Approximately 1 000 runners were met with a perfect Cape winter day as they made their way to the Paul Cluver Estate in the Overberg for the first race of the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ and the Spur GLB46 Ultra.
Almost 100 runners took on the Spur GLB46 Ultra across the Groenlandberg. After an epic battle at the front of the field, first place was claimed by Damian Will in a time of 3:50:28, with Dylan Solms (3:52:35) and Eddie Lambert (3:58:01) taking second and third.
Ronel Nattrass stayed in the lead from start to finish and took win in a time of 4:34:15, followed a few minutes later by Alana Doyle in 4:40:26 and Ursula Turck in 4:42:01.
The long course Championship followed a route of 15.6km along the foot of the Groenlandberg and included a hill that took most runners by surprise. Raydon Balie made the most of the conditions and stormed home in a time of 1:18:15. Defending champion in the ladies long course Championship, Liandi van der Westhuyzen continued where she left off in 2014 and won the race in a time of 1:34:56, almost ten minutes ahead of her closest challenger.
Short course battle shapes up
It didn’t take long for the form of Dawood Goeieman to make his way down the final hill to claim the 8.8km short course Challenge in a superb time of 33:16 while Mariella Dierks took control of the race from the get-go and was the only lady to break the 40-minute mark as she took first place in 39:55.
It was a glorious morning in the Cape countryside and everyone who made their way to Paul Cluver had a super fun day in the mud.
A big thanks to our amazing sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, BOS Ice Tea, Protea Hotels, Graham Beck and Runner’s World for the support and to all the amazing runners who make the Spur Trail Series™ one of our favourite events on the calendar.
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