Grabadoo draws many holidaymakers
Hundreds of cyclists, runners and walkers - mostly visitors to the Garden Route during the holiday - took part in the 16th Grootbrak Grabadoo in Great Brak River on Monday, 31 December.
The event started and finished at the sports grounds next to the library.
A record number of just over 1 300 participants took part in the 73 km, 53 km, 36 km and 15 km mountain bike routes, which started at 07:00 at three-minute intervals, and the 4,8km fun run/walk, which started promptly at 07:15.
“Most of the participants are visitors to the Garden Route,” said Mimi Finestone of interface by Goji, who started the event 16 years ago with a friend. “We started it because there was a need for a relaxed fun event in the middle of the holiday season. It is not a qualifying race and we don’t keep times or hand out prize money.”
Claire Boltman, Eden county manager for Vodacom, who came aboard as the premier sponsor of the Grootbrak Grabadoo, agreed with Mimi.
“This event takes cyclists through areas that they would not normally have access to. It is great that a shorter fun run/walk is incorporated. The whole community is involved. It is one of the more affordable events of its kind.”
First home was Gerhard Swanepoel from Pretoria and second Eben Kruger from Stellenbosch, who both finished the 4,8km in about 18 minutes. “We need this event, considering the amount of beer and food one consumes over the holidays,” said Kruger.
Regina Fry, 80, from George also finished the 4,8km route. “I underwent open heart surgery six months ago,” she said.
For more information and photographs about the Grootbrak Grabadoo, see the facebook page.