Author: Modern Athlete

The 10th anniversary of IRONMAN South Africa threw up some exciting contests as Nils Frommhold (GER) took on the pre-race favourites and triumphed while the ladies’ race mirrored that of 2013 with Jodie Swallow (GBR) dominating proceedings only to be trounced at the death with Simone Braendli taking the spoils.

Frommhold holds the competition at bay

The day started out with ideal weather conditions. The sea was flat with only a light north-westerly wind as the athletes began their swim.

German triathlete Nils Frommhold left the water first after 00:48:16 and was closely followed by Faris Al-Sultan (GER) and Dutch pair Edo van der Meer and Bas Diederen.

Exiting the water with the lead group, Al-Sultan managed to get an early lead on the trailed closely by Frommhold and Diederen. The early leaders kept a distance of 60 metres between the three of them. When the leading group passed the 30km mark, a small chase pack was starting to form behind them. It was from this chase pack that Georg Potrebitsch (GER) moved up the positions to steal the lead from Al-Sultan who had been looking comfortable.

Shortly before the 60km, Potrebitsch started to lose ground until eventually stopping for medical attention after a third of the bike leg. With Potrebitsch slowing, Frommhold and Al-Sultan made their move to overtake their compatriot. Frommhold was now out in front with Al-Sultan in second. At this point South African PRO debutant, Kyle Buckingham and Diederen moved ahead to join the early leaders.

Once Frommhold gained the lead, he looked determined to hold onto it. The leading pack, which consisted of Frommhold, Buckingham, Diederen and Al-Sultan respectively, had a space of 50 metres between each of them. After 135km, Frommhold put down the hammer in an attempt to widen the gap between himself and the chasers. Further back, Bertrand Billard (FRA), Matt Trautman (RSA), Potrebitsch and defending champion, Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) stuck behind the lead group.

Frommhold’s tactic to push for a lead looked a good one as he entered transition over five minutes ahead of Buckingham. Diederen and Al-Sultan came into T2 a minute after Buckingham, with 4 seconds separating them. It remained to be seen whether Frommhold would be able to hold on or would Buckingham, Al-Sultan or Diederen have the legs to run him down.

Though Frommhold was securely in first position, Buckingham and Al-Sultan pushed hard to get to the top and there was a constant battle for second position between the pair. While Frommhold impressed many by managing to hold on to his lead, a real tussle developed between Al-Sultan and Buckingham heading into the last 10km. Buckingham slowed and eventually started walking. This was when Al-Sultan passed and moved into second. No one expected Buckingham to get a second wind but with less than 5km to the finish, the South African managed to regain second spot.

Frommhold maintained his lead and crossed the finish line in 08:26:06 to become the 2014 IRONMAN South Africa champion. To the delight of the local crowd, Kyle Buckingham managed to claim second place in his debut IRONMAN as a professional in his home town finishing in a time of 08:32:38. Buckingham proved that he is an athlete to be taken seriously on the PRO circuit. Al-Sultan came in shortly after with a time of 08:33:18 – his first podium in South Africa in three attempts.

Braendli shines in Nelson Mandela Bay

As expected, it was Jodie Swallow who dominated the swim exiting first for the ladies with a blistering pace that placed her second overall. Lucie Reed (CZE) and Simone Braendli were second and third out of the water to begin the chase. Rounding up the top five were Denmark’s Michelle Vesterby and Katja Konschak (GER) four minutes later.

Swallow took off on her bike, making light work of the bike in the early morning’s favourable conditions. Reed trailed by only two minutes with Braendli close by.

Up until 42km the leading pack remained unchanged. Swallow had a substantial lead over Reed, Braendli, Vesterby and Lucy Gossage (GBR) respectively. At the halfway mark, Reed seemed to be losing strength and relinquished her second position to Vesterby. With Swallow in such dominant form, falling behind this early would make it difficult for the Czech to get close again. Swallow maintained her lead while Reed eventually slipped from the top 10, leaving Vesterby, Braendli and Vesterby vying for second, third and fourth position on the bike.

