Jeep Team’s OCR warriors, Thomas van Tonder and Dominique D'Oliveira, proudly represented South Africa at the 2015 OCR World Championships, which took place in Ohio, United States, from 17 – 18 October 2015.  

In the Elite race, Van Tonder placed an impressive 8th overall in a time of 1:48:24, while D'Oliveira, competing in the Age Group event, claimed a podium finish, placing 2nd in category (Women 30 – 34) and 11th overall in a time of 2:42:13. Jeep Team’s Jay Jay Deysel also competed in the Elite event, but not as part of the South Africa team, with his attendance sponsored by Jeep South Africa. He placed 22nd overall in a time of 2:01:14.  

The Elite event attracted a strong field that included multiple world-champion OCR athletes Jonathan Albon (United Kingdom), Ryan Atkins (Canada) and Hobie Call (United States). Hobie Call is considered the most successful obstacle racer of all time. Albon, who won the inaugural World Championship last year, successfully defended his title to claim the 2015 Men’s win in 1:33:26, with Atkins finishing 2nd in 1:37:52 and the United States’ Cody Moat in 3rd (1:41:38).  

Commented Van Tonder, “What an amazing feeling to be able to toe the line with 200 of the world’s best OCR athletes at the 2015 OCR World Championships! Hands down this was the coldest race I’ve ever done. Out on the course, we were scraping the ice off the monkey bars as we went along. And yes there was freezing cold water as well. I am so happy with my finish – 8th in the world!”  

For the full 2015 OCR World Championships Elite and Age Category results, please go to http://onlineraceresults.com/event/view_event.php?event_id=16672  

Other Jeep Team news…  

Surfski

On Friday evening (16 October), Jeep Team’s Barry Lewin partnered with Australia’s Brendan Rice to take on and win Race#1 of the 2015 Illovo Suncoast Pirates Wall and Back Surfski Series, which took place at Durban’s Battery Beach.

Lewin and Rice started strong, but a costly boat snag on the shark nets forced them to concede the lead mid-race to Gene Prato and Brett Evans.The determined Lewin and Rice fought back, eventually closing the gap and securing victory ahead of second-placed Prato and Evans.  

On Sunday, Lewin and Jeep Team’s Hank McGregor both competed in the 38km 2015 Mondi Mpact Mouth 2 Mouth, which took place between Richard’s Bay and Mtunzini on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. Lewin again partnered with Rice, with the duo proving they are a force to be reckoned with by claiming victory in a record-breaking time of 2:16:14 (the fastest time in the race’s history). McGregor and racing partner Lee Furby placed 2nd in 2:16:36, with Keagan Kruger / Brett Hadiaris in 3rd (2:20:09).  

MTB

Jeep Team’s MTB athletes, Thinus Redelinghuys and Dylan Rebello, have teamed up to compete in the 7-day, 541km Cape Pioneer Trek International Mountain Bike Stage Race, which started on Sunday (18 October 2015) andends on Saturday, 24 October 2015, in the Western Cape.  

This UCI-graded race has attracted the world’s best MTB riders, all intent on earning significant UCI points towards their quest to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Starting in Mossel Bay, the route takes riders along the Western Cape’s unspoiled coastal tracks, through dense Garden Route indigenous forests and over iconic mountain passes, finishing in Oudtshoorn on Saturday.  

After a strong 5th place finish in Sunday’s Prologue, the Jeep Team duo went on to claim 3rd in Stage 1 on Monday in a time of 4:24:42. Team SCOTT Factory Racing’s Gert Heyns / Matthys Beukeswon the stage in 4:22:02, with Roberto Crisi / Emanuele Crisi (Team Celeste Kento Avvenia) 2nd in 4:22:55.  

Said Rebello after finishing Stage 1, “I can’t believe that I finally have a Cape Pioneer podium, after seven 4th places in 2014! Thank you Thinus [Redelinghuys] for pulling me through… now for Stage 2.”

To keep updated with the live results, go to http://capepioneer.co.za/info/results/.