The weekend of 5–7 August played host to the RCS SOX 3-Day Trail Run, an event that is widely considered as the most diverse 3-day trail run in South Africa.
Athletes from all over the country gathered for the sixth instalment of this event that took place along the south-eastern Cape coast. This year more than 300 entries were received ─ the largest number in the history of the race.
Runners were treated to perfect conditions and could really take in the beautiful surroundings that included mountain views, forest scenery as well as the magnificent coastline of South Africa’s Garden Route.
The event, that stretched over 3 days, finished off with a rugged “on-the-edge” coastline run, which included a brief beach run and an exciting 60 m floating bridge across the Touw River – a highlight for many of the runners.
First male team to cross the bridge on day 3, and also the team to take the first position overall, was the duo from RCS GUGS 1 – Imran Paya and Peter Tsawayo – who finished the 3 days in an overall time of 7:14:15.
According to Regan Adams, the CEO of RCS (the title sponsor of this event), the company has always had a strong connection with their community at large, but more specifically, the running community. RCS has a long-standing relationship with the Gugulethu Athletics Club, which encourages running in disadvantaged communities. RCS and TriSport sponsored 5 Gugs athletes (including Paya and Tsawayo) at this event.
The male team with the second-best overall time was Ryan Eichstadt and Craig Smith with a time of 7:27:34. In third overall position was Team RCS, consisting of Guy Harker and Erik Westvig, who finished in a time of 8:34:40.
In the mixed team category, The Kents – Ian and Carly Kent – took top honours and finished with an overall time of 8:43:05. The pair from Altra Retail Capital, Caitlin Lewis and Cobus van den Berg, was short on their heels with a time of 8:52:56, and with a time of 9:28:06, Malcolm Collins and Emily Muller were third overall in the mixed team category of the full SOX event.
The female team in first overall position was Sarah Frazee and Claudette Moore in a time of 11:31:19. In second place, with a time of 11:49:27, was Sonja Neethling and Yvette Venter, and in third place, the Gangsta Moms, Christi Pienaar and Marni Van den Bergh (12:17:35).
In the full SOX solo male event, Franz-Erich Streicher took the lead on each of the three days to finally finish as the overall winner with a time of 7:02:15. In second overall position was Terence Steeneveldt with a time of 7:42:59. David Goncalves (third overall) finished the 3 days in an overall time of 7:51:47.
Top solo female throughout the 3 days, Dunya Ansems, finished the event in an overall time of 7:44:40. She was followed by Maxine Reilly in second place (9:34:09), with Annemarie Cronje in third position (9:58:24).
Many first-time SOX runners opted for the SOX SPORT. This option offered the same experience as the full SOX but with less distance (20, 15 and 20 km). In overall first place after the 3 days were Robert Tweddle with a time of 4:29:37. Second was Nelius Swart (4:32:50), and in third position, Robert Shaff (4:46:36). In the female category, Bianca Tarboton took top honours with a time of 4:41:19, followed by Linda Detering (4:51:08) and Lana Dyer (05:09:21).
The Circles in the Forest Trail Run forms part of day 2 of RCS SOX. Runners could choose between a 15km or 30km route through the indigenous Outeniquaforests.The first male to cross the finish line in the 30km event was Jarryd Dunn (2:23:31) and the first female, Sam Reilly (3:08:54). In the 15 km option, Duncan Rennie took first place with a time of 1:25:28, with Ariadne van Zandbergen the first female (1:45:12).
TriSport would like to thank all the sponsors of this year’s event: RCS (title sponsor), Retail Capital, SANParks, Spur Steak Ranches, BOS Sport and First Ascent.
For the complete race results visit trisport.co.za. Entries for RCS SOX 2018 will open on 28 August 2017.
[…] The weekend of 5–7 August played host to the RCS SOX 3-Day Trail Run, an event that is widely considered as the most diverse 3-day trail run in South Africa. Athletes from all over the country gathered for the sixth instalment of this event that took place along the south-eastern Cape coast. This year more […] Trail Running South Africa […]