Taming the Giant 2009

In its thirteenth year the legendary 75km Giants Castle Mountain Bike Challenge was anything but a bad year. A passionate young rider clinched the title, a new trail run was introduced to the weekend, heart-attack survivor from last year’s event Gavin Macintosh got back on his bike and made it to the finish full of life and with energy to spare and the 400 riders raised R280 000 for conservation!

With the likes of Roan Exelby and Brandon Stewart not making it to this years event it made way for the young talent to make their way to the front. Eighteen year old John-Michael du Preez from Johannesburg clinched the title in a time of 03:45 and his team-mate and friend Stuart Fitzpatrick (also eighteen) came in ten minutes after him. Slotting in between the two was Mathew Goetsch four minutes behind the leader.

This is du Preez’s third official Giants. He was aiming for a top five finish but was ecstatic with his win. “I absolutely love this event, it’s the highlight of my cycling year… the only event that really challenges me. I think my mom was more shocked than I was though”. Du Preez had his whole family there to support him. Fitting for his first win seeing it was his father’s participation in the event years ago that sparked John-Michael’s love for it.

In the ladies race ‘Queen of Giants Castle’ Tania Raats won for the 7th time in a time of 04:36 of followed by Natalie Unstead and Glynis Pretorius. ‘This is the last time I’m going to race this event’, Raats said, ‘next year I’m just going to enjoy it.’

The inaugural Giants Castle Two Passes Trail Run was introduced on the Saturday. A challenging 28km run up Bannerman’s Pass. All runners start at Giants Castle camp, making their way, mostly uphill, to Bannermans Pass where they need to ascent 1 000m in 2km’s to get to the top. Once at the top runners traverse across the top to Langibilele Pass and start making their way back to the camp. The run is extremely technical with uneven surfaces, grass, rocks but so rewarding with some of the most spectacular views you will ever come across. Wild Series Manager Heidi Mocke was one of the first three people to complete both events in the weekend. “Both events are extremely challenging and tough, but at the same time the views and the time spent alone in the mountains is so rewarding! Raising R280 000 for conservation over this weekend far exceed the blisters and cramps, and I’ll definitely be back next year” she said.

There is a family spirit at Giants that without a doubt makes this one of the most special events on the mountain-biking calendar. Heart-attack survivor Gavin Macintosh was asked to speak at prize-giving and this is what he spoke of in his thanks for the support he received after last year’s incident. The CPR administered by other riders and spectators together with the top-class medical support he received saved his life.

‘Giants’ as the event is now known, was started thirteen years ago to raise funds for the then KZN Conservation Trust. The Trust then merged with the Wildlands Trust, to form The Wildlands Conservation Trust. The funds are used to support local conservation projects in the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Reserve as well as various projects of the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

Top left: The start of the 2009 Bonitas Sunday Tribune Giants Castle Challenge
Picture: Stewart Nolan

Centre top: King of the Giant for 2009, 18-year old Michael du Preez with from left: Bonitas Medical Fund’s Nozipho Ngwazi, Wildlands Conservation Trust CEO, Dr Andrew Venter and Special Events Manager KZN Region for Powerade, Fred Hart.

Bottom: A rider tackles the Stihl Water Crossing before the 8km climb to the finish.

Picture: Stewart Nolan