Race views from the trail world
Tsitsikamma Ultra
EASTERN CAPE 23 April
In its eighth year, Platteklip Charity Challenge reached the maximum of 200 athletes: a milestone. They raised just over R1m for the SA Education and Environment Project! AJ Calitz (pictured) summited 11 times. “It was tough as nails as usual and we had about 40 minutes less sunlight than the year I did 12. I recorded my fastest average ascent time ever, but ran out of time for the 12th ascent.
It was amazing to have my wife and baby waiting at the finish!”
On the evening of Friday 22 April, the Garden Route was smacked by vicious winds, with a good dollop of rain: what a way to herald in the first-ever running of the spectacular Tsitsikamma Ultra Trail Run!
In the clearing morning mists of Saturday, 29 athletes left the Big Tree near Storms River for their maiden runs.
Nature’s Valley beckoned the race’s first winner 65km and 7h48min later: Oyster Bay dairy farmer, Izak Van Der Merwe.
Huge respect to Plett local Andrew Damp who, as part of his duties as a mountain rescue sweeper, fell early in the run, breaking rib number eight. Not only did he
