GAUTENG, JOHANNESBURG – It’s the end of an era as Jeep ends its 16-year sponsorship of one of South Africa’s most successful Sport & Wellness Teams, Jeep Team South Africa, founded by Max Cluer Sports Marketing cc (MCSMcc) in 2001. The teams title sponsorship began with Jeep Apparel through Musgrave Agencies, which was then taken over by Jeep vehicles through Jeep South Africa, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Jeep Team South Africa (JTSA) has been massively successful over the years in identifying, producing and shaping over 300 young South African athletes into world class athletes across select nonconventional sporting disciplines.  The core focus of Jeep Team has always been in educating athletes on sporting etiquette, managing stress, applying high ethical standards, and teaching self-brand-building acumen in order for each individual to reach their highest potential possible.

JTSA also provided a solid support structure and comradery to its team members.   Says Max Cluer, "16 years is a long time to see a sporting property stick to one brand. Jeep has been an incredible and loyal partner and a good fit for the team and we are incredibly proud of our association with them and grateful for their vision, support and trust in us. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every athlete who has represented the team and for making it the success that it is today.

Their friendship and achievements will always remain a proud memory.” Over the years, the Jeep Team portfolio grew and consolidated into one of the most successful teams of its kind in South Africa, producing local, national and world champions across the sporting codes of Adventure Racing, Mountain Biking, Downhill MTB, BMX, Surfski, River Kayaking, Multisport, Extreme Sport, and, more recently, Trail Running and Obstacle Course Racing (OCR), which were included into the 2015 portfolio. In 2014, Jeep Team shifted its focus to manage only Junior, u/23 and Elite categories across 6 sporting disciplines - Adventure Racing, Mountain Biking, River Kayaking, Multisport, Trail Running and Obstacle Course Racing. 

Currently, the Jeep Team holds some of South Africa’s top internationally-acclaimed athletes like: Robyn (Kime) Owen (AR) who has just won the Kathmandu Coast to Coast in NZ, is a Dusi Marathon record holder, and has won and placed top 5 in many national and international high-profile races; Hank McGregor (Kayak), a ten-time World Paddling Champion, the world’s most successful paddler of all time, and has just been inducted into the World Paddle Awards Academy; Barry Lewin (Kayak) who is also the longest standing Jeep Team athlete of 14 years with a history of awards spanning a couple decades; Thomas van Tonder (OCR) ranked first in South Africa in OCR and Top 10 in the world; And Christiaan Greyling (AR), who over the past 12 months has produced wins, top 3 and top 10 achievements across the world’s toughest trail marathons and adventure races.  

Says Thomas van Tonder, “I am very proud of the journey with Jeep Team SA. This amazing team will always be part of my journey, part of me going forward. I am very proud to have been part of this incredible team.”  The Discovery Sport Industry Award winning team from MCSMcc is also no stranger to accolades, and in 2017 Jeep Team SA was shortlisted for the Discovery Sport Industry Awards Category, Best Use of PR.  

Says Hank McGregor, “I have had a fantastic couple of years with the team, being a part of the team. It is sad that Jeep Team is coming to an end. It really is the end of an era. You are only as good as your support crew, no matter what athlete you are. Having such a fantastic team behind us, managing us, as well as the other teammates who encourage you daily, gets you to raise your game. Hearing about results from the different disciplines makes you raise your game to a level you possibly hadn’t considered before. It has been an awesome time being part of such an amazing team. It is sad to see it go, but the future is always bright, and we can only go up from here.

” Concluded Cluer, “Having represented Olympic athletes, and World and National Champions, and being nominated for, and winning, numerous awards over the years, there is a tremendous amount of good will surrounding the team and we would love to carry on the momentum and find that right brand to get involved and help us continue with the legacy of finding and nurturing talented South African athletes, and continue making a difference and being able to prepare them for the world stage.

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WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA – The beautiful Midgard Country Estate in Windhoek, Namibia played host to the first international event of South Africa’s largest obstacle course race (OCR) series, the Toyota WARRIOR Race this past weekend, 24 March 2018.  Jeep Team SA OCR racer and South Africa’s top ranked male elite, Thomas van Tonder, travelled to Namibia for its first Toyota WARRIOR Race, which attracted close to 500 athletes, all eager to test their physical and mental abilities on the Namibian trails and world-class obstacles.  The main race of each WARRIOR event is the Black Ops Elite - a demanding course with intense, military-inspired obstacles.

