Just as the Nedbank running club did earlier this year at the THIRSTI AFRICANX 3 day trail event at Paul Cluver Wines in Grabouw, the team excelled yet again with podium finishes including 3 wins over three different events in the newly formed THIRSTI AFRICANX TRAILRUN 1-Day XPERIENCE.
In the 42km, Nedbank RC teammates Colin Kanyimo and Juan van Deventer set out in front on a course that features a total of 1160m of climbing. Van Deventer had earlier in the year won the 3 day event together with teammate Eric Ngubane but in the 1 day event which was run as individuals and not in pairs of 2, he started to struggle and Kanyimo kept the pace high up front.
After 2 hours 58 minutes of running, Kanyimo crossed the line victorious to clock 2:58:21. It was a time that was very impressive given the nature of the course and it off road technicality. “The race was nice, but the weather conditions were very windy so it made the race tough,” said Kanyimo. “I will be very happy to come back next year again and try to go quicker.” Van Deventer held on to finish 3rd in 3:14:25.
In the 24km, Nedbank RC teammates Raydon Balie and Anel Terblanche were out in action in the men’s and women’s races respectively. The race was just as tough as the 42km, with a 750m climb and a mix of fast open trails and single track.
Balie finished 3rd in the men’s race whilst Terblanche who has been showing tremendous form in the Spar Ladies 10km Grand Prix series was a runaway victor, crossing the line in 1:49:08, more than 10 minutes ahead of the 2nd placed finisher.
“This was such an awesome race except for the wind,” said Terblanche. “I was literally just seeing if I could make the podium today because I haven’t been doing much trail or even long runs, so to win was special to me and I definitely want to return next year and attempt the 3 day event.”
In the 12km, Nedbank RC Cape Town athlete Calvin Hammond took victory to cap off a day of green atop the podium of the THIRSTI AFRICANX 1-DAY XPERIENCE.