Bergstrom first veteran at Husqvarna Classic

Ballito’s Natalie Bergstrom took third place overall and won the veteran ladies’ category at the Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge and Trail Run last week.

Bergstrom races in the 60km Husqvarna X-treme Classic mountain bike race every year.

“It is a very well organised event and is part of the ROAG series, and it is always gets a slot on my race calendar,” she said.

In the women’s race, young 16-year-old Tiffany Keep once again showed she is a massive talent by winning her first attempt at the longer 60km event. The Thomas More College schoolgirl beat off the challenge of Christie-Leigh Hearder with veteran Bergstrom claiming third.

Stuart Marais claimed top spot in the men’s race, the Howick mechanical engineer overcame a fall which could have proved costly, but he picked himself up and rode on to a solid three-minute win over defending champion, Mid-Illovo local Derrin Smith, who in turn was two minutes ahead of the in-form David Low.

Bergstrom told The Courier that it was getting harder against the young guns.

“I am keeping them honest out there, having fun and making them work. My competitors are more than 25 years younger than me, so not too bad for a ballie!”

She said it was a tough event, but what is a mountain bike race without a few hills to make you work?

“The race is a good mix of everything from the long climbing hills, to district roads, to jeep tracks to finally the fast flowing forest downhill single tracks. The single track is an absolute reward and for me who loves Cross Country, the single track was my highlight. It was awesome and I will be back for more.”

Participants in both the trail run and MTB race were full of praise for the route, which has been designed and created by local farmer Bruce Smith with the help of other local farmers in the area.

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