Jeep Team SA is going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2015 as they announce a change in focus to Junior, Under 23 and Elite sports men and women by forming a smaller, more compact squad of 15 world-beating, South African athletes.
Started in 2001 as an adventure racing team of six athletes, Jeep Team SA has become one of the most successful teams of its kind, producing local, national and world champions across eight sports disciplines – Adventure Racing, Mountain Biking, BMX, Surfski, Canoeing, Multisport and Extreme Sport with Trail Running and Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) added to the 2015 portfolio with the explosion of these two sporting codes across South Africa.
Says Max Cluer, co-founder and manager of Jeep Team SA, “Jeep Team SA continues to evolve in 2015 with a whole new look and feel. The core focus will be on showcasing up-and-coming Junior athletes while continuing to mentor and work with the Under 23 athletes and Elite athletes at the top of their game while teaching them the business of sport, media, sponsorships and relationships.
“We’ve re-signed a new three-year contract with our Title Partners Jeep Apparel SA and Jeep Vehicles – ensuring incredible support and security in the years ahead for Jeep Team SA. Jeep has been supporting us now for nearly 14 years, which is nearly unheard of in modern day sponsorships. We are fortunate to have such an incredible relationship with them where they understand our passion and vision for the team and they support us 100%.”
2014 in review:
In 2014, the Team achieved success across all disciplines. Highlights include Jeep Team’s Hank McGregor rewriting the history books in September by becoming the first South African paddler to win both K1 and K2 gold medals at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in the United States.
Barry Lewin continues to impress with his vast experience and media presence in the world of paddling with his core focus on surfski both locally and internationally. He continues to travel around the world on his quest to document and compete in the sport that he loves so much while still remaining competitive in the elite bunch.
Jeep Team’s rising multisport star, Mikaela Jonsson (17), won the KZN Triathlon Championships in the Junior category, finished on the podium at both the ATU Cross Tri and SA Triathlon Championships, and represented South Africa at the ITU Cross Tri World Champs in Germany.
Jeep Team mountain biker, Matthew Beers (20), was crowned overall U23 winner of the MTN National MTB Series, with Pierre Smith (22) finishing second. Seventeen-year-old Julian Jessop is the 2014 SA Junior MTB Marathon Champion and 2014 Junior SA Cup Series winner in the competitive cross-country discipline, while his younger brother, Tom Jessop, is currently SA’s Youth Marathon champion. Gregg Brown represented South Africa at the UCI MTB World Championships in Hafjel, Norway, while Dylan Rebello took part in 2 UCI MTB World Cup Races in Germany and the Czech Republic.
In BMX, Jeep Team’s youngest athlete, Alex Dolman (15), was named Gauteng’s BMX Provincial Champion for 2014, won both the South African and All African Continental Championships and represented South Africa at the UCI BMX World Championships in Rotterdam, Holland.
Jeep Team CSI
The team continues their support of Qhubeka and remains firm on their stance of zero tolerance in sport surrounding doping and drugs in sport with their allegiance to Bike Pure.
Qhubeka is a South African NPO that helps disadvantaged communities “move forward and progress” by giving them bicycles in return for work done to improve communities, the environment or academic results. Since 2005, the NPO has distributed 51 000 bikes to people across South Africa.
Bike Pure is a global NPO that promotes honest and ethical cycling. The organisation has become the independent voice for honest, ethical cycling on a global scale, sending a powerful message that athletes don’t have to resort to taking illegal performance-enhancing drugs to compete.
Jeep Team “Ghost Athlete” Program
In 2015 a “Ghost Athlete” Program will also be introduced into the Jeep Team stable whereby elite athletes, celebrities or specialist athletes will be brought into the team for a short period of time under ring-fenced terms and conditions. The first athlete to fill this position in 2015 is the talented actress, DJ and athlete, Hlubi Mboya, who will be representing the team in the Jeep Warrior Race Series.
