Victorious are our Jeep race warriors
This past weekend saw another first for the Lowveld, when about 2 000 athletes made their way to Kwanyoni Lodge to take part in round six of the Jeep Warrior Race powered by Reebok.
Even though this is less than anticipated, the word is spreading like wildfire which will have an immense impact on its growth as a result.
Obstacles ranging from moderate to nearly impossible separated the wheat from the chaff. Fritz Pienaar, race director of the Warrior Company, says they were lucky to have a world-class terrain, with an abundance of natural elements.
This made it tough and technical, but provided the perfect platform for the preparation of the Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) World Championship event in October.
The black-ops elite course presented athletes with 33 demanding obstacles over an 18-kilometre trail course, which put their stamina and overall strength to the ultimate test especially the final set, which was exceptionally complex. With a starting line of 63 male and female athletes, only 24 made it to the finish line.
Trish Bahlmann and Hanneké Dannhauser were the only women who were able to conquer this course, and did so in just over two hours. Despite a desperate attempt by Dannhauser, Bahlmann crossed the finish line first. It is worth a mention that the course they had to complete was the same as the men’s one.
Jeep Team’s OCR elite athletes, Thomas van Tonder and JJ Deysel did not disappoint as they crowded the podium taking first and third place respectively.
“This has been an exceptional year for me. I am very fortunate to be part of the team travelling to the world champs,” Van Tonder said. Last year at worlds, he placed eight, but is aiming for a podium finish.
So far he has won three warrior races this year, two second-place finishes and one fifth position.
Local athlete Trevor Lagerwey finished just under two minutes in front of Deysel to claim the second place on the podium. Lagerwey matriculated in 2004 at Uplands College and then relocated to Cape Town.
“I did my first warrior in Cape Town two years ago, but then due to an injury I haven’t been able to compete in all of them since then. In total I have done six races. It was very tough and one of the hardest races I have done physically and mentally,” Lagerwey said.
Van Tonder lived up to his nickname “#beastmode” when he clenched his third win. Both Van Tonder and Deysel have also been selected for the OCR World Championships.
“I am very excited to be able to take home a win in the black-ops elite this weekend. The course was challenging and tough, with those last obstacles really placing me under immense pressure but I just had to keep up my momentum. I’m happy that it all paid off.
“I had to remain focused and steadfast to my belief that whatever you do you must give it your all and walk away knowing that you have given it absolutely everything you got,” Van Tonder said. He gets to drive a Jeep Renegade until the next event on October 22 and 23 at Meerendal Wine Estate.