Van Tonder, currently leading the WARRIOR race series, had a hard-fought battle with KeyHealth Team Nevarest athletes, Louis Smit and Greg Avierinos. Van Tonder proved his strength and agility, dominating on the heavy carries and technical terrain, pulling ahead to take the lead ahead of Smit in second and Avierinos in third. In the elite ladies’ race, Carla van Huyssteen (KeyHealth Team Nevarest) claimed her second WARRIOR race win of the season. Finishing in second was Sabrina Daolio (Battle Rush), and rounding off the podium was Mandi Lansberg (BeSnapped). Says van Tonder, “What an epic day of hardcore OCR - taking the win on the Black Ops Elite; winning the Reebok Team Sprint with Jack JP Mare and Sabrina Daolio and finishing second in the Reebok Individual Sprint Race. I am blessed to have the ability to do what I do. I’m looking forward to coming back to Namibia. All the athletes showed real heart out there, and the venue is amazing. For the first international Warrior race it was more than we expected.” 

Results – Toyota Warrior NamibiaBlack Ops Elite

Men

1. Thomas van Tonder
2. Louis Smit
3. Greg Avierinos 

Women

1. Carla van Huyssteen
2. Sabrina Daolio
3. Mandi Lansberg  

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About Toyota Warrior RaceToyota WARRIOR, powered by Reebok, is back with mud and obstacles built to sustain and delight the thousands of athletes, large and small, tall and short, thin and large that are ready to challenge themselves having fun building better humans. The event calls adventure seekers from all walks of life – whether a weekend WARRIOR or an elite athlete hoping to snatch up the series title. With a Rookie, Commando, and Black Ops category on offer, WARRIOR has something for everyone.

 For the first time in the popular series there will be an escape route for those who don’t find the idea of mud particularly appealing. Instead of diving into the infamous Mud Monster, participants will have the option of taking a penalty loop that will take them the same amount of time to complete.

The ‘mudless’ option will not be made available to any Elite athletes, however. Adventure seekers looking for some extra high-speed excitement have the option of entering the popular Reebok Sprint Race.  A specifically designed children’s obstacle course will be available for little adventurers, as well as a WARRIOR Kids Zone under the supervision of child-minders.

Upcoming Toyota Warrior Race Events: 

PRETORIA, GAUTENG - This past weekend, 17 and 18 March, Tierpoort Adventure Farm just outside Pretoria played host to Race 3 of the Toyota WARRIOR Series, powered by Reebok.  The Toyota WARRIOR Race, South Africa’s largest obstacle course race (OCR) series, with three categories on offer, Rookie, Commando, and Black Ops, challenges participants from all fitness backgrounds complete a set course of trails and world-class obstacles.The main event of every WARRIOR weekend is the Black Ops Elite race -  a demanding 15km with 35 intense, military-inspired obstacles.

Thomas van Tonder (Jeep Team SA), winner of WARRIOR #1, hoping to claim a second win of the series, didn’t get off to an ideal start.

Having fallen into fifth place and seven minutes off the lead halfway through the race, he had to dig deep to realise a win. Van Tonder, powering through the obstacles, proving why he is number one in the country, collected the gold medal in 01:37:07, just over two minutes ahead of Bradley Claase (Battle Rush) in second, and Greg Avierinos (Team Nevarest) in third. In the ladies’ race, Trish Eksteen (Supa Mama) once again showed her racing prowess to claim victory in 01:50:56, 12 minutes ahead of second-place finisher, Hanneke Danhauser. In third place, with a time of 02:03:36, was Carla van Huyssteen (Team Nevarest). Says van Tonder, “One of the biggest mental games I have ever had to play. I had my faith properly tested today. I was so happy to stand on the top step of the podium today. Having been in 5th place and 7 minutes off the lead halfway through the race, and then coming back to take the win was an unreal feeling.” 

