12 September 2009
"There is no path, there are no flags; there are lots of animal tracks down the hill; choose one and make your way down to the clearly defined path at the bottom of the hill. Go carefully, it is extremely slippery."
The route proved to live up to it's pre-race hype and the pre-race briefing; being rugged, harsh underfoot, challenging, amazingly scenic with spectacular fynbos in bloom, and forcing runners to think and choose suitable animal paths to come down the hillside. Not for the fainthearted. Seems that those who are not averse to a few thorn strikes and scratches will be back!
The unspoilt Baviaanskloof proved a perfect setting for South Africa's newest trail run.
Thanks to Eastern Cape Parks, our hosts, for affording all of us the privilege of experiencing this special area, and to Liberty Health for their support and contribution to the event.
Liberty Health's commitment to environmentally aware activities, such as the Baviaanskloof Trail Run (and the Rhodes Trail Run), creates a platform for trail runners. We are most appreciative of their support.
As a first time run the route caught everyone somewhat by surprise and, as with any activity, some coped better on the day than others. Some may have been temporarily confused in the spekboom as you found out that any path down was the correct one, no-one was lost, no-one took a ‘short-cut' - all routes were correct - path selection was up to each runner.
Congratulations to all of you - really nice to have everyone finish the inaugural Liberty Health Baviaanskloof Trail Run.
We appreciate those who stayed for prize-giving; our last finisher, Gavin, started with a knee injury and battled gamely, and methodically, over the entire route linking up with the Sweep Team towards the end and really earned his finisher's medal.
Darrell's comment "Most participants finished with numerous scratches from the thorn bushes and one received 11 stitches to his leg having been ‘attacked' by a common nocturnal Baviaans brown slip-rock - it is well recorded that the nocturnal slip-rocks get rather aggressive if woken during daylight hours! Once on the endangered list, herds of the Baviaans brown slip-rocks were recorded by runners. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery Ivan from all of us."
Thanks to our Event Partners-
Liberty Health
Eastern Cape Parks
UTi Sun Couriers
Distell
Dis-Chem
Alan Ainslie Wildlife Gallery
Drifters Adventure Centre (Sandton City)
Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve Honorary Conservators
Warren and SanMari were superb gracious winners, and have set the bench mark. Both will receive ‘wild card' entries to the 2010 run as defending champions.
Some of your comments (others have been posted on the site
http://www.baviaansrun.za.net/looking-back/runners-comments/43-2009.html )
Very experienced trail runner Mike Webb "most beautiful of all the single day trail runs I have done, and the toughest single day route"
Gavin Sacks "You did your stuff in attempting to condition us for a tough race."
Emil Hougaard "Then.....that downhill at the end....you know.... everyone talked about it after the event, but not many actually complained. To me it was quite 'hectic' but it made the event unique & who does not enjoy showing off a few battle scars!!!! I also learned something there.... to pay more attention at race briefings!! In hindsight it was very clear what we had to do down that hill, please do not omit it from next years' run."
Last man home, Gavin Mohammed summed it up "I enjoyed the route and the last 4km's made it an even more memorable event. A trail run should always challenge a runner in more ways than just distance."
Keep your trail shoes dirty; see you next year in the Baviaanskloof.
Evie
Race Director
Liberty Health Baviaanskloof Trail Run 17 September 2009
Liberty Health is immensely proud to be associated with the inaugural Baviaanskloof Trail Run.
As you know this is a unique and challenging endurance race which enables athletes with remarkable talent and sheer dedication to run in almost isolation with nature. Therefore, a special word of congratulations to every sportsman and -woman who tackled this challenge today.
The fact that you are each a serious athlete is the very reason why you are partaking in this event. That is what makes the Baviaanskloof Trail Run such a perfect fit with Liberty Health's focus: we are equally serious about both healthcare and the environment.
The Spekboom you ran through is an incredible plant and plays a major role in looking after our environment. We hope that you look after and enjoy the Spekboom plant you received on completing today's run.
At Liberty Health, the focus is on a holistic approach to healthcare. Liberty Health encourages everyone to own your health on a number of levels, including emotional, physical and practical. On a practical level, Liberty offers a complete wealth management package: medical cover, life and risk insurance and more.
As the main sponsor, this year a number of entries were made available Liberty Health to award to deserving athletes. A particular word of congratulations to Lance and John; Your willingness and determination has made Liberty proud.
Your route today was in a World Heritage Site wilderness area that is closed to the public. A run with legends in the rugged beauty of the Baviaanskloof. Despite the physical challenges of today I hope that you have taken a moment to appreciate the natural surroundings as well.
