Spectators can bring much enthusiasm to an event, encouraging participants.

With most of our route not accessible to spectators, those who do watch tend to have only a slight passing interest ...

If our spectators do get overly enthusiastic we do have 'crowd control' ...

... well, sort of!

Image: Craig Muller 'Backyard Adventures'

Up front the race is on to reach the Mavis Top Check Point in under 2 hours, and the King and the Queen of the Kloof trophies.

Down the field some are crossing the Kloppershoekspruit for the umpteenth time as Mavis Bank rears up in front. Some will be scrambling up Mavis, slipping, cursing, pausing to look back and admire the view, all the time dreading to hear the wail of the 4½ hour siren which will mark the end of their run.

When that mournful cut-off siren echoes through the Kloppershoek Kloof it sends shivers down the spine of those who have not reached the top. The wail resonates with a wave of relief over those who have been through the Check Point and are battling towards Lesotho View usually against the beastly breeze coming over the Ben MacDhui snowfields which drops the temperature to near freezing or below.

Those who miss the cut-off will unpack their mandatory space blanket to keep body warmth at survival levels for the rather bumpy ride back to the village.

One runner however has the luxury of a warm snuggly fleece blanket while waiting.

The first runner to arrive at the Mavis Top Check Point after the siren receives a specially embroidered dated blanket. A unique one-off.  A much-treasured award for missing out on a finisher’s medal. The ‘cut-off’ blanket has been awarded twelve times. Possibly the toughest, most difficult award to receive, yet one runner has managed to receive the award twice!

The 2009 presentation was made by ‘Waltzing’ Dave Wright of Comrades Marathon fame. Due to thick snow on the border road which made vehicle access to the top of Mavis Bank impossible the Kisch IP Check Point was moved to a spot near the Tiffindell turn off.

Joe Louis said "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no-one wants to die"

Pretty much sums up our cut-off blanket. Everyone would like it, but no-one wants to receive it.

As 21km ‘course best’ times go 1:53 seems somewhat pedestrian. After all, when last was 1:53 not only good enough to be the fastest ever time over 21km, but to have stood as a course 'best' for nearly 30 years?  

Since our inaugural run in 1989 there have been many Kings and Queens of the Kloof. Some have held the front spot to go on and be first back to the village, while others have paid the price for their early lung-bruising triumph through the Kloppershoek Kloof.

Dirkie Moolman blitzed the kloof in 1995 reaching the Mavis Top Check Point in an ice-melting 1:53:00.

Since Rodwell Sims in 1996 no-one has reached ‘Mavis Top’ in under 2 hours. That magical sub 2-hour run through the kloof remains the domain of only four runners.

Jannie le Roux 1:57:15 (1991) #47

Uys Grundling 1:58:30 (1992)

Dirkie Moolmam 1:59:00 (1994) #552

Dirkie Moolman 1:53:00 (1995) #552

Rodwell Sims 1:58:02 (1996) #279

Will anyone in our Class of ’23 run sub-2?

By 9a.m. on 8 July we will know if Mavis has smiled kindly on our 'King or Queen of the Kloof' or if Dirkie's time will remain the 'best' for another year.

Note: The distance from the Start to the Mavis Top Check Point is loosely referred to as 21km. The distance varies slightly from year-to-year and will also depend on how exaggerated the runner zig-zags up Mavis.

Image: Craig Muller | Backyard Adventures

As far as the lumpy bits go Mavis Bank tends to focus the mind.

Seasoned Polar Bears will wisely caution that the Border Road from the Mavis Top Check Point to the Tiffindell road is a decidedly lumpy section not to be taken lightly. Usually aggravated by the ankle twisting track and a brisk (read very chilly!) headwind coming off the Ben MacDhui snowfields.

There are also a few lumps craftily placed in the Carlislehoek valley to keep everyone honest.

The last conversation stopper is only a 2m climb and a mere 300m from the Finish. However, that 2m lump as you pass the Police Station before you reach the home straight is one which has caused many to pause and admire the hillside in front before continuing to the Finish.

That final lump pause

Images: Johan van Staden (Snowflake 865)