Spartan race hits South African soil
History was made when the first ever Spartan race came to South Africa.
History was made when the first ever South African Spartan Obstacle Course Race (OCR) took place recently.
The race took place at the Kings Kloof course in Kromdraai. Some of South Africa’s top OCR athletes joined the almost 1 200 competitors who decided to take on this gruelling course.
Spartan is the world’s largest obstacle race and endurance brand, with more than 200 events across more than 30 countries during 2018.
The first ever South African event featured two OCR distances, the ‘Sprint’ which is 7,6 kilometres and has 20 obstacles, and the ‘Elite Super’ that consists of 15,3 kilometres and 25 obstacles.
There was also a kids’ race for children aged six to 13 years.
From the start of the elite race, there were three athletes that stood out.
The first Spartan Elite Super winner in South Africa, Armin Botha, finished in a time of two hours, eight minutes and 24 seconds. Armin said that it was good to be back after he had been off with a back injury for the past four months. He noted that the hills were so steep they could have been added to the obstacle count.
Right behind him was Bradley Claase, with a time of two hours, 10 minutes and 59 seconds.
The third of the Elite group to finish was Thomas van Tonder, in two hours, twelve minutes and thirteen seconds.
Thomas, a Magaliesburg resident, said that he was super stoked to have the backing of the international Spartan brand in South Africa.
In the women’s elite race it was Nedene Cahill from Durban who took first place, with a time of two hours, 38 minutes and 22 seconds, and finishing fifth overall.
Second place went to Talhita Scholtz, in a time of two hours 53 minutes and 14 seconds. She finished tenth overall.
Third to finish for the ladies was a Durban doctor, Lisha Sookan. She finished with a time of two hours, 56 minutes and 54 seconds.
Spartan’s operating partner in South Afrika, Marco Caromba, has confirmed that there are likely to be at least three Spartan events on the 2019 calendar.
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