'The Reporter'
5 July 2013
Cold day expected but sizzling up front
Pipes have been bursting in and around Barkly East, plumber’s weather, which also heralds the 25th UTi Rhodes Trail Run.
All the runners heading for Rhodes this week are hoping for cold weather, if not snow and sleet falling on race day as was the case last year then at least cold and snow on the route.
While the day might be cold it will certainly not be cold at the sharp end of the run with a number of runners in with a realistic chance of taking the ‘King of the Kloof’ honour and overall title of this prestigious event.
Last year’s winner who tamed the cold, sleet and snow, Iain Don-Wauchope, will be out to retain his title. Johnny Young who won Rhodes in 2008 will be challenging for a second win, on the back of his very strong performance at the Comrades last month.
Barkly East’s Sydney Speelman will be running his third Rhodes and will not only receive a well-earned ‘Snowflake’ permanent number on completion of the run but is eyeing the top spot on the podium. Sydney has improved each time he has run Rhodes, finishing 4th in 2006 and 3rd in 2011. Possibly first in 2013? We certainly hope so and wish Sydney well.
Others in with a shout for the overall gold medal are Hylton Dunn and Grant Wolff who have each won the Baviaanskloof Trail Run, Jacques Mouton, Cornel de Jongh fresh from a third in a 100km trail run, Andre Visser from Pretoria and Ockie de Kock who was third last year.
In the ladies race Vanessa Bowman will be defending the title she won in that extreme run last year. Su Don-Wauchope, SanMari Woithe and Ebeth Enslin who was third in 2012 will be challenging Vanessa for the spoils.
So while many of the visitors will be taking photographs, capturing memories, it promises to be a battle royal up front with a fascinating race in store.
