The inaugural Sterling Light Vodacom Big 5 MTB Challenge held on Saturday, 30 July, in South Africa’s oldest game reserve, iMfolozi, was a resounding success. A total of 138 entrants finished the challenging 55km course in the first event of its kind held in a KZN Wildlife Reserve.
The winner, Gary Behn, crossed the finish line in an unbelievable time of 2:46:46, beating second place Ross Levin by over 15 minutes (3:01:52). Max Cluer of Team Jeep followed in 3rd place in 3:07:25.
First lady home was Sue Erskine, in a time of 3:12:14 followed over an hour later by Crystal de Klerk (4:31:20) and Jane Leppan (4:35:54).
Cyclists reported sightings of impala, water buck, nyala, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and warthog. The even culminated in a ‘wild braai’ and a steady supply of Sterling Light Lagers on Saturday evening.
Event sponsors, Sterling Light Lager and Vodacom, helped make the iMfolozi MTB Challenge a reality. Whilst the event is a true Mountain Biking Challenge, its beneficiary is the Wildlands Conservation Trust and entrants have to date raised in excess of R42,000, with two weeks still to go before the close of fund raising. Our grateful thanks to all sponsors and participants.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)