Top South African triathlete, Michael Lord (Jeep Team) showed his class at the 2017 Banhoek Duo Challenge, successfully defending his title to claim his fourth consecutive title win. The Banhoek Conservancy was established in 2013 by a group of farmers in an attempt to protect the environment and to uplift the community. The conservancy generates an income by providing well-designed, permanently marked, off-road tracks for trail running and MTB.

Lord won the 37.5km Duo Challenge, a 2.5km trail run, 25km MTB and a final 10km trail run, through the scenic Banhoek Conservancy, just outside of Stellenbosch, in 02:06:00, five minutes ahead of second-placed Matthew Richard Daneel. Coming home in third was Gary Thomas in a time of 02:15:20. In the women’s race, Delmence Niland finished first in a time of 02:17:06; Marguerite van Niekerk finished second in 02:42:4, and rounding off the podium was Marleen Lourens in 02:45:35. 

Results – Duo Challenge Long

Men

1. Michael Lord - 02:06:00
2. Matthew Richard Daneel - 02:11:05
3. Gary Thomas - 02:15:20 

Women

1. Delmence Niland - 02:17:06         
2. Marguerite van Niekerk - 02:42:43
3. Marleen Lourens - 02:45:35 

###  OTHER JEEP TEAM NEWS MTB – Trans Baviaans MTB Race

This past weekend saw mountain biker Pierre Smith (Jeep Team) and mixed partner, Mariske Mclean, race the one of the toughest MTB races of the year, the epic 24-hour, 230km Trans Baviaans mountain bike marathon.  The 24hr, single-stage race from Willowmore in the Eastern Cape Karoo to Jeffreys Bay covers some 230km through the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, part of the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site. 

Labelled as the ‘longest and toughest single-stage team MTB event’ in the world, the route, through spectacular scenery and rugged mountain ranges, was unmarked, and with a late start, the over 1000 riders entered, are forced to endure night-time riding – a true test of orientation skills, character and endurance. Says Smith following the race, “The route was very dry and rough, but we managed to finish 5th Mixed Team overall in a time of 11h29m. It was a tough but very special journey.” 

Results – Trans Baviaans MTBTop 5 Mixed Team 

1. Neill Ungerer/Yolande De Villiers (Ultimate Cycling Knysna) - 08:58:00
2. Christo Roos/Tanya Kirstein (Enduroplanet) - 10:24:52
3. Peter Stopforth/Ischen Stopforth (2Stop) - 10:36:00
4. Tania Visser/Werner Strauss (Team-581) - 11:02:00
5. Pierre Smith/Mariske McLean (Jeep – UR Cycling) - 11:29:32 

###  EDITOR’S NOTES 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. / 0894 486 2136 Thank you.

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PIETERMARITZBURG, 24 MAY 2017 – On Saturday 20 May, multisport athlete Michael Lord (Jeep Team SA) took part in the 11km trail race at the 2017 Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge in Stellenbosch.  Lord, who has been out of action for over a month on doctors’ orders with knee issues, came out the stalls galloping with 411 other athletes across various categories to take part in the fast 11km race.  Ideal for short-course trail runners, the race started in Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve and followed established trails and tracks into Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. The route through the nature reserve features 218m of ascent, forestry jeep track, smooth single track, crossing the Eerste Rivier and running through the Kleinplaas Dam wall. Lord took top spot in the 11km race in a time of 00:42:39.

Second place went to Malibongene Mcosana in a time of 00:43:48, and Damian Will took third in 00:44:16.  Says Lord, “I am chuffed to take the win in the littlest race. I was quite nervous as it was my first time running properly in a long time, but my knees held up splendidly. The route is awesome. Jonkershoek is still one of the most amazing places I’ve been to – every time I’m there, I see another awesome piece of how the whole race fits together. You could spend a lifetime exploring all the little corners and peaks.” 

Results – 11km Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge 

Men

1. Michael Lord                  00:42:39

2. Malibongene Mcosana    00:43:48

3. Damian Will                   00:44:16         

 Women

1. Uta Lehmann                  00:51:51

2. Katie Leslie                    00:52:11

3. Lara Rossouw                 00:53:11         

###EDITORS NOTES 

Have a look at the following platforms to keep up to date with Jeep Team SA:  #JeepTeamSA

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Facebook:  www.facebook.com/jeepteamsa

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Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg

Written and distributed on behalf of Jeep Team SA by Hot Salsa Media

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information, interviews and photos. 

