Mud, motorcycles and plenty of noise was on the cards when NG Gemeente Vryheid Suid-Oos hosted its annual Padda Hill Fun Enduro last week Saturday.

64 riders take on the muddy challenge

The enduro, held in conjunction with the church’s annual bazaar, attracted 64 riders from Vryheid and surrounding areas, with some travelling from as far afield as Mtunzini, Bergville, Eshowe, Pongola, Dundee, Glencoe, Newcastle, Mgudu, Dannhauser, Melmoth, Paulpietersburg and Ladysmith.

The rain that fell the day before left the route wet and muddy, making for some tricky riding conditions.

For the competitors, though, the mud was part of the fun.

Riders took on either the 45km Gold and Silver loops or the 25km Bronze loop, with the slippery conditions putting their riding skills to the test. The weather fortunately cleared up on Saturday, allowing the event to continue in better conditions.

Junior class gives young riders a chance

There was also something new for younger riders this year, with a Junior Bronze class introduced for children under 12. They rode the same 25km Bronze route as the adults.

Eight youngsters took part in the Kiddies Loop, riding their smaller motorcycles around a specially marked course and completing as many laps as they wanted.

Enduro and bazaar bring community together

While the enduro was taking place on the surrounding route, the church’s annual bazaar brought people together at Hoërskool Pionier’s sports field.

The event is also an important fund-raiser for the church’s community work.

Funds support church outreach projects

The money raised will help the church continue with several outreach projects, including providing daily school lunches and monthly toiletries to underprivileged children.

The church also prepares Christmas boxes for residents of local old age homes and supports Môrester Children’s Home.

Another part of its outreach work is helping people and families who find themselves in difficult circumstances with emergency food and other necessities.

Sponsors and landowners help make event possible

The church said the event would not have been possible without the support of its sponsors, who contributed towards the day and donated prizes for the lucky draw. Every rider received a lucky draw prize.

Local landowners also played a role by allowing sections of their residential and grazing properties to be included in the route.

Padda Hill Enduro attracts riders from across the region

With riders coming from several towns across the region, the Padda Hill Fun Enduro continues to attract interest beyond Vryheid.

For the 64 competitors who took part this year, the wet and muddy route provided exactly the sort of challenge they had come looking for.

Enduro results

Gold Class:

First place – Kyle Bardorff (Vryheid);

Second place – Timothy Byrnes (Vryheid);

Third place: Craig Petersen (Newcastle).

Silver Class:

First place – André de Wet (Eshowe);

Second place – Anthony Groenewald (Glencoe);

Third place – Ewald Seegers (Vryheid).

Bronze Class:

First place – Marthinus Loots (Vryheid);

Second place – Steve Dahl (Eshowe);

Third place – Gerrit Zaayman (Eshowe).

Junior Bronze Class:

First place – Asher Huysamen (Pongola);

Second place – Johann Birkenstock (Vryheid);

Third place – Braam Booysen (Vryheid).

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.