keese and Sebastian Schultz were in no trouble at all as they crossed the line in 8:04, an hour and 31 minutes ahead of The Pack from Stirling in second, while a second Lilyfontein team, Victorious Secret, claimed third.
The U15 division was a 45km race and Lilyfonteins Cyclomaniacs featuring Matthew Niemand, Jarrod Rehse, Ludwig Bremer and Melissa Hayward were the quickest home in 8:01, followed by their fellow schoolmates in team Synergy in second, 46 minutes later.
Stirlings’ Fearless Tigers rounded out the top three in 9:12.
The 30km U13 division was won by a Kidd’s Beach team, Survivors, in 5:47. The team consisted of Keanu Janse van Rensburg, Aphiwe Mbaliso, Luane Meyer and Lester Sawyer.
Chasing very hard behind them were team Anonymats, from Stirling, who finished second, seven minutes later. Pathfinders, from Lilyfontein, came in third, just three minutes later.
The 12km Grade 4-5 race saw LMNTRIX from Lilyfontein, consisting of Joshua Niemand, Nastasja Bremer, Shawn du Preez and Gabriel Kriel finish first, with Cool Runnings, from Lilyfontein, in second and Sterlights from Stirling third.
The 6km Grade 1-3 race was won by Adventurous Stickeez from Stirling, consisting of Alyx Currin, Kayla Petersen, Keegan Krummeck and Thomas Caswell.
Nomads from Stirling took second and Team Zenande from Merrifield, third.