Enduro riders face challenges head-on

Offering a red (55km) and a green (45km) route, with competitors having to do single or multiple laps depending on their entry category, for most riders it was just the challenge they required on the day.

Designing a route for such an event was not a couch, laptop and Google Maps affair. No sir, it required weeks of preparation, actually riding the routes and clearing bush. In fact it may even be tougher for the route planners than what it was for the competitors on the day.

This year Jamie Watt and Darrell Cleaver were the architects of what all the riders considered an awesome and challenging route. Brilliantly marked and well balanced in terms of both technical and fast stretches.

Says Jamie, “Two months of planning then weeks of recces, then GPS points, and then clearing and marking. We had to accommodate both pros and beginners and then some old toppies also. We had to, in a sense, slow the pros down just a tad but not bore them to death either. It was a massive undertaking but we want the guys to come out here and enjoy themselves.”

The pros completed a 55km lap in about 90 minutes and the greenies took longer, but they also learnt and gained experience.  And Jamie himself has done the Roof and then some, so the man is no slouch and understands the personal battles riders have with an event like this.  “This is a family day. We have designed a short kiddies’ track right here near the pits. There is the restaurant and yes, it is simply a best-of-the-best events.”

And next year, says Jamie, they will have a completely new route. So be prepared if you decide to ride this one in 2016 again.
“The local landowners and farmers without whose permission and support this event would not be possible, contributed heavily to its success.” This applies to every one of the sponsors also.  And with just less than 200 entries, no one has to question the riders’ support for the event. It is awesome and they come from all over the country.

Autodealer Lowveld visited some spots on the route, even rendering a helping hand here and there and one could only admire every rider who, even while they were struggling, always displayed a seriously good attitude.

Riders’ comments:
• Barend Beeslaar – “Very nice, excellent layout and marking.”
• Hennjean Smit – “The best event so far – brilliant marking and clearing, excellent combination of technical and fast track.”
• Peet Kruger – “I’ve done this event since it started. This is the best by far – tough for me – (at 34 he considers himself a retiree). Brilliant.”
• Jean-Pierre Luies – “I am saddened. My bike’s clutch packed up on the first lap and that was it.”
• Robin Flores – “Marking was brilliant, averaged about 22km per hour and if one considers the number of finishers compared with the number of entrants, it was an excellent and well-balanced route. Congrats to Jamie and Darrell – you guys rock.”
• Ettiene van der Merwe – “All I can say is fun, fun, fun! How sweet it was to have some MX-style thick sand corners and berms, wide-sweeping grass corners with no lurkers, and those horsepower uphills – brilliant. Just the right amount of tech and speed. You guys got this one spot on. Well done. This is one for the wives too – proper accommodation within walking distance from the pits.”

Top results

Club 200
1. Dwayne Kleyhans
2. Reinhardt Ferreira
3. William Gillit

Club Green
1. Thomas Ferreia
2. James Buckland
3. Luke Walker

Club Masters
1. Garth Prost
2. Richard Cunniffe
3. Paul Bothma

Club Open
1. Louwrens Mahoney
2. Barend Erasmus
3. Johan Ackermann

Club Senior
1. Bruce May
2. Steven Carr
3. Franz Czepek

Club Silver
1. Hugo le Roux
2.Wayne Joubert
3. Christian Engel.

Many thanks to my fellow photographers for their support on the day, Kevin Scott and Nicolene Olckers.