MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Garden Route Triathlon made its debut in Mossel Bay on Sunday 20 September, bringing together veteran and beginner triathlon athletes on a scenic course from Santos Beach, along the coast and through Mossel Bay to Great Brak River.
The race is the latest addition to the South African Triathlon Series. Race director Paul Ingpen said while there were only 250 athletes who competed, the series is still new and the organisers hope to build to something bigger.
He added that the triathlon was also about getting people out in the sun, doing real things and connecting with real people, something that is occurring less frequently in the age of social media and influencers.
There were three race categories to choose from, depending on the athletes’ experience. The ultra comprised a 2km swim, 80km cycle and 18km run. The standard was a 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run, while the sprint was a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5.6km run.
An athlete focuses on the route ahead of him. Photo: Robert Crous
The overall winner of the ultra men’s race was Dehan Louw with a time of 03:36:14. Second place went to Bonga Nkqintiza with a time of 03:50:52, and third place to Jamie Sher (04:08:59).
The overall winner of the women’s ultra was Sonja Truter (04:43:34). Tina van Wyk came in second (04:57:26) and Marike Herselman Cowley third (05:10:15).
André Ensil celebrates as he crosses the finish line of the Garden Route Triathlon. Photo: Henk Neuhoff
The overall men’s winner in the standard was Marsel Roos. James Barnard was second and Seb Lottering third.
In the women’s race, Zanelle Coetzee came first, Corina Andrew second and Rolien Britz third.
Lastly, in the men’s sprint race, Arden Kotze was first, Johannes Brink second and Sonwabise Ndyawe third.
In the women’s race, the overall winner was Tamryn van Aswegen, second was Morgan du Plessis and third was Zerilda Lodewyk.
Sarah-Lee de Greeff about to cross the finish line. Photo: Henk Neuhoff
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