‘The Reporter’
12 July 2013 - Vol 127 No 26 (Front Page)
25 th UTi Rhodes Trail Run
He came, he registered, ran and conquered.
After last year’s sleet and snow hit shortened run, that keep to the valley and avoided the hills, questions were asked if Iain Don-Wauchope could retain his UTi Rhodes Trail Run title.
Early morning rain, a cool breeze and an incredibly warm +3°C start temperature greeted the runners, who had been woken at 6am by the traditional pealing of church bells. Running conditions proved to be the most perfect in all 25 years, with no snow, low rivers, warm temperature, spurts of light rain, a slight cool breeze ‘up top’ and the tracks and district road firm underfoot and dustless. The cool breeze ‘up top’ took the wind chill temperature below zero which only served to keep the field moving as briskly as they could along the border road.
Becoming only the eighth runner to record back to back victories Don-Wauchope showed due respect for the legendary Mavis Bank and applied pressure from the border road back to the village. Reaching the Mavis Bank ‘top’ check point 11 minutes outside Dirkie Moolman’s 1995 record he powered through the rest of the course, reaching Hooggenoeg Point in a new best time of 3:08 increasing his lead on his pursuers back to the village.
Reaching Mavis Bank in 2:04:06 Don-Wauchope was followed by Hylton Dunn (2nd in 2011) and Johnny Young (winner in 2008) 6 minutes behind him. Don-Wauchope took total control and crossed under the UTi finish banner in 4:16 setting a new best time over the Hooggenoeg Ridge route. Hylton Dunn finished second (4:33) with Johnny Young third (4:42).
The Ladies race was a ding-dong affair. Su Don-Wauchope and Megan MacKenzie tousled through the kloof with Su cresting Mavis Bank in a new best time of 2:21:56.
An extremely relaxed and fresh looking Megan breasted the top some 5 minutes later. Su Don-Wauchope held her lead along the border road, over Lesotho View, along the Ridge and down the cement section. With about 7km to the finish line Megan passed Su to take the 2013 title in 5th position overall with a new best time of 5:01:12.
Su held on to take 2nd in 5:07:26, also beating the previous best time. Mary-Anne Niewoudt was third in 5:54.
Their time-gap of 6:14 being the closest 1st/2nd finish in the Ladies race in all 25 years.
The first three men had all completed the UTi Rhodes previously, while the first three ladies were all novices.
Forty permanent ‘snowflake’ numbers were awarded,
Barkly’s Sydney Speelman was running joint 1st at the Mavis Bank Farm check point when he failed a kit safety check and sat a 60 minute penalty. Sydney chased down the leaders to finish 10th overall (8th Male) in 5:34:30 some 78 minutes behind the winner. What if? Next year Sydney remember to take your safety kit with you.
Full report in next week’s edition.
