by Stuart McConnachie
Not even the infamous “Cape Doctor” could subdue the spirits of the almost 470 runners ahead of the inaugural Ultra-Trail® Cape Town events which took place on Saturday 25th October.
The trails of the iconic Table Mountain, as well as surrounding Cape Peninsula including the Groot Constantia winelands, the beaches of Llundudno and Hout Bay, the dramatic architecture of the city and the historic grounds of the University of Cape Town, played host to the three different events on offer, the flagship 100km, the 62km and the 17km city trail.
Race director and mastermind of the Ultra-Trail Cape Town, Nic Bornman shares his team’s excitement in the days leading up to race day:
“The entire build up had so many moving parts, climaxing with incredible intensity in the week leading up to the three races. The team as a whole was amazing, staying composed throughout all of the organisational nuances that were thrown our way. It’s always refreshing working with people who don’t flinch and simply just get on with it.”
Runners from all over South Africa, as well as a handful of international runners from as far afield as Hong Kong, Denmark and Switzerland, toed the start line on Government Avenue in the heart of the city to begin what would become for most an unforgettable journey. And with some of the bigger names in South African trail running not present, the door was wide open for the country’s rising trail stars to prove themselves on one of the most technical and unforgiving courses ever presented.
Racing in the men’s 100km race was frenetic from the starter’s gun as a handful of local elites, including Raynard Tissink, Nic De Beer, Eric Ngubane, Andre Hagen, Will Robinson and Jock Green, who set a blistering pace on their way out of the city and onto Signal Hill before climbing Platteklip Gorge to the top of Table Mountain. It was not too dissimilar in the women’s field as 22 year old Nicolette Griffioen led the charge ahead of veteran racers Chantel Nienaber and Tracy Zunckel.
In the 62km race, a three-way battle ensued in the men’s race as local trail legend Derrick Baard began his offensive against the onslaught of Eastern Cape trail runner Victor Gugushe and another local up-and-coming Stephen Davis as they made their way up Table Mountain.
Blustery and misty conditions across the top of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World meant the pace slowed dramatically, but as the front runners descended out of the low cloud at Constantia Nek, the intense racing was once again reinstated with mere minutes separating the men’s top 5 as they left the aid station. In the women’s race however, Griffioen had already begun opening up a commanding lead, one which she would maintain all the way to the finish at Cape Town High School.
Eric Ngubane, after having left CP4 at Llundudno beach running side-by-side with fellow race favourite Raynard Tissink, showed an incredible turn of pace and stamina for the second half of the course, opening up an unfathomable lead over Hagen, Green and Tissink, as the final check points whirred past en route to the finish and his maiden ultra-trail win in a time of 10:41:15.
Bornman continues:
“The 100km race saw undoubtedly one of the year’s top performances with Eric Ngubane setting an amazing time, even in the unrelenting wind. There is no doubt that he is on course to become a superstar in trail running and we are happy to have brought him down to the Cape so he could prove it on the local trails. We’ll even go as far as to say that after Saturday, a new Ryan Sandes may have been found.”
It was also a good day out for official footwear partners Altra’s athletes, winning the 17km and 62km open male and placing 2nd and 5th in the 100km. Hisense gave away prizes to the winners and donated a 65inch Smart TV to a raffle that saw proceeds go to the South African Ultra-distance trail running team who will compete in the World Champs in France next year.
100km Official Results
Men’s:
Eric Ngubane 10:41:15
Andrew Hagen 11:45:26
Jock Green 11:47:59
Women’s:
Nicolette Griffioen 13:18:26
Chantel Nienaber 14:08:10
Tracy Zunckel 15:09:42
62km Official Results
Men’s:
Victor Gugushe 7:34:10
Derrick Baard 7:54:25
Stephen Davis 8:04:36
Women’s:
Marilyn Fischer 8:38:59
Wendy Mcleod 9:15:15
Serena Haupt 10:22:23