KWAZULU-NATAL, 26 JULY 2016 - The weekend saw Jeep Team Multisport athletes, Michael Lord, winning gold in the Standard Bank Duo and Trail Challenge in Boschendal, and Mikaela Jonsson (19) winning her first Olympic Distance Triathlon at the Tinman Tri-series in Durban. On Saturday, 23 July 2016, Michael Lord competed in the Standard Bank Duo Challenge – the Duo Challenge Long, which consisted of a 25 km MTB and a 10 km trail run. During the bike leg, he had a quick start and managed to break away from the rest of the field with fellow competitor, Andrew Houston. Completing the bike leg together, Lord was then able to put some distance between him and Houston during the run, finishing in a winning time of 02h04m26s.

Says Lord of his weekend win: “The two of us rode the whole of the bike course together. I have never ridden Boschendal before. There are some absolutely stunning trails and awesome little nooks and areas on route. At one stage we were riding just below the cliff faces with huge views of the whole of the Franschoek Valley. I definitely want to ride here again. We finished the bike together and then I managed to get away on the run. Super fun race, thanks Andrew.” The TinMan Tri-series took place in Durban at the Suncoast Sundeck on Sunday, 24 July.

The TinMan Triathlon is a fast-paced, action-packed Triathlon and Running event. From the 4 different races offered, junior triathlon superstar, Mikaela Jonsson, competed in the tough, highly contested Ultra Tri Challenge - the Olympic Distance Triathlon - a 1km swim, a 30km cycle and a 10km run. Despite only being back in training for 3 weeks, Jonsson’s performance was impressive in all 3 stages, coming out of the water in a close 3^rd in 13m27s, she gave it everything in the cycle leg, finishing in a close 2^nd in 59m21s, and again ran hard to finish 2^nd in 43m46s, winning in an overall time of 01h58m34, ahead of 2^nd placed Teneal Featherby in 01h58s42, and 3^rd placed Hayley Mee in 02h02m14.

Jonnson won women overall and her age category, but interestingly, as in all triathlons, the transition time taken between legs can mean the difference between winning and losing, as in this race. Jonnson’s race-time against Featherby was slower overall by 8 seconds, but 1m03s faster than Featherby in transition time.

Says Jonsson of her experience: “I'm so happy to have taken the win overall in my first-ever Olympic Distance Tri at the Tinman Triathlon in Durban. I had such a fantastic race. Thanks to some incredibly strong ladies for pushing me all the way, especially on the bike course. Finally feeling like myself again, after only being back at training for 3 weeks after battling with illness for over a month, and my first swim race after doing shoulder rehab for more than 2 months. I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped me with such patience and wisdom over the last few months. Onwards and upwards.”

RESULTS

Standard Bank Duo and Trail Challenge

Men

1. Michael Lord (Jeep Team) 02:04:26
2. Andrew Houston 02:05:48
3. Dylan Janos 02:09:37

Women

1. Carla Beyers 02:36:46
2. Esther Lategan 02:45:00
3. Hanlie Booyens 02:48:06

Tinman Tri-series

Women

1. Mikaela Jonsson (Jeep Team) 01:58:34
2. Teneal Featherby 01:58:42
3. Hayley Mee 02:02:14

Men

1. Rudolf Naude 01:38:14
2. Gareth Marquiss 01:38:52
3. Brad Venter 01:39:32

Other Jeep Team results MTB
The Ashburton Investments’ National MTB Series consists of seven events spanning across six provinces. The fifth in the series was hosted at Holla Trails, Collisheen on 23 July. Jeep Team’s Thinus Redelinghuys took part in the 102km Ultra Marathon Event achieving a Top 20 position overall, coming in 19^th place, in a time of 04h10m24s. Most of the country’s top mountain bikers completed this event, which ultimately saw Max Knox (3h45), Gert Heyns (3h46), Nico Bell (3h46) take the podium respectively.

Editor’s Notes Standard Bank Duo and Trail Challenge photo of Michael Lord by Govan Basson (Totalkaos Studio).

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