Entering T2 with a lead of over 8 minutes, Swallow was looking to extend the lead on the run course but Lucy Gossage and Simone Braendli were the danger contenders as they started running down the leading lady. Into the second loop of the run Swallow was desperately holding on to the lead by two minutes as the flying Swiss, Simone Braendli overtook Gossage for second place. Not long after, at the 37km mark, Braendli finally claimed the lead over a tiring Swallow.
Braendli kept the lead all the way to the finish with a smooth and comfortable run to cross in 09:31:53, while Swallow held off Gossage for her second consecutive second place finish at IRONMAN South Africa in a time of 09:33:58.

Men’s Provisional Top 5
1. Nils Frommhold (GER) – 08:26:06
2. Kyle Buckingham (RSA) – 08:32:38
3. Faris Al-Sultan (GER) – 08:33:18
4. Bas Diederen (NED) – 08:37:24
5. Matt Trautman (RSA) – 08:48:24

Ladies’ Provisional Top 5
1. Simone Braendli (SUI) – 09:31:53
2. Lucy Gossage (GBR) – 09:33:06
3. Jodie Swallow (GBR) – 09:33:58
4. Jessie Donavan (USA) – 09:49:43
5. Astrid Ganzow (GER) – 10:00:54

The 12th Columbia Triple Challenge, which took place on Sunday, 6 April, saw SA’s top athletes Lance Kime, Jane Swarbreck, John Ntuli and Jeannie Bomford-Dreyer all finish in top positions.

The Multisport Challenge – considered to be one of South Africa’s toughest endurance races – saw competitors first take on a 20km trail run from Pietermaritzburg to Camperdown, followed by a 53km mountain bike race from Camperdown through the Valley of a 1000 Hills to Inanda Dam, and finally a 18km canoe race around Inanda Dam (which included two portages).

Lance Kime, the 2013 Dusi Canoe Marathon Singles winner, claimed his first victory in the gruelling 93.6km Multisport Ultra in a time of 5h42m36 but faced his toughest competition in the form of Nhlanhla Cele, winner of the 2011 and 2012 Multisport Challenge. In the end though it was Lance Kime first in 5h42m36s with his friend and training partner Andrew Houston, second in 5h47m16s, and Nhlanhla Cele in third in 6hr11m56s.

In the women’s Multisport race, Gauteng athlete, Jane Swarbreck, who narrowly missed podium in 2011, raced to victory this year in a time of 7h29m50s. In second place was Jessica Dicks (8h56m2s), with Jane’s sister, Kate Swarbreck in third.

The 80.6km Multicross Challenge, following the same format of the Multisport but replaced the paddle with a 7km trail run through the Msinsi Inanda Dam Reserve and valley-bottom. This event saw the most heated action of the day, when John Ntuli (the 2011 Multicross winner) finished just over a minute ahead of Brand du Plessis (Multiple South African Duathlon champion) in a time of 4h15m07s. In third position was Sizwe Mkhasibe in 4h24m28s. A cracking pace!

In the women’s Multicross, Jeannie Bomford-Dreyer raced to her 5th victory, equalling that of Columbia Triple Challenge legend, Dan Hugo. Dreyer won well ahead in a time of 4hr50m41s with Sarah Gray in second place in 6hr05m24s and Terry Pellow-Jarman in 7hr07m34s. Dreyer has now won three Triple Challenge Multisport and two Multicross races making her the most successful Triple Challenge female of all time.

The 53km MTB race route from Camperdown to Inanda Dam was equally spectacular as it was challenging with breath-taking views through the heart of the Valley of a 1000 Hills as rider’s dropped down into the majestic valley.

The first half of the route was relatively easy but the second half came with a couple of tough portage sections, some tricky single-track and many lung-busting hills, which, combined with some heat and humidity on the day, made for an energy draining but exhilarating mountain biking race.

Two-time MTB Challenge winner, Andrew Hill, claimed his third title in a blistering time of 1h58m35s setting a new record of completing the race in less than 2 hours. He was closely followed by Dusi-legend, Martin Dreyer’s, ‘Change a Life’ Programme athlete, Mboneni Ngcobo, who crossed the line in 2h05m24s, with Sithembiso Masango in third in a time of 2h06m30s.

Alexandra Mapstone who is in matric and only 17 years old, was the first women to cross the finish line in an extraordinary fast time of 2hr40m16s, followed by Amanda Hawke (2h45m19s) and Karen Thomson (2h51m40s).