Results – Toyota Warrior #3Black Ops Elite

Men

1. Thomas van Tonder - 01:37:07
2. Bradley Claase - 01:39:16
3. Greg Avierinos - 01:40:08

 Women

1. Trish Eksteen - 01:50:56
2. Hanneke Dannhauser - 02:02:05
4. Carla van Huyssteen - 02:03:36  

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About Toyota Warrior RaceToyota WARRIOR, powered by Reebok, is back with mud and obstacles built to sustain and delight the thousands of athletes, large and small, tall and short, thin and large that are ready to challenge themselves having fun building better humans. The event calls adventure seekers from all walks of life – whether a weekend WARRIOR or an elite athlete hoping to snatch up the series title. With a Rookie, Commando, and Black Ops category on offer, WARRIOR has something for everyone. For the first time in the popular series there will be an escape route for those who don’t find the idea of mud particularly appealing. Instead of diving into the infamous Mud Monster, participants will have the option of taking a penalty loop that will take them the same amount of time to complete. The ‘mudless’ option will not be made available to any Elite athletes, however. Adventure seekers looking for some extra high-speed excitement have the option of entering the popular Reebok Sprint Race.  A specifically designed children’s obstacle course will be available for little adventurers, as well as a WARRIOR Kids Zone under the supervision of child-minders.

Upcoming Toyota Warrior Race Events

Greyling Comes Out on Top at the 3222 Stage Trail Run LESOTHO, - This past weekend, top South African trail runner, Christiaan Greyling (Jeep Team SA / Salomon / Garmin), claimed a double stage win at the inaugural 3222 Stage Trail Run in Lesotho.

Far from just another trail run, the 3222 was designed to leave lungs burning and feet heavy as determined athletes tackled the Maluti-Drakensberg mountain landscape. At 3222m above sea level, the 3222 Stage Trail Run is one of the highest altitude trail runs in Southern Africa.

The full distance race covered at total of 40km - 25km on Day 1 and 15km on Day 2 - across technical rocky terrain with steep ascents and descents. The Mini 3222 covered just 16km - 10km on Day 1 and 6km on Day 2. Despite the short distance, the race offered some challenging ascents on both jeep and single-track. Greyling, winner of the 2017 Giant’s Cup Uncut 62km and 2016 SkyRun 100km, is no stranger to running at altitude and showed his running pedigree to finish the 25km route in 02h36m12s, 11 minutes ahead of Ruan van der Merwe in second and Thabang Madiba in third. On Day 2, Greyling once again came out on top, but with van der Merwe hot on his heels. Greyling finished the 15km stage in 01h44m49s, with van der Merwe just one minute behind him. Finishing off the top 3, was Madiba in a time of 01h48m28s. Greyling finished the weekend with a double stage win and the overall ‘3222’ title.

Says Greyling, “Mountains, valleys, wild horses and mud! I love brutal, technical trails in remote places and this is exactly what Afriski and Trail Adventure presented at the 3222 Stage Trail Run. At over 3000m above sea level, it was a weekend of mountain running at its best!” In the women’s race, Nicky Booysens, the 2015 Skyrunner Series Women’s Champion, also claimed a double stage win, finishing with an overall time of 05h55m53s; in second was Tumi Matlou in 06h31m23s, and Carina Janse van Rensburg completed the top 3 with an overall time of 06h42m39s. 

RESULTS – 3222 Stage Trail Run

Other Jeep Team News Obstacle Racing:THOMAS VAN TONDER – SOUTH AFRICA’S UNDISPUTED ‘BEAST’ CHAMPION WITH 14 STRAIGHT WINS MULDERSDRIFT, GAUTENG, 12 MARCH 2018 - Top South African OCR athlete, Thomas van Tonder (Jeep Team), continues to live up to his nickname, ‘#BeastMode’, by becoming the sole winner of all fourteen Savage Beast OCR titles. The event, which took place on 3 March 2018, saw 131 athletes descended upon The Wedge 4×4 Trail in Muldersdrift for the first Beast Challenge Obstacle Course Race of the year. Along with 29 other competitors, van Tonder took on the day’s toughest elite race – the 12km, 50-obstacle Savage Beast Race, where he once again became the only athlete to win all the Beast OCR races.  Van Tonder finished his race in 01:11:06, just over 9 minutes ahead of the second-placed Willem Erasmus in 01:20:16, and Egor Oussov in third with a time of 01:30:51. 

