2009 - 21st Birthday Frosting (Barkly East Reporter - 31 July 2009)

With the Lesotho border road between Mavis Bank and Carlislehoek blocked by deep snow drifts and the Hooggenoeg Ridge section also under snow and ice the organizers had to make crucial decisions leading up to race day. The road to Mavis Bank via Naudes Nek and Cairntoul was also blocked by deep snow and this meant that it was impossible to get vehicles to the usual check point at the top of Mavis Bank.

The result of this was special pre-race briefings on the Friday evening. Participants were cautioned that there could be knee deep river crossings in the Kloppershoek kloof and knee deep snow along the border road, with the check point moved to the Lesotho border road and Carlislehoek T-junction. Some runners expressed disappointment that they would not be traversing Hooggenoeg Ridge, a view most had changed by Saturday afternoon.

The Rhodes Farmers Hall took on a carnival atmosphere on Friday evening as the 300 participants collected their ‘goody bags' and enjoyed the pasta meal prepared by the local community.

Saturday morning brought perfect running weather for the 21st Liberty Health Rhodes Trail Run, a crisp -6°C start temperature and at 7a.m. to the blast of a safety whistle the race got underway. The warmly clad multi-coloured mass of steam shuffled off towards the Bell River, Kloppershoek kloof and an uncertain adventure.

While most of the runners eased into their stride and savored the scenery Trevor Toerien had other plans. He immediately threw down the gauntlet and moved to the front of the field. The river crossings proved challenging for some, but not as challenging as the knee deep snow on the border road.

Race Director Evie Raubenheimer told the Barkly East Reporter "There is a saying ‘careful what you wish for, you might get it'. Snow is one of the reasons runners come to run the Liberty Health Rhodes, but maybe not as much as this. The snow was really the frosting for our 21st birthday cake"

Afterwards race winner Trevor Toerien said "The snow this year was really special. I kept thinking that I wished my kids could have been there in the snow with me."

Trevor Toerien had a lead of 10 minutes at the 29km check point, which he increased on the run through Carlislehoek, finishing back in Rhodes over 20 minutes ahead of the rest of the field. This is the fourth largest winning margin in the 21 year history of the event.

Peter Botha, Chief Executive of Liberty Health, said "This is one of the most challenging endurance races currently held in South Africa. Congratulations to every sportsman and -woman who tackled this challenge today."

At the awards ceremony special appreciation was extended from the organizers to all those at the various feeding stations along the route. Evie paid tribute to Francois & Hanlie Nel who manned a station for the 21st consecutive year. Others who manned stations were the Robinson and de Lauwere families, the ‘Klippies' outdoor club members from St Dominic's Priory High School, Port Elizabeth who overnighted in the Kloppershoek kloof, a very enthusiastic team from Johannesburg attorneys DM Kisch who camped on the mountain, the Hunt family, the Hartwig's, Vasie & Margie Murray, Dave Walker of Walkerbouts, Tony Kietzman and Kobus Buitendag and family.

There were two accidents along the route. Marina van Deventer slipped and broke her ankle. Fortunately some fellow runners helped her until the Medical Rescue team arrived, and American visitor Peter Cross, running his 10th Rhodes took a tumble two kilometers from the finish and cut his head.

"The space blankets we give the runners in their registration packs proved their worth today" said Evie "It is compulsory for them to be carried and today they were used not only to keep Marina warm, but also used to make her splint and as a sledge"

Pretoria's Colin Billau "It was the toughest Rhodes Trail Run I have run, but we all finished with fantastic and rewarding memories that will live with us for a long time.
From an organisational point of view, very little is said about what effort you both put into this race before the time. When the snow was at its thickest and the storms at its worst, you had to mark the course with flags, transverse from Mavis Bank on your own without anybody breaking the snow or making a path for you, but you did it without any hesitation so that we could have a great run.

I just want to thank you both again for all your time and effort you put into this race."

Local runner Billy Mollentze, running his first Liberty Health Rhodes finished in a highly commendable 7:53:01 to take 143th position and Jeanette Steyn running her 6th Rhodes after a four year absence completed the route in 8:09:21 finishing 172nd. There were 293 finishers.

Results
Men :
1 - Trevor Toerien 4:30:50
2 - Cas van Aardene 4:51:24
3 - Mike de Villiers 4:51:27

Ladies :
1 - Erina du Toit 5:40:29
2 - Melanie van Rooyen 5:47:18
3 - Christine Claasen 5:57:48

Men 40+ :
1 - Trevor Toerien 4:30:50
2 - Mike de Villiers 4:51:27
3 - Allan Smith 5:00:09

Ladies 40+ :
1 - Christine Claasen 5:57:48
2 - Rentia Denissen 6:06:07
3 - Nicky Brouwer 6:36:49

Men 50+ :
1 - Kenny McCrindle 5:48:56
2 - Clark Kent 6:40:51
3 - Lauwrie Raubenheimer 6:46:24

Ladies 50+ :
1 - Wendy Fitzmaurice 6:41:27
2 - Glenda Badenhorst 7:27:23
3 - Vauneen Douthwaite 8:18:19

Men 60+ :
1 - Claude Schravensande 7:32:27
2 - Orton Becker 7:34:45
3 - Peter Cross 7:43:18

King of the Kloof : Trevor Toerien
Queen of the Kloof : Erina du Toit