Between the 22nd – 24th of February 220 energetic trail runners took part in a unique challenge in and around the Karkloof Nature Reserve, known as the Bonitas Sunday Tribune Three Cranes Challenge. The 3 day challenge is not for the faint hearted with a tough, well planned 104km trail mapped out by the Wild Series team, and the fact that only 178 of the participants completed all 3 days is testimony to this.
The event was won by Eric Ngubane (with an impressive lead) and Kerry Koen respectively in the men and women categories in overall times of 8 hours 47 minutes for Eric and 11 hours 1 minute for Kerry.
Throughout the event, runners were praising the professional manner in which the event was run, and the amazing routes selected for them to traverse, despite some frustration from participants on the last day of the challenge when they had to find their way through heavy mist along the route. But once the mist cleared the breath-taking views were revealed and it was well worth the wait. Some participants even commented on the fact that they spotted some Wattled Crane during the challenge.
The Three Cranes Challenge upholds the philosophy of the Wild Series events by raising much needed funds for conservation work in the area. “Funds raised through the Three Cranes Challenge go towards supporting the work of the Karkloof Conservancy, including the engagements with many of the landowners to encourage them to secure their land through participation in the Biodiversity Stewardship programme,” comments Kevin McCann, Stewardship Strategic Manager at Wildlands. “In addition, it also supports the management activities of the Karkloof Nature Reverse, through which the participants run. The improved management of the Karkloof Nature Reserve will also continue to support the critically important Wattled Crane breeding population on the reserve.”
“We do not have final figures as yet but it looks like we have raised over R150 000 for conservation in the Karkloof area through the Three Cranes Challenge this year,” says Heidi Carter-Brown, who runs the Wild Series events for the Wildlands Conservation Trust.
“We could not run events such as these if it wasn’t for our sponsors’ contributions, namely Bonitas Medical Fund, Sunday Tribune, Powerade and the ever accommodating Karkloof Conservancy,” comments Heidi. “The next challenge is the Bonitas Sunday Tribune Giants Castle Mountain Bike Challenge. This is an epic 75km one day mountain bike challenge which takes place at Giants Castle in the Central Drakensberg Mountains,” concludes Heidi.
If you would like more information regarding the Wildlands Wild Series events please emailheidim@localhost/import-data-post or visit www.localhost/import-data-post and click on the Wild Series tab.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)