Says van Tonder, “It was another epic day at the OCR office. I am so blessed to be able to do what I do, especially also taking 14 wins in a row for The Beast OCR series. Well done to everyone who competed, and kudos to the Beast organisers for another solid event.” In the women’s elite race, first place went to Cindy Wills in a time of 01:36:13; second was Sam Gilchrist in 01:38:56 and rounding off the podium was Mandie Landsberg with a time of 01:40:56.Written and Distributed by Hot Salsa Media on behalf of Jeep Team SAAll enquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 084 486 2136 Thank you.   

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KWAZULU-NATAL, DURBAN - Ten-time World Marathon Champion and paddling legend, Hank McGregor (Jeep Team SA/Euro Steel), has been inducted into the World Paddle Awards (WPA) Academy at their awards ceremony held in Silkeborg, Denmark on the 24 February 2018. The World Paddle Awards, held annually in Europe, celebrates the remarkable men and women from the world of paddle sports along with their achievements throughout the previous calendar year.

The awards recognise the diversity of people and organisations in the paddling community and honour the hard work they put into the sport. McGregor, twice a previous winner of the Sportsman of the Year award (2014, 2015), was again one of three finalists nominated to win the 2017 Sportsman of the Year award, recognition of the year's most outstanding male athlete in any paddle sport, which was ultimately won by Peter Kauzer (Slovenia), a three-time Olympian and canoe slalom champion. 

Despite losing to Kauzer for the Sportsman Award, McGregor was overwhelmed to have received the ultimate recognition for his achievements when he was inducted into the WPA Academy, an association of the greatest living sporting legends and figureheads in paddling and also received the illustrious Academy Award.  The Academy Award, given to an outstanding athlete, is not awarded each year but can be awarded to one of the 2017 nominees at the discretion of the WPA Academy.  

The stars of this year’s awards included:

Academy Award - Hank McGregor (South Africa)

Foundation Award - Dennis Newton (Great Britain)

Junior of the Year - Barbora Dimovova (Czech Republic)

Lifetime Achievement Award - Finn Larsen (Denmark)

Media Professional of the Year - Nina Jelenc (Slovenia)

Sportsman of the Year - Peter Kauzer (Slovenia)

Sportswoman of the Year - Jessica Fox (Australia)   

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KWAZULU-NATAL, DURBAN - Ten-time World Marathon Champ and Jeep Team paddler, Hank McGregor (Jeep Team SA/Euro Steel), relished his Dusi Dream Duo with Andy Birkett (Euro Steel), a seven-time FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon winner.  With two FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon titles in 2005 and 2006, McGregor, who recently turned 40, added a 3rd Dusi title to his extensive list of achievements and became one of the few veteran paddlers to have won the Dusi. McGregor is the most multi-talented and diverse athlete across all paddle-sports. He is a multiple World and SA Flat Water Marathon Champion, multiple SA River Marathon Champion, multiple SA Surfski Champion and currently ranked #1 in the World Surfski rankings. Hank has won every major river race and surfski race in South Africa and many across the world, across all conditions.  

Hank officially reached legend status after winning another double gold in the K1 and K2 at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in September 2017, repeating his historic wins in 2014 and 2016. He has paddled competitively, and been winning, for more than 20 years, and showing no signs of slowing down. In 2017, McGregor was nominated for The World Paddle Awards Sportsman of the Year. The WPA, held annually, celebrates the remarkable men and women from the world of paddle sports along with their achievements throughout the previous calendar year. 

McGregor is one of three finalists hoping to win the award on Saturday, 24 February 2018. The other two finalists are Peter Kauzer (Slovenia), a three-time Olympian and canoe slalom champion, and Tom Liebscher (Germany), Olympic and World Champion canoe sprint athlete. 

RESULTS – FNB DUSI CANOE MARATHON 2018

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NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH ISLAND - Stellenbosch local, Robyn Owen (Best4Sports/ Jeep / Salomon) is on top of the world after the 27-year-old multisport sensation raced to victory in the World Multisport Championships at the Kathmandu Longest Day Coast to Coast this past weekend.     The Kathmandu Coast to Coast is an iconic multisport event based in the South Island of New Zealand. Held every February, the race starts at Kumara Beach on New Zealand’s West Coast, and traverses the width of the South Island, crossing the main divide, finishing on the East Coast at the Pier on New Brighton Beach in Christchurch. Across six stages, competitors cycle 140km, kayak 70km and run 34.1km. 