In the 20km Challenge Trail Run from Polly Shortts Shopping Centre in Pietermaritzburg to Camperdown, Jason Lammers finished first in 1h35m41s, followed by Matthew Collins (1h36m30s) and Gary Green (1h48m03s). In the women’s race, Lauren Uys claimed victory in 1h59m17s, followed closely by Marta Jekot (2h00m59s) and Daniela Marshall (2h01m57s).

Seeps Evans (0h57m45s) raced to a podium finish in the shorter 10km Challenge Trail Run, while Heather O’Neill won the women’s race in 58m55s.

The 12th Columbia Triple Challenge saw a new event added to the line-up – the SUP Challenge. Stand up Paddle, which originates from Hawaii, is an offshoot of surfing where paddlers stand on their board and paddle.

At the 2014 Triple Challenge there were two SUP options – a 4km and an 8 km race – that saw competitors race round Inanda Dam.
Stephen Lawson won the inaugural event in a time of 33m12s.

Columbia Sportswear, the new title sponsor for the Triple Challenge, has added enormous appeal and value to the event this year. As an industry leader in outdoor apparel, the clothing brand is passionate about trying stuff outdoors and therefore makes an ideal partner to the thousands of would-be and professional multisport, multi-cross, MTB, trail, and road runners, and paddlers in South Africa.
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2014 Columbia Triple Challenge Results:

Multisport Challenge. Men overall: Lance Kime (5h42.36), Andrew Houston (5h47.16), Nhlanhla Cele (Change a Life) (6h11.56). Women overall: Jane
Swarbreck (7h29.50), Jessica Dicks 8h56.02.
Multicross Challenge. Men overall: John Ntuli (4h15.07), Brand du Plessis (4h16.32), Sizwe Mkhasibe (4h24.28). Women overall: Jeannie Bomford (4h50.41), Sarah Gray (6h05.24), Terry Pellow-Jarman (7h07.34).
53km Challenge Mountain Bike. Men overall: Andrew Hill (1h58.35), Mboneni Ngcobo (2h05.24), Sithembiso Masango (2h06.30). Women overall: Alexandra Mapstone (2h40.07), Amanda Hawke (2h45.19), Karen Thomson (2h51.40).
20km Challenge Trail Run. Men overall: Jason Lammers (1h35.41), Matthew Collins (1h36.30), Gary Green (1h48.03). Women: Lauren Uys (1h59.17), Marta Jekot (2h00.59) Daniela Marshall (2h1.57).
10km Challenge Trail Run. Men overall: Seeps Evans (0h57.45). Women overall: Heather O’Neill (0h58.55).
SUP (Stand up Paddle) Challenge overall: Stephen Lawson (0h33.12), Steve Honeyset (0h35.55), Brendon Germaine (0h40.16).

Nike South Africa and the Nedbank Running Club today revealed the new competition race kits and footwear that will be worn by the Nedbank ‘Green Dream Team’ athletes in their first road races starting this weekend.

The modern Nike race kit collection, showcased by specialist distance runners including Charne Bosman, Myrette Filmalter, Ludwick Mamabolo, Rutendo Nyahora and Juan van Deventer; features high performance innovation with environmentally sustainable design.

The men’s and women’s race singlets are made from recycled fabric, and the design includes a two-tone green colourway with a subtle yet bold print design. The singlets are paired with green race shorts or capri tights.

The singlets also feature Nike Dri-FIT technology that helps to regulate athletes’ temperatures while running by drawing sweat away from the body and through the fabric to help keep athletes dry and cool. Lightweight mesh is featured on back or on the sides for more ventilation, while bonded seams on the singlet provide a seamless fit to minimize distractions.

The kit is exclusively available to the club, while the new Nike Free 2014 footwear collection including the Nike Free 3.0 Flyknit, Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit and Nike Free 5.0 will be available in stores from April 8.
The three-year partnership, which commenced from January 2014, will see Nike as the official technical team kit partner to the Nedbank Running Club, providing apparel and footwear for the club’s elite ‘Green Dream Team’ athletes.

Says Nick Bester, Nedbank Running Club National Manager: “We are thrilled to be associated with the top sports brand in the world, and very pleased to have secured an important partner for our Nedbank Green Dream Team athletes.”

