Field of orange floods Mid-Illovo Classic
A big thank you goes out to the new club sponsor, Pickfords.
SO now that the post-Sani depression has kicked in, it’s a good idea to get back in the saddle and start the fun riding again.
Last week’s race, the Mid-Illovo Classic, had a record number of orange from Toti Cycling Club in the field and the Mambas were given special mention by the commentator.
Well done Toti, you have true spirit. The finishing times for races are improving tremendously. Riders are getting faster, so this must say something about the areas they train in. There are hills, hills and more hills. There is also an abundance of fantastic track to be ridden in various places. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get easier, you just get faster.
Results from the Husqvarna Mid-Illovo Classic MTB and trail run on 17 May:
Gwahumbe family 18km MTB: First Reece McCallum (sub junior boys) 49.15, 19th Liam Richard Theunissen (nipper boys) 57.18, 41st Josick Watkins (master women) 1.05.09, 48th Bridget Theunissen (sub junior girls) 1.06.27, 51st Ulrich von Landsberg (youth men) 1.07.15, 71st Andre van der Merwe (sub vet men) 1.10.50, 210th Jaryd Ball (vet men) 1.49.22, 213th Geoff Ball (master men) 1.50.14, 237th Susan Louw (vet women) 2.02.55.
Husqvarna 40km MTB: First Andrew Hill (sub vet men) 1.44.25, sixth Brennan Anderson (senior men) 1.46.27, 50th Mark Moon (vet men) 2.02.56, 61st Giovanni Rizza (master men) 2.06.47, 63rd Cindy Theunissen (vet women) 2.06.48, 116th Garreth Keet (sub vet men) 2.25.30, 154th Leon Ward (vet men) 2.31.14, 183rd Johannes Beneke (vet men) 2.39.30, 194th Guy Watkins (master men) 2.41.32, 206th Rienie Beneke (vet women) 2.44.07, 221st John von Landsberg (vet men) 2.46.53, 228th Hardus Burger (sub vet men) 2.48.49, Petrus du Plessis (sub vet men), 2.54.16, 246th Danie Beyleveld (vet men) 2.54.18, 270th Gary Dunnett (vet men) 3.04.00, 286th Shaun Michael Heinze (master men) 3.13.09, 296th Anton Booysen (master men) 3.20.01.
20km Compendium MTB Derby on 24 May: First Gerhard Gous (veteran) 1.00.09, fifth Bridget Theunissen (sub junior) 1.19.34, 36th Ulrich von Landsberg (youth) 1.20.03, 58th Casey Victor (sub veteran) 2.05.58.
45km: First Andrew Hill (sub veteran) 1.36.32, 10th Brennan Anderson (senior) 1.44.58, second Cindy Theunissen (veteran) 2.06.40, 97th Duncan Schulze (sub veteran) 2.19.07, 189th John von Landsberg (veteran) 2.38.13, 199th Ian Sayer (sub veteran) 2.40.19, 37th Cindy Rutherford (veteran) 3.19.18.
Illovo Eston on 2 August has been chosen as the official club challenge this year. The idea is to encourage as many Toti riders as possible to enter one of the distances available and let’s hit this race with a sea of orange. The club will take the gazebo and cooler box and snacks. This is an old race that is close to home. Diarise it and enter. Hopefully it will be a dry one this year.
On Sunday, Toti Cycle Club riders met at Lords to firstly do a skills clinic for beginners and those who just wanted to be reminded of a few mountain biking techniques. Gavin Harvey gave an amazingly large amount of advise and help, starting with a demonstration on one’s position on the bike and how to allow the bike to move beneath you, Next, going into the correct position on a descent, to braking and cornering. There was a whole lot of enthusiastic practising going on and the advice was very beneficial to everyone who took part, including Jimmy and Zack Popadopolous, two mini Toti Mambas riders. The guys and girls then paid their R10 to enter the cross-country series. There were eight teams of two and the names were drawn to make up relay teams. The riders shot off on the first lap where the field got a bit spread out but by the second lap, all sorts of exciting overtaking and catching up started unfolding. People rode the track a whole lot faster than normal and a few were surprised by how fast they could get around 3.2kms of track. The faster riders were getting averages of 20km plus. Rienie Beneke and Sean Janse van Rensburg won the race. A few people came short on the course, so next week, there will be a more intense skills session.
The mountain bikers are going to be starting the Saturday rides at 6.30am from now on, as the sun is rising later and no-one wants to go bouncing along the rough stuff with expensive lights attached to their handle bars.
In roadies news, the B group decided to attempt something a little different on Saturday and dusted off old mountain bikes to hit the trails at Rocky Bay. They braved the 29km course with vigour. The road captain managed to obtain a few war wounds for his brave attempts at avoiding rocks. Everyone enjoyed the ride and had a few good laughs and will now be able to bunnyhop the bumps on the tar efficiently.
A big thank you goes out to the new club sponsor, Pickfords. Thanks to Martin De la Ray for having the confidence that the club will make his company proud.
Lastly, a shout out for the mountain bikers or anyone else who is willing to help – the Toti 69er is happening on 12 July and the Mambas would like the club’s roadies to be able to ride their home race for once. That means as many mountain bikers as possible are needed to help marshal. This can include friends and family. Each person will receive a free lunch and T-shirt for their troubles. The reason that this has always been a safe race is because the marshals are cyclists and know what to do properly. Submit your name and contact details if you are willing to sacrifice your Sunday morning for this cause. Send an SMS to 082-357-5287.