The women’s race was set for a titanic battle between the strongest women in multisport racing history - four-time Coast to Coast winner, Elina Ussher (New Zealand); three-time adventure racing world champion, Sophie Hart (New Zealand); 2015 runner-up, Simone Maier (New Zealand); and Owen, who has represented South Africa at world championship level in canoeing, mountain running and adventure racing. Owen, the Otter African Trail Run record holder and second-place finisher in the 2017 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km, showed her running and cycling prowess at the start with a short, sharp 2.2km run to get onto the first leg of the bike. If left behind here, catching up is impossible, as Owen experienced in 2017, but a stronger, smarter Owen emerged this year.

 It was on the running stages that Owen created the biggest gap, a 16-minute lead over Hart and Maier during the 30.5km mountain run. Five-time winner and current record-holder of the Dusi Canoe Marathon, Owen’s illustrious paddling proficiency then extended her lead to 20 minutes heading into a nail-biting final 70-kilometre bike leg. Coast to Coast winner in 2011 and 2013, Hart, gained on Owen, cutting her lead to just under four minutes. Owen held on for a memorable victory in 12h44m56s, 45 minutes faster than her time in 2017. Second place went to Hart in 12h48m46s, and third place to Maier in 13h02m21s.Owen finished 14th overall.

Said Owen at the finish line, "I can’t believe it, I am delighted. I didn't know who was in second. But somewhere back on the road I heard my lead was down to 10 minutes, which I guessed meant she had been catching on the ride. So, I was trying to survive the last few kilometres, looking over my shoulder on each corner." In the men’s race, Sam Clark of New Zealand claimed his third consecutive win, almost 30 minutes ahead of Australian multi-sport athlete, Alex Hunt. Finishing 10-minutes behind Hunt in third, was fellow Australian, James Pretto. 

Women:

1. Robyn Owen (RSA) - 12h 44m 56s
2. Sophie Hart (NZL) - 12h 48m 46s
3. Simone Maier (NZL) - 13h 02m 21s
4. Elian Ussher (NZL) - 13h 11m 29s
5. Corrinne O’ Donnell (NZL) - 13h 16m 54s 

Men:

1. Sam Clark (NZL) - 11h 14m 33s
2. Alex Hunt (AUS) - 11h 43m 57s
3. James Pretto (AUS) - 11h 53m 05s
9. Lance Kime (RSA) - 12h 32m 38s
11. James Speed (RSA) - 12h 40m 20s
30. Bruce Hughes (RSA) - 13h 47m 36s   

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GAUTENG, MIDRAND – This past weekend, 27 and 28 January, Riversands Country Farm in Johannesburg played host to the 2018 season opener of the hugely popular obstacle course racing (OCR) series, the Toyota WARRIOR Series, powered by Reebok. Attracting a huge crowd of approximately 3000 athletes and a few thousand more spectators, the TOYOTA WARRIOR OCR series kicked off with a bang for the Jeep Team OCR Warriors. The TOYOTA WARRIOR OCR series is designed for adventure seekers from all walks of life. With three categories on offer, Rookie, Commando, and Black Ops, this nationwide series has an event for every person, irrelevant of fitness level, wishing to challenge and build themselves up, with thousands of others doing the same, across world-class obstacles.  The main event of the weekend was Black Ops Elite. A tough elite athlete course incorporating 35 obstacles over roughly 15 kilometres of trail. These athletes are either climbing, traversing, carrying or gripping from start to finish. It is intense, lung-busting and only the super-fit and OCR-skilled make it to the end.