“With our athletes competing in as many distance road races this season, including the Two Oceans Marathon and Comrades Marathon, our athletes need a kit that is lightweight and high in performance, and the new kit delivers on that.”

Headline sponsor, Columbia Sportswear, is excited to announce that some of South Africa’s greatest multisport athletes – including Eric Zondi, Lance Kime, John Ntuli and Brand du Plessis – will be competing in the Columbia Triple Challenge on Sunday, 6 April 2014.

Now in its twelfth year, the Columbia Triple Challenge engages athletes across three sports disciplines – trail running, mountain biking and canoeing – and takes them on a gruelling off-road adventure through the heart of KwaZulu-Natal.

The annual Columbia Triple Challenge is unique in the fact that most of the route, from Pietermaritzburg to Inanda Dam, takes athletes through privately-owned land, including 6 private game reserves.

A top contender in the Elite Men’s category for this year’s featured event – the Individual Multisport Challenge – is Eric Zondi, back-to-back winner of both the 2014 Dusi Canoe Marathon (with partner Andrew Birkett) and the Non-stop Dusi Canoe Marathon (with partner Hank McGregor).

The 93.6km Multisport Challenge includes a 20.6km Trail Run from Maritzburg to Camperdown, a 53km mountain bike race from Camperdown to Inanda Dam, and an 18km canoe paddle on the Inanda Dam with two portages of 130m and 1.7km respectively. Only the toughest will survive this.

Zondi will be competing against 2013 Dusi Canoe Marathon Singles winner, Lance Kime, who will be taking part in his first Columbia Triple Challenge, as well as Nhlanhla Cele, who’s hungry for a third victory after winning both the 2011 and 2012 Multisport Triple Challenge.

Add into the mix Comrades Marathon winner Nick Bester, who is back for more after winning the event in 2003, and the race to the podium, promises to be excruciating but exciting.

Competing in the 80.6km (20.6kms Trail Run / 53km MTB /7km Trail Run) Multicross event is John Ntuli (the 2011 Multicross winner), Brand du Plessis (Multiple South African Duathlon champion), Daniel Carleton (Xterra age group World Champion), Justin Porteous (2010 Multicross winner ) and another Change a Life athlete, Sizwe Mkhasibe.

Individual Multisport winners can look forward to an impressive prize package this year, including R15 000, a 5-star getaway courtesy of Dream Hotels and Resorts, and the opportunity to compete in Speight’s Coast to Coast multisport event in New Zealand, with all expenses paid.

The Multicross winner will receive R 10 000 plus a 5-star holiday, courtesy of Dream Hotels and Resorts.

About the Columbia Triple Challenge

The race takes place on Sunday, 6 April 2014.
The Columbia Triple Challenge is designed to appeal to both entry-level athletes and professionals, which means there are race options to choose from to suit everyone.

? The main feature of the Triple Challenge is the 93.6km Individual Multisport Challenge that sees athletes take on a 20km trail run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, a 53km mountain bike race from Camperdown through the valley of a 1000 Hills towards Inanda Dam, and finally a 20km canoe race around Inanda Dam (which includes two portages).

? For those athletes not wanting to canoe there is also the 80.6km Individual Multicross Challenge that follows the same format of the Multisport, but instead of the paddle around Inanda Dam, participants must tackle a final 7km trail run in and around the Msinsi Inanda Dam Reserve.

Teams are also able to enter both these events.

? MTB lovers can take on the Challenge Mountain Bike – a 53km race starting in Camperdown and ending at Inanda Dam.

? The Challenge Trail Run offers athletes two options: 20km from the Polly Shortts Shopping Centre in Pietermaritzburg to Camperdown, or a shorter 10km race.

? The Challenge SUP is a 4km or 8km stand up paddle race that takes athletes in and around the Inanda Dam on flat water, with one portage.

Web: www.triplechallenge.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/triplechallenge
Twitter: @triplechallenge
Race #:- #RaceYourself

It is Ironman South Africa time again and the tenth edition of the race takes place this Sunday, 6 April in Port Elizabeth. As always in the week leading up to race day there is much speculation as to what Mother Nature is going to have in store for theses incredible athletes.

Tri Talk SA this week caught up with weatherman Simon Gear to get a forecast for the weekend and in particular for Sunday.