17 March 2017

Impressive Jeep Team Achieve Podiums in OCR, Surfski and Multisport

Submitted by: Viv Quann
Impressive Jeep Team Achieve Podiums in OCR, Surfski and Multisport

PIETERMARITZBURG, KZN, 17 MARCH 2017–This past weekend (11 – 12 March), saw Emerald Resort and Casino in Vanderbijlparkplay host to Race #2 of the Toyota Warrior Race, powered by Reebok.

The return of the Warrior Race to the heart of the Vaal Triangle attracted over 4000 obstacle course racerslooking to tackle the infamous Warrior Race known for its well-built obstacles and multiple race formats. The Jeep Team athletes performed at optimum throughout the weekend, starting with the Ladies Reebok Sprint and the Team Reebok Sprint - a new, short,high-intensive course spanning 400m with 10 obstacles, a great warm up for the elite Jeep Team athletes.  

Jeep Team athlete and Top 3 2016 SA OCR Champion, Carina Marx,finished 2nd in Ladies Reebok Sprint on the Saturday, and in the Mixed Team, she raced with Jeep Team SA mates, Thomas van Tonder and Joshua Masudi, finishing 2nd overall. Says Marx,“The Reebok Sprint racing was a first for me. It was a great warm up but also lots of fun. Just had to make sure I didn’t pick up an injury prior to the Black Ops Elite race.Racing with my team mates was good fun, and we picked up 2nd place against some tough competition.” On Sunday saw the tough,world-OCR-benchmark race, Black Ops Elite, featuringsome 30 obstacles over 17km, designed to challenge South Africa’s top OCR athletes in thirty different ways fromendurance, strength and agility, to upper body strength, and carrying and dragging heavy objects for set distances.  

Jeep Team OCR athleteand 2016 SA OCR Men’s Champion, Thomas van Tonder, finished 2ndin the Black Ops Elite race in 01:30:08, behind eventual winner, Claude Eksteen in 01:29:02, withLouis Smitrounding off the podium in 01:30:43. Says Van Tonder:“I’m super proud of our SA Jeep Team after some solid racing. I’m happy to have finished second in the Black Ops Elite after a rookie mistake. I was so focused on chasing “the Flash” Claude Eksteen,that I got to the end of BreakingPoint and never rang the bell. I had to go back and do it again. I won’t make that mistake again.” Jeep Team’s Carina Marxfinished 5thoverall in the Women’s Black Ops Elite race in 03:05:19. Hanneke Dannhauser took the top spot in a time of 01:54:59, with a Sabrina Daolio in second in a time of 01:59:58 and third was Dominique D’Oliveira in 02:13:24, with Trish Bahlmann in fourth in 2:18:20.  

Says Marx,“I completed the race in a very frustrating 5th place after getting stuck at a silly obstacle that I have never had a problem with before. This unfortunately cost me a lot of time and I ended up racing just to get points on the board. It was a very hard pill to swallow, but I believe that I will only get stronger through this experience. There is always room for improvement and that's exactly what I will do. I'm now even more determined for the next race at Van Gaalens Cheese Farm in April. “

Results – Black Ops Elite Men

  1. Claude Eksteen - 01:29:02
  2. Thomas van Tonder - 01:30:08
  3. Louis Smit - 01:30:43
  4. Hlelani Radebe - 01:34:00
  5. Trevor Lagerwey - 01:35:12  

Women

  1. Hanneke Dannhauser - 01:54:59
  2. Sabrina Daolio - 01:59:58
  3. Dominique D’Oliveira - 02:13:24
  4. Trish Bahlmann - 02:18:20
  5. Carina Marx - 03:05:19  

Other Jeep News   International Jeep Team Achievements Triathlon
Jeep Team’s rising triathlon superstar racing in the USA, Mikaela Jonsson, participated in the City Bikes Las Olas International Sprint Triathlon on 12 March 2017 at the Fort Lauderdale Beach Park in Florida, USA.   The Las Olas Triathlon is a destination event for the new and experienced triathletes. The sprint course includes a 500m swim, an 18.5km cycle and a 5km run.   Jonsson finished 3rd female overall in a time of 01:08:31 - a huge testament to Jonsson’s talent and capabilities.

Results - Female Overall

  1. Meagan Bradley - 01:07:17.46
  2. Stephanie Solinski - 01:08:15.84
  3. Mikaela Jonsson - 01:08:31.81

FNB Surfski Series FINALE Friday, 10 March 2017, saw the 2017 FNB Surfski Series come to an exciting end with the Varsity College Surfski Challenge and the Varsity College SA Schools Championships taking place at the Marine Surf Lifesaving Club at Addington Beach.

Multiple SA Surfski Champion and Jeep Team paddler, Hank McGregor, claimed an impressive seventh win of the 2017 series. McGregor narrowly beatKenny Rice to the post, while Matt Bouman rounded out the podium in third.   In the women’s race, Hayley Nixon claimed the top spot and wrapped up the overall women’s title. Nixon powered her way across the finish to win by just over a minute ahead of Bridgitte Hartley in second, and with Kyeta Purchase in third.  

Results Men – Long Course

  1. Hank McGregor  31m24s
  2. Kenny Rice   31m42s
  3. Matt Bouman  31m45s  

Women – Long Course

  1. Hayley Nixon   36m39s
  2. Bridgitte Hartley  37m30s
  3. Kyeta Purchase    39m08s    

EDITORS NOTES   Have a look at the following platforms to keep up to date with Jeep Team SA:   #JeepTeamSA
Website: www.jeepteam.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeepteamsa
Twitter: @jeepteamsa
Instagram: JeepTeamSA

For more information please contact Bronwen Blunden on 079 060 1905 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Warrior Race
The Warrior Race burst onto the scene in 2013 and spearheaded the sudden rise of obstacle course racing in South Africa. It quickly grew to up to 9000 participants per event and remains at the forefront of the growth spurt in the fledgling sport of obstacle racing with its larger than life obstacles and innovative courses to challenge South Africans.

One of the reasons why obstacle racing is so popular, is because anyone can participate. All you need is a pair of old running shoes and a sense of adventure.  What makes obstacle racing unique is that it is one of only a few opportunities for athletes from different sporting codes to compete against each other on a level playing field.  

What is obstacle course racing?
Obstacle course racing (OCR) is a sport in which a competitor completes a course on foot, encountering physical challenges/obstacles along the way. At Warrior Race, competitors are challenged by world-class obstacles that will involve jumping off a 6m or 4m platform into water, crawling through mud under a wire fence, battling up slippery slopes and running or swimming across water obstacles, hanging off ladders and ropes across distances and more.  

Upcoming 2017 Toyota Warrior Series events:

#Warrior3 - 22-23 April - Van Gaalen, Gauteng
#Warrior4 - 27-28 May - Kwanyoni Lodge, Mpumalanga
#Warrior5 - 19-20 August - Venue TBA, KwaZulu-Natal
#Warrior6 - 16-17 September - Tierpoort Adventure Farm, Gauteng
#Warrior7 - 21-22 October - Meerendal Wine Estate, Western Cape
#Warrior8 - 25-26 November - Riversands Farm, Gauteng

To find out more about the Toyota Warrior Series, go to www.warrior.co.za  

Published in Sports Range