Cyclists conquer scenic trails at Hoedspruit MTB Dash
Riders tackled 12km, 30km, and 60km routes at the Ambrosia Blueberry Dash MTB challenge, with standout performances all round.
HOEDSPRUIT – The annual Ambrosia Blueberry Dash mountain bike (MTB) challenge delivered an action-packed day of racing across scenic trails, with cyclists tackling distances of 12km, 30km, and 60km under clear skies and perfect riding conditions.
In the 12km race, Sian Swartz claimed an overall victory. Swartz, competing in the nippers category, left the field trailing behind as he powered through the undulating terrain to secure a well-deserved win. Tich Zawira finished second overall in 44:55, topping the sub-veteran division, while Michael Grobler took third place in 45:21, earning the sub-junior category title.
Among the women, Lu-Me Exall led from start to finish to claim the female overall win in 48:11, ahead of Nita Scholtz (49:20) and Sancia Last (51:07). Exall also topped the Sprogs category, cementing her place as one of the day’s standout young riders.
Other category winners included Sian Swartz (nippers), Lu-Me Exall (sprogs), Michael Grobler (sub-junior), Tich Zawira (sub-veteran), Deon Prinsloo (masters), Duane Botha (veteran), and Sancia Last (grand masters).
The 30km event brought together a strong field of seasoned and up-and-coming riders.
Barend Harris emerged as the overall winner in 01:21:37, representing the sub-veteran category with a commanding average speed of 22.05km/h.
Hot on his heels was Tyana Zaayman, who not only finished second overall but also took the female crown with a superb time of 1:23:57, leading the youth category.
Rounding out the overall podium was Waldi Kuhn, who shared third place with Mark Victor, both clocking 1:24:02.
The women’s podium saw Megan van der Merwe finish second in 1:26:07, while Lynette Topham claimed third in 1:27:58, leading the veteran women’s category.
Category winners in the 30km included Barend Harris (sub-veteran), Tyana Zaayman (youth), Barry Worthington (masters), Cobus Redelinghuys (veteran), Trevor Mohale (junior), Garry Mitchell (grand masters), and Sharne Janse van Rensburg (elite).
Harris’s steady pace and strong climbs secured him a clear win, while Zaayman’s performance stood out as one of the best female rides of the day.
The 60km main event tested the mettle of elite and seasoned riders alike, with Andreas Kuhn taking top honours in 02:06:04, averaging a blistering 28.56km/h. Kuhn’s performance in the elite category set the tone for the rest of the field, with Eduan Bruwer (junior) finishing just three seconds behind in 2:06:07, and Joshua Robertson (youth) securing third in 2:11:34.
Among the women, Megan Pile delivered a stellar ride on her e-bike, finishing in 2:22:29 to take the female overall title and the masters category win. She was followed by Roelien Britz (2:34:01) and Zianté Steyn (2:40:08), both of whom showcased endurance and determination throughout the demanding course.
Other category winners included Andreas Kuhn (elite), Eduan Bruwer (junior), Joshua Robertson (youth), Graham Pile (masters, e-bike), Grant Lapping (veteran), and John Menster (grand masters).
