Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 112, November 2018 | Page 31

ADVERTORIAL
The Stories
thisMountain
Could Tell!
The Cathedral
Peak Challenge wrapped up on
22 September with the final standings confirmed
after four races, but not before a new men’s
fastest time had been set in the final race!
A
t 3004m, Cathedral Peak is one of the most popular peaks in the
Drakensberg. It was first climbed by D.W. Bassett-Smith and R.G. Kingdon
in 1917, and the normal route from Cathedral Peak Hotel is up a well-worn
path to Orange Peel Gap, along a ridge and up Bugger Gully. The round trip is just
under 21km, with 1531m each of ascent and descent, and can take up to 10 hours
of steady hiking.
The Cathedral Peak Challenge, hosted by the hotel, set out to see how fast it could
be done on the run, with four events during the four-month series, and the athletes
came out to play! Those who participated quickly realised that the magnitude of
the mountain will cut them down to size, but it also built them and changed them
in a way they will never forget. These mountains now carry more stories than ever
before, of elation, pain, personal struggle, strength of character and triumph.
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
While it had looked like Johardt van Heerden’s time of 2:19:33 set in August
could not be beaten, Teboho Noosi had other ideas. The professional athlete
from Lesotho had clocked 2:22:49 in the second event in July, only to see Johard
overtake him on the leader board after the third event, but in the finale he shaved
eight minutes off Johardt’s record to ring the finish bell in an incredible 2:11:34.
As the overall men’s winner of the series, Teboho walked away with R25,000 and
the coveted title, and says he found the almost vertical ascent easier than coming
down. He added that his slower time in the July event was down to inexperience, a
baboon encounter on the trail, and getting a bit lost during the race!
The first woman home in the finale was an emotional Susan Sloan, clocking
3:32:20, which confirmed series leader Nicolette Griffioen as overall women’s
winner and R25,000 richer following her phenomenal 2:44:27 effort in the third race.
Susan, whose time put her overall third in the series, took an unexpected fall on the
course and came in holding her head, saying, “I took a tumble down the mountain
after I clipped a rock. I had to fight the urge to give up, but stayed the course. It
was way tougher than I expected, but the unrivalled alpine beauty made it worth
it. I was so relieved to reach the summit, and this event has made me realise that I
need to spend more time in the mountains.”
While the first mixed team home in the finale was husband and wife duo Jane and
Chris Cherry, with a combined time of 7:53:05, the series title went to Karine
Bezuidenhout and Arlo van der Heerden thanks to their spectacular combined
time of 5:42:40 notched up in the August event, which also earned them R25,000.
SUCCESSFUL SERIES
For Cathedral Peak Hotel owner, William van der Riet, the series has achieved
its objective of bringing people to experience the majesty of the mountains,
and reconnect with the wilderness in its purest form. “By encouraging people
to take a digital detox – to get off their devices and to get outdoors – the hotel
has successfully reminded people about what it means to live in the now and to
connect with each other and the environment. This series reintroduced people to a
hidden gem within the Drakensburg in a unique way, and the memories that were
created will live on way beyond each summit experience.”
Also commenting on the series, race organiser Catri Dixon says, “I have summited
Cathedral Peak 11 times and one thing is certain, the mountains will push you to a
space where regardless of what you are going through in life, you will realise that if
you can face this mountain and its challenges, you can face anything. We are truly
grateful for the incredible support we have had from both elite and everyday athletes,
and look forward to making this an annual event on the trail running calendar.”
For more info on the Cathedral Peak Challenge, including the final leader boards, go to www.cathedralpeak.co.za/challenge/
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