 Thomas van Tonder (Jeep Team SA), ranked 2nd in OCR South Africa and three-time Top 10 World Champs finisher, claimed his first victory in this season opener in what was, initially, a close-fought race between South Africa’s top 3 OCR athletes, Bradley Claase, Thomas van Tonder, and 2017 series champion and #1 ranked in SA, Claude Eksteen. The toughest obstacle in the race, Breaking Point, proved to be exactly this as it defeated Eksteen, who eventually finished 34th overall, as van Tonder calmly pulled off a superb strategic win ahead of Claase in second and Jason Friedman in third. Fellow Jeep Team athlete, Jay Jay Deysel, continuing his impressive growth trajectory, finished 6th overall – just 9 minutes behind van Tonder. In the women’s race, 2017 series winner, Trish Eksteen (Team AOT), showed her racing prowess, taking the win ahead of Carla van Huyssteen (Nevarest Team) in second and Nedene Cahill (AOT) in third.

What makes their achievements impressive is that the top 3 women all finished in the top 10 overall. In addition to the honours and the R10 000 prize purse, van Tonder and Eksteen each got to drive a WARRIOR-branded Toyota RAV4 until the next event in Bloemfontein on the 17th of February, the first ever Warrior event to be held in the Free State.  Says van Tonder, “Today, level-headed strategy beat bullish endeavour, which would have been my normal race mode. I took a good breather before starting on Breaking Point as Claude powered through, and this was my saving grace. I ran my own race and it paid off. I am absolutely blessed to take home the win in the first Toyota WARRIOR Race of 2018. I had to dig deep today, mentally, as it was a very tough race.” Van Tonder and Deysel, teamed up with Carla van Huyssteen in the new format Reebok Team Sprint Race and claimed a bronze medal. This short, intense 400m 10-obstacle race is for teams of 3 – two men and one woman. The Thirsty Capies won the Sprint race with Fit Strong BeSnapped in second, and Jeep Nevarest in third.  

Results – Toyota Warrior #1Black Ops Elite

Men

1. Thomas van Tonder - 01:23:10

2. Bradley Claase - 01:24:45

3. Jason Friedman - 01:29:51

6. Jay Jay Deysel - 01:32:26 

Women

1. Trish Eksteen - 01:31:01

2. Carla van Huyssteen - 01:34:01

3. Nedene Cahill - 01:34:55 

Reebok Sprint Race Thirsty Capies Fit Strong BeSnapped Jeep Nevarest  Written and Distributed by Hot Salsa Media on behalf of Jeep Team SAAll enquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 084 486 2136 Thank you.   

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 WESTERN AUSTRALIA, PERTH - Following his silver medal win at the 2017 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships, coming second to Australia’s Cory “Chill” Hill, South Africa’s multiple World Paddling Champion, Hank McGregor (Jeep Team/Euro Steel/Gara Racing Paddles), took to the oceans of Western Australia for the final World Surfski Series race, the Perth Doctor on Sunday 26th November 2017. The Doctor, the world’s premier and biggest ocean downwind paddling race, covers some 27km from Rottnest Island (aka Rotto), offshore from Perth, to Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club on the mainland. Race Day, presented with strong southerly winds, created tricky conditions to test the best of the 392 competitors. 

McGregor, the 2016 winner, was once again up against long-time rival, Cory “Chill” Hill, and still stinging a little from the previous weekend’s loss against Hill, where he was interviewed saying “first is everything, second is nothing,” raced at an average pace of 3:28 min/km, neck-and-neck, battling it out from the start, inseparable until the final dash for the beach.  McGregor fell off the pace and had to settle for second, just 17 seconds behind Hill. Rounding off the podium in 3rd was American paddler, Austin Kieffer. In the women’s race, New Zealand paddler Rachel Clarke took top honours in a time of 01:55:47, with South Africans, Kyeta Purchase and Hayley Nixon, finishing in second and third, respectively. 

Results

Men

1. Cory Hill (AUS) - 01:33:20
2. Hank McGregor (RSA) - 01:33:37
3. Austin Kieffer (USA) - 01:35:37 

Women

1. Rachel Clarke (NZL) - 01:55:47
2. Kyeta Purchase (RSA) - 01:57:10
3. Hayley Nixon (RSA) - 01:57:27 

###  EDITORS NOTES 

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JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG - This past weekend, 25th and 26th November 2017, Riversands Farm in Gauteng, played host to the season finale, Warrior Race 8, of the popular obstacle course racing (OCR) series, Toyota Warrior, powered by Reebok. The series is well known for attracting thousands of OCR enthusiasts to challenge their physical and mental limits on world-class obstacles. Jeep Team’s Top OCR athlete, Thomas van Tonder, took centre stage alongside now top-ranked, Claude Eksteen, for the hotly-contested 2017 Black Ops Elite men’s title and series title. The two athletes raced neck-and-neck throughout the series, with the title decider coming down to the wire in the final race. Van Tonder, hoping for a consecutive series win, gave it his all in the all or nothing race – a shorter, faster and flatter 15km race than the norm for the season finale.