Peter Botha
CEO of Liberty Health
| Surname | First Name | No |
Age | Ladies | Time |
|
| 1 | PETTERSON | Warren | 51 | 41 | 3:16:28 |
|
| 2 | RUST | Leo | 15 | 37 | 4:03:56 | |
| 3 | ADAMS | Ian | 16 | 37 | 4:04:47 | |
| 4 | MULLER | Christo | 24 | 41 | 4:05:00 | |
| 5 | WILLEMSE | André | 6 | 51 | 4:38:39 | |
| 6 | WOITHE | SanMari | 39 | 40 | L | 4:39:06 |
| 7 | HOUGAARD | Emil | 43 | 45 | 4:39:06 | |
| 8 | WYNNE | Lance | 56 | 37 | 4:48:21 | |
| 9 | WEBB | Michael | 49 | 40 | 4:48:21 | |
| 10 | COCKCROFT | Nikki |
34 | 30 | L | 4:54:23 |
| 11 | GEDYE | Chris | 53 | 46 | 4:54:23 | |
| 12 | MARRIOTT | Peter | 14 | 42 | 4:56:46 | |
| 13 | HATTON | Kylie | 8 | 31 | L | 5:06:28 |
| 14 | STEEL | Roger | 9 | 32 | 5:06:28 | |
| 15 | BURGER | Bennie | 35 | 56 | 5:12:17 | |
| 16 | OLIVIER | Johann | 60 | 61 | 5:13:00 | |
| 17 | FOURIE | Dawid | 2 | 43 | 5:25:50 | |
| 18 | KRIGE | Kerryn | 69 | 34 | L | 5:28:21 |
| 19 | STRUWIG | Franzt | 59 | 52 | 5:29:00 | |
| 20 | MILBERT | Siegfried | 30 | 49 | 5:46:59 | |
| 21 | NORTH | Daryl | 7 | 32 | 5:48:25 | |
| 22 | BOOTH | Rodney | 28 | 31 | 5:48:30 | |
| 23 | DELPORT | Sean | 31 | 43 | 5:48:33 | |
| 24 | DOYLE | Chris | 38 | 36 | 5:48:33 | |
| 25 | CLAASEN |
Christine | 54 | 45 | L | 5:49:35 |
| 26 | VOSLOO | Gerhard | 1 | 50 | 5:49:40 | |
| 27 | KLOPPER | Jaco | 17 | 46 | 5:51:16 | |
| 28 | MEREDITH | Guy | 13 | 49 | 5:51:28 | |
| 29 | FORSTER | Laura | 52 | 48 | L | 5:51:34 |
| 30 | MILLS | David | 48 | 48 | 5:53:04 | |
| 31 | REID | James | 4 | 49 | 5:53:00 | |
| 32 | JOHNSON | Paul | 42 | 42 | 5:53:29 | |
| 33 | FOURIE | Elna | 3 | 38 | L | 5:53:42 |
| 34 | VAN ECK | Mary | 58 | 53 | L | 5:53:44 |
| 35 | VAN ECK | Hennie | 57 | 53 | 5:53:44 | |
| 36 | HILL | Henry | 33 | 52 | 5:53:45 | |
| 37 | YELD | John | 29 | 59 | 5:53:47 | |
| 38 | SACKS | Gavin | 36 | 42 | 5:54:10 | |
| 39 | HISLOP | John | 55 | 37 | 6:00:29 | |
| 40 | HOLTON |
Pam | 20 | 50 | L | 6:08:35 |
| 41 | HOLTON |
Danny | 21 | 54 | 6:08:35 | |
| 42 | COCKCROFT | Ivan | 5 | 58 | 6:15:04 | |
| 43 | WEERS | Dickie | 18 | 61 | 6:31:38 | |
| 44 | LOUW | Nic | 44 | 56 | 6:32:25 | |
| 45 | GULYAS | Riana | 32 | 45 | L | 6:39:30 |
| 46 | KIETAS | Klaas | 61 | 6:42:19 | ||
| 47 | VAN BLERCK | Laurence | 19 | 54 | 6:52:13 | |
| 48 | MULLER | Willem | 26 | 42 | 6:52:53 | |
| 49 | JOHNSTON | Frankie | 27 | 48 | L | 6:52:53 |
| 50 | PRINCE | Koos | 62 | 6:54:57 | ||
| 51 | MYLREA | Jonathan | 25 | 51 | 6:54:57 | |
| 52 | KIRKMAN | Sue | 23 | 50 | L | 6:55:53 |
| 53 | KIRKMAN | William | 22 | 54 | 6:55:53 | |
| 54 | VAN DEN BERG | Ernst | 47 | 50 | 7:01:43 | |
| 55 | MULLER | Courtney | 46 | 30 | 7:32:13 | |
| 56 | MOHAMMED | Gavin | 40 | 46 | 8:10:12 | |
| 57 | HATTINGH | Peter | 66 (Sweep) | 51 | 8:10:30 | |
| 58 | RAUBENHEIMER | Greg | 68 (Sweep) | 22 | 8:10:30 | |
| 59 | ROBERTSON | David | 67 (Sweep) | 52 | 8:10:30 |