A wild ride for a good cause

MOUNTAIN bikers went head-to-head with nature on Saturday as they took on some of the province’s toughest terrain in the annual iMfolozi MTB Challenge.

Celebrating its tenth year, the Old Mutual Radox iMfolozi MTB Challenge was as popular as ever, attracting 350 entries, the event’s limit.

Starting near Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park’s (HiP) Cengeni Gate, the cyclists set off in stages to conquer 55km of gruelling terrain through the park’s world-renowned wilderness area.

The route, which includes soft, sandy patches, river crossings, moderate downhills and steep sections with loose rock, was heralded by the cyclists as tough, ungroomed terrain, but a unique experience.

The event is one of six falling under Wildlands Conservation Trust’s Wild Series.

Winner Michael Trusler crossed the finish line in a time of three hours, four minutes and said, ‘The tough, wild terrain forces you to choose your own lines which makes it all the more enjoyable and exciting’.

A herd of elephants was in the vicinity, which forced Honorary Officers to hold up the front runners for 20 minutes as they waited for the herd to move off.

Impala, zebra, white rhino and fresh lion tracks were there for all to see.

Andrew Escott-Watson, an advocate from Westville riding for Old Mutual, completed the iMfolozi Challenge for the seventh consecutive year.

Even after taking a tumble a few kilometres before the finish, he was one of the first across the finish line. ‘I just lost concentration and my peddle hit a rock, next thing I was on the ground,’ he said.

Louise Duys, Partnerships and Sustainability Director for event organisers, Wildlands Conservation Trust, was happy with the fantastic turnout on Saturday and said, ‘It’s this event that gives riders the experience of the wild in its rawest form’.

‘With Old Mutual as Wild Series’ new title sponsor, we can take the series to a new level’.

Karen Thomas of Old Mutual concurred, saying,”We are very excited about our partnership and it was fantastic to spend the day in the beautiful iMfolozi Game Reserve and share in the passion of the cyclists, their families and supporters’.

Endurance sport is a pillar of Old Mutual’s sponsorship portfolio and the company strongly believes in parnerships that support a worthy cause.