McCarthy Inyanga Michaelis Challenge 2015
Everyone got what they bargained for, except 110 cyclists who entered the 20km MTB event, who were erroneously ushered into the realms of the unknown where even GPS co-ordinates do not exist. Thankfully, all made it safely back and most, with their sense of humour largely intact.
“THE eighth annual McCarthy Inyanga Michaelis Challenge was held on Saturday, November 21, at a very empty Bloemveld Dam, after having received 11ml of rain the previous night.
A record shattering 466 cyclists and runners entered, to conquer any of the six events: the suicidal 50km MTB, the 20km run or to challenge the more civilised 20km MTB (as it was supposed to be) or 10km fun ride or simply take a leisurely walk or jog through the countryside on the 5km route.
Although we had entrants from as far as Durban, Middelburg, Piet Retief, Newcastle, Dundee and Richards Bay and as close as Utrecht and Paulpietersburg, it is a Vryheid community based event and we thank the local community for their overwhelming support.
Everyone got what they bargained for, except 110 cyclists who entered the 20km MTB event, who were erroneously ushered into the realms of the unknown where even GPS co-ordinates do not exist. Thankfully, all made it safely back and most, with their sense of humour largely intact. We do apologise for those riders who got lost in the woods, and who had to encounter unmarked routes taking them into oblivion. Next year we will make it marshall proof, bigger and better. Otherwise the day was a great success!
Thank you to the Vryheid Boat Club for the use of their facilities and the doubling up on their catering efforts to get the hundreds of bellies well and properly fed and lubricated. We thank all our sponsors, big and small, including FST Transport, Vinko Enterprises, Pannar Seed, BMG and Pico Tech CBE Technicians, Omnia Fertiliser, Pasteur Pharmacy, Stepping Out Dance Academy, Shelhein Farms, GJ Vonkeman Attorneys, DLV Engineering, Sparrow Computers, Deli Spices, Kumon Maths, Ingrid Kusel Physiotherapist, Matt Engineering, Vrypet, PlumberBoyz, Ace Mica Hardware, Crabs Auto Breakers, Dr Gert Theron, Basangoma Game Ranch, Glassfit, Bodytonic, Remedia Pharmacy, Promo Direct, Bubble’s Car Wash and Jeannelle Van Zyl and Aquellè Water.
A special thanks goes to ECA Consultants, for their ‘zillion’ laminated arrows and markers, Link-It for the website, Jacques Odendaal, who sponsored the brilliant MC and built and marked large portions of the route. Thank you to Pix-A-Lation Photography who took photos of the event. They can be reached on 087 151 1437.
Lastly we thank our main sponsor McCarthy Inyanga Motors for their financial contribution and symbiotic relationship developed over the years.
See you all next year at the same place on the date to be announced.”
The MC Committee 2015