The lead changed numerous times throughout with Van Tonder proving stronger on the obstacles while Eksteen performed better on the run. The toughest obstacle in the race and final of the 30 obstacles, Breaking Point, proved to be the title decider. Van Tonder and Eksteen matched each other right to the final bell. Van Tonder dropped off the obstacle just behind Eksteen, and crossed the line claiming a well-fought silver medal in a time of 01:26:05. Third place went to the ever-improving, Trevor Lagerway. Fellow Jeep Team athletes, Jay Jay Deysel and Joshua Masudi, finished 4th and 50th respectively in the Black Ops Elite Race. Deysel had the race of his life in the series final as he has steadily improved and kept form, something he has struggled with in the past. With Van Tonder and Deysel in the Top 4 in the country, kudos goes to Jeep Team SA owner, Max Cluer.  Jeep Team SA also competed in and claimed a bronze medal in the Reebok Team Sprint Race, an short, intense 400m 10-obstacle race for teams of 3 – two men and one woman. For Warrior 8, the Sprint Race was incorporated into the Black Ops Elite course, providing a greater challenge for the competing teams. 

Said van Tonder, “One of the most epic races we have ever had. It was an all or nothing race and after the start gun, it was all-out war. I must have switched places with Claude about 5 times, but today he beat me at my own game. I raced hard to the final metre, finishing a very close second. I left it all out on the course, and am happy to take second place behind such a strong athlete. Well done to everyone on a massive year of racing. I’m looking forward to a good off-season and a strong build-up to next year.” In the women’s race, Trish Eksteen, who had already secured the title earlier this year, once again came out on top, finishing in 01:39:05, with Sabrina Daolio taking silver in 01:46:25 and Hanneke Dannhauser taking bronze with a time of 01:47:52.

American’s Benjamin Gifford and Jay Flores became the first international athletes to complete the Black Ops Elite route, finishing with their DQ band fully intact. Both athletes have been successful in the world of OCR - Flores recently came off a Master of the Rig win at OCR World Championships, and Gifford boasts 23 OCR podiums, the NBC Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge title, and a spot in the Tough Mudder X final. Despite their wealth of experience, they were completely blown away by their South African OCR experience: “I came to South Africa in search of the biggest OCR challenge of my athletic journey. The Warrior Race lived up to its name!” said Flores, rating WARRIOR as “the most challenging obstacle course on the planet.” Said Gifford “South Africa is renowned for having some of the most challenging obstacles in the world, and it’s a privilege to say that I’ve tested and conquered some of them. But I’m also amazed at the depth of the elite field I saw today.” 

Results – Black Ops Elite

Men

1. Claude Eksteen - 01:25:28 (2017 Toyota Warrior Series Winner)
2. Thomas van Tonder - 01:26:05
3. Trevor Lagerway - 01:33:03 

Women

1. Trish Eksteen - 01:39:05 (2017 Toyota Warrior Series Winner)
2. Sabrina Daolio - 01:46:25
3. Hanneke Dannhauser - 01:47:52  

###  EDITORS NOTES 

2018 WARRIOR DATES TO DIARISE

#WARRIOR1: 27-28 January, Johannesburg, Gauteng

#WARRIOR2: 17 February, Bloemfontein, Free State

#WARRIOR3: 17-18 March, Johannesburg, Gauteng

#WARRIOR4: 14-15 April, Cape Town, Western Cape

#WARRIOR5: 14-15 July, Blythedale, KZN

#WARRIOR6: 11 August, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga

#WARRIOR7: 20-21 October, Cape Town, Western Cape

#WARRIOR8: 24-25 November, Pretoria, Gauteng

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