Mountain Biking action takes centre- stage next weekend when the annual Kempston Thomas River Mountain Bike Challenge and Trail Run takes place at Thomas River between Stutterheim and Cathcart.
It will be the 17th showing of the popular event that sees riders from around the Eastern Cape come down to take on the scenic course.
An exciting ride is once again on the cards this year that should bring some thrills and spills along the way.
“John Gary Wardle and Erik Egeland our two most enthusiastic local riders have tailored the courses and will do the marking so I am looking forward to an exceptional ride well marked in a way that the riders will enjoy,” said event organiser John Potter.
Plenty is on offer over the weekend, with plenty of prizes up for grabs which will make the action all the more interesting.
“Entrants can expect a super goody bag, a fantastic ride, a free feast of farm mutton and game, excellent prizes (podium winners get meat prizes from Thomas River farm mutton), lots to see and do,” explained Potter.
“Riders partners are also adequately catered for thanks to the infrastructure at Thomas River Village and the generosity of Caxton Media.”
Adding to the day is the recently introduced trail run which brings its own excitement and allows runners to get involved on the day as well.
“Last year we started a trail run and had 70 entries, but the response so far for the trail run is going to be big,” said Potter.
On the mountain bike front last year over 400 entries were received for the event and an even bigger field is expected to take part this year.
A whole family vibe is also encouraged, with most people making a weekend of it with plenty to get up to for everyone.
“While the accommodation in the village is booked from year to year, there is plenty of other accommodation on offer,” said Potter.
“This will give weekenders not only the opportunity to enjoy the serenity of our Conservancy, some buck and for the fishermen the opportunity to catch anything from trout, the second biggest trout caught in SA was caught in one of our dams, to bass and yellowfish down to carp can be caught.”
Closing date for pre-entries is next week Tuesday and late entries by next week Friday at the venue or by email or fax before midday.
A R30 late entry fee will apply and raceday entries may take part on payment of the late entry fee but will not be timed.
The action gets under way next week Saturday morning.
“We would like people to get their entries in early because of our need to have a good idea of numbers for catering because we don’t have a ‘Checkers net om die hoek’,” said Potter.
Entries can be emailed to entries@thomasriver.com or faxed to 086-549-5713.
Entries can be found at Cycle HQ, EL Cycles and Louis Sports in Queenstown, with them all also accepting pre-entries.
For more information and to get entry forms go to www.thomasriver.com or request a form from john@thomasriver.com.
Time to get in the saddle for River challenge
It will be the 17th showing of the popular event that sees riders from around the Eastern Cape come down to take on the scenic course.
An exciting ride is once again on the cards this year that should bring some thrills and spills along the way.
“John Gary Wardle and Erik Egeland our two most enthusiastic local riders have tailored the courses and will do the marking so I am looking forward to an exceptional ride well marked in a way that the riders will enjoy,” said event organiser John Potter.
Plenty is on offer over the weekend, with plenty of prizes up for grabs which will make the action all the more interesting.
“Entrants can expect a super goody bag, a fantastic ride, a free feast of farm mutton and game, excellent prizes (podium winners get meat prizes from Thomas River farm mutton), lots to see and do,” explained Potter.
“Riders partners are also adequately catered for thanks to the infrastructure at Thomas River Village and the generosity of Caxton Media.”
Adding to the day is the recently introduced trail run which brings its own excitement and allows runners to get involved on the day as well.
“Last year we started a trail run and had 70 entries, but the response so far for the trail run is going to be big,” said Potter.
On the mountain bike front last year over 400 entries were received for the event and an even bigger field is expected to take part this year.
A whole family vibe is also encouraged, with most people making a weekend of it with plenty to get up to for everyone.
“While the accommodation in the village is booked from year to year, there is plenty of other accommodation on offer,” said Potter.
“This will give weekenders not only the opportunity to enjoy the serenity of our Conservancy, some buck and for the fishermen the opportunity to catch anything from trout, the second biggest trout caught in SA was caught in one of our dams, to bass and yellowfish down to carp can be caught.”
Closing date for pre-entries is next week Tuesday and late entries by next week Friday at the venue or by email or fax before midday.
A R30 late entry fee will apply and raceday entries may take part on payment of the late entry fee but will not be timed.
The action gets under way next week Saturday morning.
“We would like people to get their entries in early because of our need to have a good idea of numbers for catering because we don’t have a ‘Checkers net om die hoek’,” said Potter.
Entries can be emailed to entries@thomasriver.com or faxed to 086-549-5713.
Entries can be found at Cycle HQ, EL Cycles and Louis Sports in Queenstown, with them all also accepting pre-entries.
For more information and to get entry forms go to www.thomasriver.com or request a form from john@thomasriver.com.
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