The seven new athletes on Jeep Team SA are:
Michael Lord, Multisport
Dominique D’Oliveira, OCR and Trail Running
Claudia Richard, OCR and Trail Running
Thomas van Tonder, OCR and Trail Running
Jay Jay Deysel, OCR and Trail Running
Thinus Redelinghys, MTB Marathon
Kyle Dodd, BMX
The seven returning athletes are:
Dylan Rebello, MTB Cross-country and Marathon
Pierre Smith, MTB Marathon
Gregg Brown, MTB Downhill
Alex Dolman, BMX
Mikaela Jonsson, Multisport and Trail Running
Barry Lewin, Surfski
Hank McGregor, Surfski and Canoeing
“Ghost Athlete”
Hlubi Mboya, OCR
Have a look at the following platforms to keep up to date with the Jeep Team SA’s antics in 2015.
Website: www.jeepteam.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeepteamsa
Twitter: @jeepteamsa
Instagram: JeepTeamSA
IainDon-Wauchope has won the 2014 Salomon Skyrun powered by Powertraveller in a new course record of 12:08.
Don-Wauchope triumphed over the strongest international field ever, in the iconic mountain challenge over an unmarked 100-odd kilometre route through the alpine region of the north-Eastern Cape. Canadian Gary Robbins –current course record holder for Hurt 100 in Hawaii–finishing second in a time of 13:47 with South African Jock Green rounding out the podium in 14:12:53, after out-sprinting Rhodes local Hylton Dunn.
“It was a tough day,”commented a visibly exhausted Don-Wauchopeat Wartrail Country Club after his win. “I really had to dig deep and just focus on myself the whole way,”he said.
Don-Wauchope, who had glandular fever less than two weeks prior, found himself in the chasing bunch on the first climb. “I wasn’t 100%,”he says. “I could feel it on the first climb and I was a bit back, but then when we left the first checkpoint I saw most of the international guys couldn’t run the tufty grass too confidently so I just went at my own pace and quite soon opened up a bit of a gap.”
That ‘bit of a gap’would see him lead all the way to the finish. “I’m very surprised that no-one came from behind and caught and passed me,”he commented. “I struggled with really bad headaches and kept getting stones in my shoes…by the time I got to Balloch Wall (the halfway mark) I was ready to bail,”he said.
“It was Mike de Haast (race director for Pure Adventures) who told me I was on 12-hour pace and urged me to keep going. So I pulled myself out of the transition and I was so slow up the wall. It was a real grovel up there.”
At around 75 kilometres in Don-Wauchopegot the proverbial ‘second wind’and started pushing the pace. “I could go a lot faster because it there were good roads, it was relatively flat and some downhills, but I actually ended up going too fast there and tore my left calf and had to ease up and hobble along. I’m very stoked with the win,”he concluded.
Landie Greyling won the ladies race in a time of 16:12 and finished seventh overall.
Despite the good running conditions and her largely unchallenged run, Greyling echoed Don-Wauchope’s sentiments about it being a tough day out. “The first thing I thought when I crossed the finish line was that I’m just happy to be alive and in one piece,”said Greyling shortly after. “It was really hard day for me out there. I was trying for the 14:30 record and I was on par until Balloch, but on the other side of the wall I basically just started feeling not so great, but very happy with the win and to close the year off with a highlight is really awesome,”she said.
“I’ve had a tough year so I’m quite chuffed that it is actually over now and that I can take a break from racing,”concluded Greyling.
Neither Greyling nor Don-Wauchopeclaimed the $10 000 incentive, on offer for the first male who goes under 12 hours and first women under 14). “Sub 12, is definitely achievable,”Don-Wauchopesaid, confirming that he would definitely be back to challenge for it in 2015. “I made so many bad route choices and stopped four times to empty my shoes of stones. And, I lost around 20-minutes up-and-down Balloch. So I think if I’m 100% fit and healthy and better prepared in terms of the route –do a bit of scouting –then it's definitely achievable.”
Skyrun Lite, over 65-kilometres was won by Nico Schoeman in 9:59. Karoline Hanks comes in second overall and was first lady in 11:03 This year for the first time the Lite also finished at Wartrail Country Club.
