Trisport’s most recent mountain biking and trail running event rocked the ankle-socks off athletes this past Saturday, 31st October.

Set in the serene, green Jakkalsvlei Private Wine Estate, The Jakkalsvlei Mountain Bike Race and Jackal Trail Run were blessed with perfect weather. Cyclists and trail runners enjoyed the cool breeze as they pushed themselves up zig-zagging paths, and conquered grape-vine covered hills and bushy mountain paths.

During the race briefing, everybody was excited to hear about the brand new single track that was built especially for the trail runners and cyclists participating in this year’s event. And with a “five, four, three, two, one, Go!” the timer was set and the race began.

Only 26 minutes and 40 seconds after the trail runners left the starting point, Hyron October caught the Trisport team by surprise by literally diving over the finish line! Exhausted but very proud, Hyron took first place in the 6km trail run. The first lady to cross the finish, at 37 minutes 2 seconds, was Linel Engelbrecht.

Doing the 11km trail run, Alvaro De Nobrega came first in an astonishing 51 minutes 22 seconds, with our leading lady, Hester Willer, arriving in 1 hour 12 minutes.

The cyclists had more of a challenging experience, but after 27km, Juan Albert v. Rooyen urged his bicycle over the grassy finish at 1 hour and 11 minutes. The first lady to cycle over the line was Therina Terblanche, coming in at 1 hour 50 minutes.

Friends and family of the cyclists doing the 60km Mountain Bike Race had the pleasure of watching the panting athletes speed down the final hill on the way to the finish. After crisscrossing their way over beautiful scenery, Vickus Boshoff defeated the trail in 2 hours and 26 minutes, and Elise Swanepoel arrived triumphant in 3 hours and 7 minutes.

During prize-giving, our final cyclists were welcomed across the finish line with huge applause and some good-humoured laughter. Twenty-four gleaming athletes came up to collect their prizes from Hano Otto (Trisport Course Director) and Sieg Slabbert (Old Mutual Sponsor Rep), and everybody walked away with a lot of Jakkalsvlei wine!

Jakkalsvlei is a family-owned winery that’s belonged to the Jonker’s since 1972. Jantjie Jonker bottled wine under the Jakkalsvlei label for the first time in 2008, and at the first competition he entered (the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards in 2015), three of the wines received gold medals. With excellent timing, Jakkalsvlei released their new, refreshing craft beer on Saturday. Athletes arriving at the finish were greeted with a well-deserved, ice-cold Jackal Lager.

Thanks to the breathtaking views and warm hospitality, there’s no doubt that the Jakkalsvlei Race is one of the most stunning events organised by Trisport. www.trisport.co.za

–   Caroline Bankart