The heavy rain that fell in the days preceding the 2025 Sabie Classic MTB race made the going tough for competitors on Saturday. April 26.

The course’s degree of difficulty certainly increased with the muddy conditions.

One mountain biker, who took to the conditions like a warthog to mud, was Emile van Niekerk. He was untouchable in the 65km senior men’s race, winning in 03:09:03.

The second-placed rider, Kyle Laing, finished well over an hour later, in 04:23:45. Jano Venter finished third in 04:37:23.

Gawie Combrinck claimed first place in the 65km subvets category, in a time of 03:18:00. Dewald Coetzee was second in 03:20:17, and Gabriel Grobler third in 04:04:22.

Nico Bell proved that age is but a number, Not only did he take the win in the 65km vets race, but his time of 03:09:03 was the same as that of Van Niekerk, who is 21 years Bell’s junior.

Chris Herselman was the second vet over the line in 03:47:47, and Craig Metherell third in 03:53:37.

The masters men’s title went to Dirk Robinson in 03:56:39. Wihan Venter was second in 04:17:28, and Francois de Jager third in 04:37:01.

Paul Cannon was the grandmaster men’s winner in 04:04:47, followed by Ryno Wilson in 05:46:16.

The first woman home, riding in the masters category, was Carin Gouws in 04:49:55. The second master was Marinda Venter in 05:45:22, and third was Shirley Emmerick in 06:12:18.

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Other top three results
10km
Subnipper female
1. Vhené Oelofse – 00:55:02
2. Amelie Bakker – 01:07:17
3. Talia Barnard – 01:19:04
Nipper female
1. Deone Willemse – 00:53:18
2. Emmah Prinsloo – 01:54:01
3. Anna Snaddon-Taylor – 01:59:33
Sprog female
1. Olivia Flores – 00:47:08
2. Sofia Schoeman – 00:54:11
Open female
1. Cathy Flores – 00:47:08
2. Elske Opperman – 00:48:19
3. Dinel Pretorius – 00:54:11
Subnipper male
1. FG Opperman – 00:48:18
2. Lealdo Wessels – 00:49:46
3. Divan Strydom – 01:06:42
Nipper male
1. Wihan van Niekerk – 00:36:06
2. Christian Filter – 00:38:19
3. Mikal Terblanche – 00:52:15
Sprogs male
1. Jurgens Lubber – 00:38:24
2. Davin Snaddon-Taylor – 00:42:16
3. Kyle Lawrie – 00:47:32
Open male
1. Jano Grobbelaar – 00:35:25
2. Coenraad Combrink – 00:35:25
3. WJ Combrink – 00:37:38
19km
Sprogs female
1. Mieke Mohle – 001:33:38
Subjuniors female
1. Esti Raath – 01:11:09
2. Ané Wagner – 01:15:26
3. Kylie Briedenhann – 01:17:11
Open female
1. Marita Raath – 01:11:10
2. Karien Nel – 01:17:22
3. Adele Geldenhuys – 01:21:29
Sprogs male
1. Christiaan Prinsloo – 01:00:54
2. Ewan Terblanche – 01:07:57
3. Lian Scott – 01:08:02
Subjuniors male
1. Kevin Filter – 00:52:42
2. Henro Oosthuizen – 00:55:59
3. Morné van Niekerk – 00:57:33
Open male
1. Michael Bakker – 01:05:14
2. Jacob Coenraad Combrink – 01:10:34
3. Cobus Broekman – 01:11:03
40km
Youth female
1. Jemma Barnard – 02:22:39
2. Miandi Pretorius – 02:37:54
3. Jessica Bell – 04:00:05
Junior female
1. Danel de Jager – 02:08:29
2. Megan Botha – 02:14:36
3. Mia Putter – 02:15:03
Senior female
1. Luzaan Durand – 02:08:24
2. Marianne de Villiers – 02:49:11
3. Zanri Hanekom – 02:52:06
Subvets female
1. Melissa Grobler – 02:29:10
2. Jeanine Prinsloo – 03:28:05
3. Reinhild Nauhaus – 03:38:48
Vets female
1. Sulet van Staden – 03:08:53
2. Michelle Tolmay – 03:12:15
3. Bokkie Hendriks – 03:47:27
Masters female
1. Annelise Strydom – 03:00:48
2. Helena Bezuidenhout – 03:39:17
3. Megan Barnard – 04:02:48
Grandmasters female
1. Corné Ackermann – 03:10:21
Youth male
1. Scholtz Boshoff – 01:57:24
2. Armand Nel – 02:00:54
3. Anro Bekker – 02:05:54
Junior men
1. Janco van Staden – 02:00:54
2. Donovan Smit – 02:00:58
3. Reuel McCabe – 02:08:27
Senior men
1. Richardo Jay van der Merwe – 02:14:06
2. Stephan Jacobs – 02:16:34
3. Henyo Kruger – 02:20:32
Subvets male
1. Dieter Sephton – 02:24:04
2. Chris van der Merwe – 02:30:41
3. Henk Bezuidenhout – 02:31:39
Subvets male
1. Julian Gerber – 02:05:56
2. Lofte Grobler – 02:14:30
3. Drikus Maré – 02:17:17
Vets male
1. Jaco Boshoff – 02:22:10
2. Peter Bakker – 02:23:27
3. Herman Klopper – 02:32:46
Masters male
1. Jacques Nel – 02:16:25
2. Leon van Wyk – 02:18:30
3. Derek Putter – 02:35:13
Grandmasters male
1. Sean Bell – 02:16:16
2. Thomas Jacobs – 02:37:56
3. Cecil Delport – 02:44:01
65km
Subvets female
1. Chantal Weyers – 04:56:55
2. Jolinda van Heerden – 05:02:00
Vets female
1. Tanit Kruger – 05:05:20
2. Petra Basson – 05:16:38
3. Bronwyn Lewis – 06:25:19.