Good turnout for trail run and autumn paddle series
OFF-ROAD runners laced up and took on 5km and 10km routes in the second leg of the Fish Eagle trail run/walk series hosted by the Richards Bay Athletic Club at the Zululand Kayak Club (ZKC) on Saturday morning.
Seventy-two athletes pushed themselves on the flat route, resulting in some quick times.
David Schaffler was the first man home in the 5km event in a time of 26.16.
The 10km run was hotly contested, but it was Mario Hibbers who managed to outlast his competitors and take top honours in 44.56.
The third leg of the six-part series will take place on Saturday at ZKC.
Race four is scheduled for 22 May, followed by race five on 5 June and the penultimate race on 19 June.
More than 25 paddlers made their way to the water, also on Saturday, in the third leg of the popular ZKC Autumn Surf Ski Series.
Both the short (6.5km) and long (14.5km) courses were hotly contested, with both winners having to sprint at the end to pick up the win.
The duo of Kobus and Philip Opperman proved too strong over the short course, clocking a winning time of 37.36.
Dirk Barnard teamed up with Meltus Badenhorst for the long course route and the duo powered to victory in 1.10.05.
The next leg of the series is at 9am on Saturday at ZKC, with race five scheduled for 22 May.
Race six will take place on 5 June, with the final leg on 19 June.
Results
5km run - 1 David Schaffler 26.19,
2 Jene van Aswegen 26.20 and
3 Josh Schaffler 26.22.
10km run - 1 Mario Hibbers 44.56, 2 Andrew Habgood 45.18 and
3 Lindani Dube 46.02.
6.5km paddle - 1 Kobus and Philip Opperman 37.36, 2 Willie and Juliette Scholtz 38.42 and 3 Mauritz van der Linde 40.46.
14.5km paddle - 1 Dirk Barnard and Meltus Badenhorst 1.10.05, 2 Mike Stevens and Shad Mkhize 1.10.50 and 3 Brian Chedzey and Nigel Stevens 1.16.31.