Stanford Lake College hosts muddy Wik Memorial Triathlon
The WIK Memorial Triathlon at Stanford Lake College delivered tough, muddy conditions as competitors pushed through to the finish.
TZANEEN – On Sunday, March 15, Stanford Lake College hosted the annual Wik Memorial Off-Road Triathlon, an event that remains a highlight on the school calendar and a firm favourite within the community.
With a strong turnout of both locals and visitors, the day once again delivered a vibrant, family-oriented atmosphere.
Tough conditions test athletes
Heavy rain in the days leading up to the event transformed the course into a muddy and demanding challenge.
Race day itself brought some of the toughest conditions in the event’s history.
Despite this, participants and spectators embraced the challenge, creating a memorable day filled with resilience, energy, and plenty of mud.
The event featured three race categories.
The Stanfordian, the premier event, consisted of a 1km swim, a 23km mountain bike ride, and a 10km run.
The Wik individual included a 500m swim, a 15km cycle, and a 5km run, while the Wik team relay followed the same route, with teams of three completing one discipline each.
Alan Gordon claims Stanfordian victory
In the Stanfordian, Alan Gordon claimed victory in an impressive time of 02:07:20.
He was followed by Timothy Varrie, who finished in 02:25:35, and Ralph Cope in 02:31:56.
Stanford Lake College old boy Kyle Burelli delivered a strong performance, finishing fourth overall in 02:56:04.
Speaking to the Herald, Gordon said he began preparing for the event last year.
His training focused mainly on cycling and swimming, as he has been involved in mountain biking for many years.
“Being able to compete in all three disciplines and still win is a great achievement for me,” he said.
“The fact that this was the longest event yet shows that my capabilities are not limited and that there is still more to come.”
Gordon added that one of his upcoming events is the Sabi Experience, scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 2. The event is a three-day endurance challenge.
Strong performances across junior and team events
Robert Noel won the Wik individual junior race in 01:37:19, followed by Andreas Jansen (01:39:25).
Ilne Kotzé placed third and was the first female finisher in 01:50:22.
Stanford Lake College learners also featured strongly, with Matthew Scriven finishing fourth (01:52:47) and Judah Leher sixth (01:58:30).
In the Wik individual open race, Andries Du Toit claimed victory in 01:35:19, ahead of Tristan Williamson (01:37:23).
Sonja Nel finished third overall and was the leading female competitor in 01:45:59.
Stanford Lake College’s Tatenda Mabayah placed ninth in this category.
The team race was won by Dirk, Jaden, and Pierre (Ed, Edd & Eddy) in 01:24:14.
Breed Security’s Johan, Zian, and Armand finished second (01:30:29), while The Queens, Thea-Mari, Chantal, and Donia, took third (01:33:58).
Stanford Lake College also celebrated a win in the junior mixed team category through Boden Cornish, Inbar Cohen, and Yoshka McMillan. Shane Friedrichs competed in the team relay.
Organisers thanked PPS Petroleum, Trophy Toyota, Dust Suppressions, and Miami Canners for making the event possible.