To make sure that everybody gets to read SA's largest running magazine, Modern Athlete is now available in stores across the country for just R29.90!
You will be able to buy your copy of Modern Athlete Magazine at stores like Sportsmans Warehouse, Exclusive Books as well as a host of independent grocers and various filling stations.
As always the magazine will also be available for free at partner events and clubs, or in the digital format online by subscribing to our digi-mag.
Barefoot runner Diana-Lebo Phalula is the new Spar Grand Prix champion, after finishing the five Women’s 10km Challenge races with a total of 110 points.
Phalula finished in fifth position in the Joburg race at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday, but her outstanding performances in the first two races of the year, in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, which she won in record time, gave her a head start in the race to win the keys to a Nissan Micra. Despite a hamstring injury, she finished in fourth place in Durban and Pretoria, and maintained her lead over the chasing pack.
Phalula’s twin sister Lebogang made the 2014 series something of a family affair, winning the Durban and Joburg races. However, a poor start to the year, when she finished 17th in the opening race in Cape Town meant that she was unable to catch up with her sister. She finished in fourth position, with 77 points.
Diana-Lebo has said she will share the car with her sister.
“We are twins and we share everything,” she said.
Lebogang agreed that they would share, and said she would use her prize money from the Joburg race to pay for petrol and insurance for the new car.
“And next year, I’m going to win the car,” she said, smiling.
Rene Kalmer, three times winner of the Grand Prix finished second on the 2014 Grand Prix table, with 81 points, proving the value of consistency. Although it was the first time for a number of years that she failed to win a race, her top 10 finishes in all five races ensured she earned enough points to win a cheque for R30 000.
Third place went to last year’s Grand Prix winner, Mapaseka Makhanya, who had a much quieter year than her stellar year in 2013, when she recorded triumph after triumph on road and track. Like Kalmer, she proved the value of consistency, with top 10 finishes in all five races. In fact, the difference between Makhanya and Kalmer came down to Kalmer having finished second in Port Elizabeth and third in Durban, while Makhanya’s best position was third in Port Elizabeth. She earned 78 Grand Prix points – three less than Kalmer, and just one more than Lebogang Phalula.
Boxer clinched the club competition, ending years of dominance by Nedbank. Boxer finished with 248 points, followed by Transnet, with 158. Maxed Elite came third, with 111, and Nedbank fourth, with 82.
The first Marloth Mountain Challenge (MMC) took place in Swellendam this weekend in trying conditions as the Swellendam Mountains threw everything they could at participants.
It was a dramatic start to what is sure to become one of the biggest races on the South African trail calendar and runners had to contend with waves of rain, strong winds, cold conditions and the odd hail storm on the mountain.
However, despite the conditions (or maybe because of it) this is a run that won’t be forgotten for a long time. Dubbed by many who took part as the toughest run they’ve ever done, the MMC is here to stay and one can only hope that the beautiful views from the top of the mountain will actually be visible come 2015.
Dom Wills showed his class as he finished in a time of 7:17:38 while Monique du managed to hold on to the lead and crossed the line first in a time of 9:39:56.
The relay was dominated by the men from Team Contego as they finished in a time of 6:45:38, more than an hour ahead of the second placed team. The mixed team category was taken by Team Do or Die in a time of 8:02:27, while the ladies team category was won by the Contego in a time of 8:09:27.
Mountain Challenge Series results
Wills’ victory at the MMC means he also wrapped up the first Mountain Challenge Series as he finished seventh at the Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge and second at the Helderberg Mountain Challenge.
Vanessa Fisher took the ladies’ title as she made her way home in third position while the Mountain Challenge Series Lite titles were taken by Edward Lambert and Marié Wessels.
A big thank you to the town of Swellendam, Cape Nature and the respective farmers for their awesome support in getting this event of the ground. And a massive congratulations to all the runners who took on the Challenge and came out on top. We’re super excited for next year’s Mountain Challenge Series and especially to return to Swellendam for the second MMC!
