MTB cousins Purtell and Smith cruise to victory
Judging by its start, it looks to be an event that is here to stay.
SOUTH Coast cousins, Darryn Purtell and Hayley Smith, put together two days of flawless riding to win the inaugural Seabreeze Build It Bitter-Sweet MTB Challenge at Rocky Bay last Sunday. Their time was 4:30:15.
The race, which was hosted by Rocky Bay Resorts, presented the ideal terrain for Darryn and Hayley to thrive in.
With inside knowledge of the serene South Coast trails they set out with high pace on day one’s 60km route.
Having made the podium at this year’s Joberg2c it seems the duo are growing in confidence race by race.
Day two’s 40km journey saw them adopt a far more technical approach. With a firm lead, the pair stuck to their guns as they crossed the finish line in an overall time of 04:30:15.
“It’s really exciting to win, especially being the first event, it really means a lot to us,” said Darryn.
He was also quick to admit that riding in the area during their formative years played a crucial role.
“Growing up on the South Coast and learning to ride here has been wonderful, it’s just really rewarding to see how everything has evolved, how mountain biking has gone from strength to strength,” he said.
Darryn has raced around the country and despite the event being in its infancy, he has vowed to return.
“It’s been great riding this weekend, the organisers have put in a huge amount of work getting everything in pristine condition for all of us, it has just been an amazing experience from the time we started on Saturday morning – the trails, the people, the hospitality, it’s all just been great,” he said.
He continued, “This event will definitely grow, there is only one way for the Seabreeze Build It Bitter-Sweet MTB Challenge to go, it can only get bigger from here.”
Seabreeze Build It owner Arthur Snel was impressed by the event. Snel, a keen rider himself, was spotted on the trails on both days.
“The event went very very well, it blew my mind in terms of the journey from when we first decided to do this whole thing to where we are now.”
Snel’s investment in the race goes beyond a financial one. He is passionate about making a positive change in the area.
“The event will definitely continue, we have a long term relationship, we as Seabreeze Build It are not just throwing money at the event, we got involved in everything, we are investing in the area and uplifting the community through our ongoing development programme too,” Snel explained.
The 2016 Seabreeze Build It Bitter-Sweet MTB Challenge will take place on October 22 and 23. Riders can enter online by visiting www.roag.co.za once entries open early next year.
