by Jarryd Gosling
On Sunday 21st February, a number of adventure racers tackled the Red Ants Rumble 60Km race at B’Sorah in the Hartbeespoort area. The day started with a 4am rise and shine to do some last preparations, eat a breakfast of champions and drive to the race venue to be in time for briefing. The briefing, being a quick explanation of the normal do’s and don’ts, got everyone buzzing for the adventure ahead.
Then, BANG!
The start gun went off at 7am and the teams flew out of the start gate. Leg 1 consisted of an orienteering section that was estimated to be +-7 km long. All the teams finished this in good time and sped through the transition, not knowing the massive hill that was awaiting them on the way to CP3 on the first cycle leg. After some bush bashing and running into each other (Team Tshanduko - we must’ve seen you guys at least 10 times) we got through the challenge that was leg 2. Now for the crux/ hottest leg of the day. A “little” run through some “small” mountains and a kloofing section that was more a fight against a thorn bush and spiderwebs than your average kloofing sections. By now, I had run out of water during the peak of the day and am very sure that I was not the only one that overestimated the amount of water in my bladder. Needless to say, the compulsory 1.5km swim from the end of the leg was much appreciated, but maybe not for team Ubuntu, who decided to do this leg in reverse, How did that work out for you guys? The last cycle went by just as any last leg does, quickly! With refreshed spirits because “We can smell the finish” everyone moved as if they had just started racing. That chocolate milkshake at the end was calling our names, but first, more bush bashing to top it all off!
The teams and results were as follows:
Team Balega: Isabella and I joined by a couple friends of mine. Fourth overall and second in mixed team category.
Team Ubuntu: Gunther Katzke, Heidi Katzke, Jethro Clowes and Michael Scriven. Ninth overall and fourth in mixed team category.
Team Tshanduko: Benno Kotzé and Stefan Hacker. 13th overall and third in male pair category.
The Terriers: Olivia Drewett with the Scrivens (Jason, Shirley and Matthew). 12th overall and sixth in mixed team category.
Team K4: Walt and Zelda Katzke. 10th overall and second in mixed pair category.
I would also like to make an honourable mention to Herman and Lianke Fourie who couldn’t make it because Herman had a bad fall during the XCO race the day before. We pray for a speedy recovery and we will see you on the bike soon. Well done to everyone, students and parents, who competed and completed the race. True Badger spirit!
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