It was a first for Modern Athlete on Sunday, 28 September when South Africa’s Rene Kalmer lined up in her blue branded kit to represent South Africa’s largest running publication at the 41st BMW Berlin Marathon. In a strong women’s field, Kalmer clocked an impressive 2:29:27 in the German capital, crossing the line in 9th position. She also grabbed an emphatic PB, cutting a good 32 seconds off her three-year best. “I’m super happy! I felt really good throughout but battled over the last 6km,” she said, “but a PB is a PB!”
Tirfi Tsegaye won the women’s title in 2:20:18, with Ethopian Feyse Tadese close behind in 2:20:27. American Shalane Flanagan was third in 2:21:14.
To cap it all off, the world also saw a new world marathon record set by Dennis Kimetto in the men’s race with a 2:02:57 finish – the first ever sub 2:03 time in a marathon! Again, the Berlin Marathon can boast to be the world’s fastest course.
Elite runners are gearing up in preparation for the final leg of the SPAR women’s 10km Challenge series at the Wanderers Club on Sunday October 12th.
Barefoot runner Diana-Lebo Phalula, who is virtually assured of winning the SPAR Grand Prix, started training again earlier this week after a break to recover from a hamstring injury. She won the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth legs of the race in record time, and top four finishes in Durban and Pretoria earned her an almost unbeatable lead of 28 points over her nearest rival, Rene Kalmer.
Phalula’s twin sister, Lebogang, who won the Durban race and finished third in Pretoria, said that she was aiming to finish second on the Grand Prix log.
“Lebo can win the car this year, but I also need a car, and I’ll be aiming to win the car next year,” said Lebogang.
“In the meantime, I want to finish second on the log and win the R30 000 prize.”
Lebogang Phalula won the Cape Town Marathon 10km race on Sunday in 33.22 minutes, and she travels to the Netherlands later this week to run in a 10km race in Amsterdam.
“I’m quite happy with my form. I’m doing well, but I’m not happy with my times. I wanted to run 32 minutes, and I haven’t achieved that yet, but that is my aim for next year. And next year, I will be going all out to win the car in the SPAR Grand Prix.”
She is not the only runner who will be heading for Europe this week. Rene Kalmer is running the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, on what has been described as the world’s fastest marathon course. Kalmer has won the SPAR Grand Prix three times, and was the first runner to win the prize of a Nissan Micra.
Irvette van Zyl, who won the Pretoria Challenge in record time, has been in the form of her life recently, after recovering from serious injury. On August 9, she smashed her personal best by half a minute to win the Totalsports Women’s race in Stellenbosch in 32.20 minutes, equaling Zola Budd’s personal best for the third fastest time by a South African woman. Van Zyl followed up her victory in the Pretoria race by winning the Nelson Mandela Marathon near Pietermaritzburg in glorious fashion the very next day, finishing 19 minutes ahead of her nearest rival.
However, Van Zyl, who had been expected to shine in the Cape Town marathon last Sunday, had to drop out of the race because of a knee injury. It is not clear at this stage if she will be fit to run in the final Challenge race, but if she is fully fit, she could well challenge for second place on the Grand Prix log.
Another contender is last year’s winner, Mapaseka Makhanya, who has not been able to match the heights she achieved in 2013. But she has a strong competitive streak and can never be ruled out.
It is a sobering thought that about one in nine women in South Africa are likely to suffer breast cancer at some stage in their lives. It is no respecter of boundaries, and affects women of all races and classes.
But the good news is that breast cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer, and definitely no longer a death sentence. Treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, it involves either the removal of the lump or a complete mastectomy.
It can be a traumatic experience, especially if the treatment involves a mastectomy, but that is where Reach for Recovery comes in. Reach for Recovery is a support group for breast cancer patients, providing them with emotional and physical support. All the counsellors are trained breast cancer survivors, who are able to understand the feelings of the newly-diagnosed patient.
