Willie van Eck won the 32-kilometre event at the first leg of the Mpumalanga Enduro at MTO Trails near Klipkopje Dam on Saturday.

The race was not timed over the full distance. On the course were six single track trails, each of which were raced by each rider, with the fastest combined time deciding the winners.

Van Eck (21) clocked a combined 10 minutes, 40,1 seconds to claim the overall and elite first place by 1,4 seconds over Sam Bull.

Bull held first position after the second timed single track, 2,8 seconds ahead of Van Eck. Van Eck clocked 03:09,3 compared to Bull’s 03:15,5 on the third trail to claim the lead, which he held for the rest of the race.

Zandri Strydom won the overall female and female elite winner in 17:41,7. The 19-year-old came in in a remarkable fourth place overall.

Louise Kotze, 21 years Strydom’s senior, rode brilliantly on the timed sections to claim second place in 20:26,2.

The male junior winner was Rory Kirk (17:35,8), the sub-junior winner Lian Antunes (20:41,8), the sub-veteran winner Trent Sinclair (20:57,8), the youth winner Riku de Lange (18:56,6) and the e-bike winner Gavin Pelser (19:58,8).

The female junior winner was Bernice van Wyk (22:58,3), the sub-junior winner Mia Denoon-Stevens (23:17,8), the sub-veteran winner Wendy Odendaal (20:26,2) and the veteran winner Louis Kotze (20:26,2).

Sixty-two bikers entered the 32-kilometre event.

A much-easier 22-kilometre ride was also held. It boasted four timed single-track trails and attracted 13 riders.

The winners were:

• Overall and male veteran: Shane Snyman (10:40,1)
• Female and female elite: Monique Swart (13:19,2)
• Female veteran: Tanya Smith (15:22,3)
• Male elite: Eckhard Stasch (15:11,9)
• Male sprog: Jowan Pelser (12:55,9)
• Male sub-junior: Keegan van der Merwe (13:52,6)
• Male sub-veteran: Christiaan Voges (13:10,7).

Mpumalanga Enduro series fixtures

June 5: Trailworx Nelspruit @ Friends Cafe.
July 3: Mankele.
August 7: Tranquilitas, Waterfall Boven.
September 11: Sabie.