GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The 2025 SOX Trail Run wrapped up in spectacular style at the Fairy Knowe Hotel in Wilderness on Sunday 10 August, with runners tackling three gruelling days through some of the Garden Route's most breathtaking and punishing terrain.
From pristine beaches to rugged mountain paths and lush forest trails, the race once again lived up to its reputation as one of South Africa's premier stage trail runs.
SOX Full
In the men's full SOX category, veteran trail runner AJ Calitz was in a league of his own, claiming victory with a combined time of 5:31:06 after winning all three stages.
Gideon Visser took second in 6:17:37, while Ben Kooyman rounded out the podium in 6:33:52.
The women's full race saw Jeanne Brink deliver an equally dominant performance, clocking a total of 6:01:33 and topping the podium on every stage.
She was followed by Nadia Jooste in 6:18:46, and Sarianne Opie in 7:06:45.
SOX Sport
In the shorter but still challenging SOX Sport division, Mark McArdle set the pace for the men, winning all three stages for a combined time of 3:53:06. The 13-year-old Aaron Kelly impressed with a second-place finish in 4:24:07, and Luke Dreyer came third in 4:28:06.
The women's SOX Sport was won by Jeannie Koster in 3:59:41, also clean-sweeping all stages. Larah van Niekerk claimed second in 4:15:57, while Chris-Marie Kunz finished third in 4:22:28.
One-day 16km
In the one-day 16km race, Nehan Pretorius edged out Manec Zanvier by just two seconds to win the men's title in 1:06:46. Lucio Cosmas claimed third in 1:10:45.
The women's race was won by Yolande van der Linde in 1:26:55, with Jeanne-Marié Eksteen (1:28:20) and Natasha Gibson (1:32:48) taking second and third, respectively.
Click here for a photo gallery
Jeannie Koster took part in the SOX Sport event. Photo: Gerber Sports Photography
Fairy Knowe Hotel's Helena Ferreira completes her race. Photo: Jeff Ayliffe
The winner of the men’s full SOX category was the legendary mountain goat AJ Calitz. Photo: Gerber Sports Photography
The leaders of the pack make their way down the beach. Photo: Jeff Ayliffe‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
