A mountain conquered
Bianca Visagie is determined to tackle the mountain
Amos Nkosi of Canon Richards Bay Athletic Club leads the pack up the mountain
UAC's Zanele Mthiyane takes a breather on the uphill
Dave Bugat of Mtunzini Athletic Club finished in a time of 01.29.10
ONWARD and upward!
This was the mantra that got a large number of hardy athletes up the Nkwenkwe Mountain, the one to be conquered on the Magnis Trucks Mfuli Mountain Challenge this past weekend.
In overcast conditions, the race was started in the Mfuli Game Ranch where, after running a short distance, runners and walkers, who came from as far afield as Durban, joined a dirt road through the Nkwalini Valley.
From there they followed a trail which took them from the valley floor to the summit of the mountain - in three kilometres they climbed 440 metres.
The views were spectacular over rural Zululand and with a water table right at the top, the athletes could pause and appreciate the view as well as catch their breath.
And then it was a muscle-biting and knee-grinding downhill trek around the back of the mountain and eventually back to the game ranch.
Vocal support from the local rural people was most appreciated and spurred the athletes on to the end, each competitor feeling like a sporting hero.
A field of just over 100 athletes found the overcast conditions perfect for this type of Challenge which saw Imamba runner Phila Nene, who was ahead from the beginning, winning the 16km race in a time of 01.12.19.
uMhlathuze Athletic Club's Nomcebo Mthethwa was the first woman home in 01.42.06.
The men's walking race was won by Walk Run For Life's Roger McCarroll in 01.55.39 with UAC's Yvonne Irmscher winning the women's race in 02.08.52.
uMhlathuze Athletics Club appreciates the support of all those who contributed towards the smooth hosting of this enjoyable race and especially Magnis Trucks who rose to the occasion as the main sponsor.
Results
16km run
Open (men)
1 Phila Nene (Imamba AC) - 01.12.19
2 Xolani Mzimela (UAC) - 01.13.24
3 Alex Mathaba (Zululand AC) - 01.14.33
Open (women)
1 Nomcebo Mthethwa (UAC) - 01.42.06
2 Trish Winterboer (UAC) - 01.46.49
3 Kalani Buthelezi (UAC) - 01.48.32
35-39 years (men)
1 Amos Nkosi (Canon R/B) - 01.16.23
35-39 years (women)
1 Shelley Geel (Canon R/B) - 01.56.18
40-49 years (men)
1 Shadrack Mngwanango (Imamba AC) - 01.21.50
40-49 years (women)
1 Trish Winterboer (UAC) - 01.46.49
50-59 years (men)
1 Patrick Lukhele (Zululand AC) - 01.38.17
50-59 years (women)
1 Sandy Curran (Canon R/B) - 01.55.25
60 years plus (men)
1 Mswane Jerome (Rand AC) - 01.54.50
60 years plus (women)
1 Lorna Rautenbach (Mtunzini AC) - 02.08.09
Junior (male)
1 Ximba Lindani (UAC) 108J 01.28.31
16km walk
Open (men)
1 Rodger McCarrol (RWFL) - 01.55.39
2 Brad Sander (UAC) 02.06.23
3 Abraham Mbhele (Eskom Gijimas) 02.14.22
Open (women)
1 Yvonne Irmscher (UAC) - 02.08.52
2 Ann McKenzie (RWFL) - 02.16.20
3 Sharon Fuchs (RWFL) - 02.46.55
35-39 years (women)
1 Belinda Hope (Eskom Gijimas) - 02.56.15
40-49 years (men)
1 Brad Sander (UAC) - 02.06.23
40-49 years (women)
1 Yvonne Irmscher (UAC) - 02.08.52
50-59 years (men)
1 Rodger McCarrol (RWFL) - 01.55.39
50-59 years (women)
1 Charmaine Rowe (Boxer AC) - 02.46.56
60 years plus (men)
1 Frank Hope (Eskom Gijimas) - 02.30.19
Junior (male)
1 Philani Tembe (UAC) - 02.19.38.
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