Rukadza makes it a Championship hat trick

Bernard Rukadza ran into the Trail Series history books on Saturday, 18 August 2012 at the Cape Winter Trail Series final race at Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kleinmond, by becoming the first runner to secure a hat trick of Cape Winter Trail Series Championships. A slender seven second lead over Riaan Wildskut in the 13.8km race four of this year’s Championship ensured not only a hat trick of race wins in 2012, but his third Cape Winter Trail Series Championship title in as many years. This makes Rukadza the most successful Trail Series athlete in the five year history of these events.

Greyling makes it three for three wins in the Ladies Championship In the women competition; it was a rampant Landie Greyling who stamped her authority at the sharp end of the Championship, with three wins out of the three races she participated in. Marie Wessels did her best to defend her 2011 title, but could not contain the dominant performance of Greyling and had to accept second this year in the overall Championship.

Championship Route Profiles & Results This year’s Cape Winter Championship included single track & technical routes with distances between 11-16km and included courses at Paul Cluver, Tygerberg Nature Reserve and Taal Monument & Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve in Paarl, with the Series final at Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kleinmond.

Click here to view the Cape Winter Trail Series Championship 2012 Results. 2012 Challenge sees first-time podium placers In the Short Course Challenge, presented by Spur, Jacob Volmoer and Jan Ham ran a close race all Series and Race four’s final race boiled down to Ham needing to beat Volmoer by a position to send the results into a draw, which excitedly would have come down to overall Series time. The final race of the Series saw Adam Reilly, winner of the Junior category cross the finish line first at the final race, with Volmoer putting foot to beat Ham by just 3 secsonds at the finish line!

The overall Series results saw three brand new podium placers for the Cape Winter Trail Series Challenge 2012! -Volmoer placed first, followed by Ham and Ahthi Yuntu in third place overall.

Reilly dominates Junior category 16 year old Adam Reilly dominated the Junior category, with four out of four wins in the Series Challenge sponsored by Spur, and was the first competitor to cross the finish line at the Series final. If this is a sign of things to come from our Juniors, Bernard Rukadza best keep an eye out behind him!

Challenge Route Profiles & Results This year’s Cape Winter Trail Series Challenge included single track & technical routes with distances between 5.6-9.1km and included courses at Paul Cluver, Tygerberg Nature Reserve and Taal Monument/ Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve , with the Series final at Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kleinmond.

Click here to view the Cape Winter Trail Series Challenge 2012 Results. Wildrunner 100th Event Race # 4 and the Final of the Cape Winter Trail Series 2012 took place on Saturday, 18 August 2012 at the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, as part of the Gravity Adventure Festival in Kleinmond.

Following a series of three previous races, this fourth and final race of the Cape Winter Series 2012 would determine the overall winners of the Series. This occasion, combined with jovial nature of the Gravity Adventure Festival, a diverse outdoor adventure enthusiast event, led to a great turn-out of 750 runners. The race also marked Wildrunner’s 100th event.

With warm sunshine replacing the cool ocean breeze from the early morning, spectators were happy to kick off their muddy shoes and stay for prize-giving and to watch the podium winners collect their trophies. With the Gravity Adventure Festival hub providing a festive atmosphere, Wildrunner celebrated our 100th Event and marked the occasion with a Wildrunner Cake & cup cakes for all to say thank you to all our supporters over the past 5 years. Special Mentions Wildrunner would like to thank the Kleinmond Municipality for use of there truly magnificent natural areas that form part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Also the Kleinmond Conservation Society for all their hard work over the years in assisting the Kleinmond Municipality to maintain the paths on the mountain.

Photographs View the official Cape Winter Trail Series 2012 race photos here.
Cape Summer Trail Series 2013 Make sure you don’t miss out on the Cape Summer Trail Series starting in January 2013! With two Wednesday night runs and TWO (yes, TWO!) XL events for Summer, the Series promises to be a goodie! More information and dates here.

Follow all the action on @wildrunnerza or Facebook Sponsors The Trail Series is a Wildrunner event and is proudly sponsored by adidas & Spur.
Product sponsors include 100Plus & Protea Hotels.