Local teacher shines at first X-Dirt Triathlon Challenge
Riana Robertson, a teacher from Pretoria, was in brilliant form and even outclassed the men in the field in the new X-Dirt Triathlon Challenge at Buffelspoort Dam recently.
The new X-Dirt Triathlon Challenge kicked off at Buffelspoort Dam in the Northwest Province last week, with Riana Robertson from Pretoria in top form to cross the line first overall in 1:09:15.0.
The Moreleta Park athlete showed her class early on in the 600m swimming leg of the race to take the lead and never looked back as she dominated the 20km on-road cycling leg and the 5km run discipline, even outclassing the men in the field, to claim yet another victory for the year.
With her closest rival being the men’s 36 and over category competitor, Roger Skews of Kempton Park who finished second overall in the road race in 1:16:18.9, nearly seven minutes behind her, it looks like Robertson will be tough to beat in the remaining three races in the X-Dirt Triathlon Challenge.
Considering she also won the Gauteng North Triathlon Championship (Olympic distance) the previous weekend, the 2013 Sasol Cross Triathlon Series and the 2013 Momentum Health Meg-3 National Duathlon Series, the Hoërskool Die Wilgers teacher currently looks to be unstoppable.
What makes this triathlon unique is that competitors can choose to do the off-road cycle route (a 16 mountain bike stage) for more of a challenge while still doing the 600m swim and 5km run with the on-road participants.
Another interesting facet of the X-Dirt Triathlon Challenge is that participants can enter as a two-member team, with both team members required to complete all three disciplines and finish within two minutes of each other to be eligible for a placing.
A special medal was given to one of the oldest competitors on the triathlon circuit, Neville Muir of Pretoria East, who celebrated his 75th birthday the day before the race and still finished the event in 2:24:05.2 – a remarkable achievement.
Contributing to making the X-Dirt Triathlon Challenge a family affair, a kiddies race (150m swim, 7km off-road cycle and 2,5km run) was also held prior to the main race.
For multi-sport enthusiasts who would like to compete in this unique new competition, entries are open for the next race which takes place at Roodeplaat Dam, just outside Pretoria on Sunday, 15 December. X-Dirt action will then resume in 2014 with the third event in the Challenge taking place on 16 February in Vanderbijlpark followed by the final race, once again at Buffelspoort on 2 March.
Apart from the nearly R100 000 up for grabs over the four events – with prize money presented for each race – all races will be televised by SuperSport, and Discovery Health members can earn up to 4250 Discovery Vitality points by participating.