“Breast cancer is one of the better cancers,” said Beulah Jankelowitz, Chairperson of the Johannesburg branch of Reach for Recovery.
“It is treatable and it is also reasonably easy to detect. The important thing is not to ignore anything. If you find a lump, you must have it examined. Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but have it checked out anyway. Don’t just close your eyes and think it will go away. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better your chances of recovery.” She said that Reach for Recovery counsellors visit patients either at home or in hospital to talk to them and to provide them with support.
“We explain what is going to happen, and what they can expect. We also provide pretty floral bags for them to carry their drains, and very soft cushions to put under their arms so they can be more comfortable.
“While we can’t provide medical advice, we are also available to answer questions both during and after their treatment,” she said. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Reach for Recovery is once again the charity associated with the very popular Spar Women’s 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run at the Wanderers on Sunday October 12.
A number of Reach for Recovery members will be taking part in the race. They are easily identified by their distinctive pink t-shirts and by their friendly smiles. They also stand out because, wherever they are, they are surrounded by laughter. They are very positive women who know all about the terror of being diagnosed with breast cancer, but they will also tell you how they came through it with the support of other women who had been there as well.
So put on those tekkies and start preparing to take the Challenge and help this very worthwhile group. Who knows, you may need their support someday. As an added incentive, the first 15 000 pre-entries will receive a free T-shirt, and the first 15 000 to finish will be given a medal and a goodie-bag. There are also many fabulous prizes, including a lucky draw for a brand new Nissan Micra.
Stewart Chaperon and Olivia Read are the new champions of the Wildcoast Wildrun™ – the popular three day 112km stage race from Kei Mouth to Hole-in-the-Wall on the Wild Coast.
Chaperon was made to work hard for his title and chased throughout by Jacques Mouton from George and twin brothers, Andrew and Steven Erasmus from KwaZulu-Natal. These four runners pushed each other from the get-go, never letting up the pressure. Chaperon lead the pack through the checkpoint on day 1 but was overtaken by Mouton in the final stretch to win the stage by two minutes with the Erasmus brothers about 20 minutes behind after a few navigational errors. The brothers ran together on day 2 and won by 12 minutes to set up a tight race on the final day. Chaperon started day 3 with a meagre four minute overall lead and had to work hard to keep up with second-placed Andrew Erasmus but he managed to stick it out and crossed the finish line with Andrew to claim the overall title of Wildrun™ champion.
In the ladies’ race Olivia Read, a local from Port Elizabeth, never gave any other lady a sniff of victory. Read ran with the defending ladies champion, Sylvie Scherzinger in the first half of day 1 but pulled away later in the day to win the stage by a little more than 20 minutes. Scherzinger, who was struggling with a knee injury this year, could not make up this gap and Read increased her lead on days 2 and 3 to finish as champion, more than an hour in front of Scherzinger.
All in all, it was yet another truly successful Wildrun™ and all runners enjoyed the three day challenge in this majestic part of the world. This week the second departure will take off from Kei Mouth on Thursday for the more social Journey and another unforgettable experience for all participants.
One of South Africa’s favourite and original stage trail races, the Wildcoast Wildrun™ is set to kick off on Thursday from Kei Mouth in the Eastern Cape.
Participants will arrive at Kei Mouth today before starting their run tomorrow morning after crossing the Kei River on an iconic ferry ride. Taking place over three days, runners are set the task to run 112km from south to north, crossing several rivers along the way, through some of the most spectacular scenery in South Africa. The finish at the beautiful Hole-in-the-Wall after three days of running is a fitting end to what is an unforgettable three days of wilderness running.
A total of 112km and over 2000m of vertical ascent means this run isn’t a walk in the park but the memories created make it an experience no trail runner should miss out on.
On the racing front it is in open field for the taking in the men’s field while the ladies champion from 2013 is returning to defend her title. Sylvie Scherzinger set the fastest time for day 3 at last year’s race and will hope to continue to improve and break some more records this year.
Stay tuned for daily reports and photos on the Wildrun™ website at www.wildrun.com.
