TRAIL RUNNING
Introducing the Teams
The combinations that were put together by team managers for the challenge saw Springbok rugby players Hanyani Shimange , John Smit and Schalk Brits form the first team to go on 6 September , with fellow Bok Butch James as their manager . The third team on the roster would be soccer , setting off on 27 September , with Bafana legends Matthew Booth , Siyabonga Nomvethe and Teko Modise managed by 1996 African Cup of Nationas winning skipper Neil Tovey , while the final team to set out on 12 October would be Proteas cricketers Lance Klusener , Makhaya Ntini and Monde Zondeki , with legendary fielder Jonty Rhodes as their manager .
Spectacular lightshow over the pan
Drawing Battle Lines
Fast forward to 2020 , some 90 years after Campbell ’ s expedition , and the Verneukpan once again played host to speed attempts , but of a very different kind , as the BrightRock Battle of the Sports teams took turns to challenge the unforgiving geography of the former lake . If Campbell was the Flash in the Pan , then these athletes were the Clash in the Pan .
The event saw teams of three athletes from each of the sporting codes circumnavigate a 200km route around the pan , on foot , while pulling their provisions on a light frame cart on ‘ fat-boy ’ mountain bike tyres . Starting in the north-western corner , they completed an anti-clockwise trek before finishing back where they started , battling not only the flat terrain that offered no shade and no respite for tired muscles , but also temperatures that ranged from severe heat to bitter cold . The teams were accompanied by expedition leader and adventure sportsman Erik Vermeulen , while a fourth star of each sport acted as the nonrunning manager for each team .
The aim of the event was not only for the athletes to defend their sport ’ s honour and secure ultimate bragging rights around which sport produces the toughest athletes , but more importantly , to effect positive change by appealing to passionate South African sports fans to support them and help raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts in South Africa .
United by Sport
The event was the brainchild of Clive Grinaker , founder of the Events to Aid NGO , with the goal to raise R50-million to protect vulnerable populations in South Africa from COVID , as well as to assist all patients and healthcare workers in critical care facilities throughout South Africa in need of PPE , oxygen and vaccines . “ This event is the ultimate race of a lifetime – a race between sporting athletes and ultimately a race against time to support not only the frontline workers that continue to put their lives at risk each day , but also to support the oxygen eco-system and vaccination roll-out in South Africa , with our NGO partners , Right to Care ,” says Clive .
However , it was the running team , scheduled to go second on 16 September , that really made the pundits sit up and take note , because the team initially consisted of three-time Comrades Marathon winner Bongmusa Mthembu , Comrades Marathon course record-holder David Gatebe , and 1991 Comrades winner Nick Bester , with nine-time Comrades winner Bruce Fordyce as team manager . This team was immediately tagged as favourites , even though Nick would be the oldest competitor in the challenge , because the man they call ‘ Yster ’ has maintained his fitness through the years , and was training up a storm ahead of the challenge .
Sadly , Nick did not get to compete in the challenge , as just over two weeks before the running team ’ s departure date , he was brutally attacked by muggers while out mountain-biking in the Magaliesberg near his home . He was beaten up by three assailants , had his clothing , bike and other valuables stolen , was left tied up , and had to slide on his back to a nearby property to ask for help . He was taken to hospital and found to have three cracked ribs and a fractured cheekbone , as well as other bruising , grazing and abrasions , but thankfully was able to make a relatively quick recovery .
This meant that the running team needed a replacement , and that Bruce and Nick put forward the name of Comrades 2019 gold medallist Jenna Challenor to take Nick ’ s spot , and he explained the choice of making her the only woman in the challenge . “ I believed Jenna would be strong enough to help the other Comrades runners still win this event . We all know how strong women are on endurance and tough events like this , and at the end of the day it would be the head , not the body , that would be the deciding factor for victory – and all Comrades gold medallists have got that strength .”
Jenna didn ’ t hesitate when asked to sign up for the challenge , saying it was an absolute honour to be stepping into such big shoes , and that she had no problem being the only female participant . “ I grew up with two older brothers who were both pretty sporty , and I did everything they did , so competing with the guys is nothing new . Also , running is such an individual sport , so this team effort is going to be really fun ,” she said . “ It has been a really hard couple of months for most people , and I have been looking for something I can do which can add a bit of positivity . I absolutely loved this initiative , and the opportunity to give back .”
“ While our sports heroes were battling it out on the pan , we encouraged ordinary citizens from all walks of life , sports fans , corporates and schools to also do their own 200 kilometres , over the five weeks of the event , whether in teams of ten with each person doing 20km , or 100 people each doing 2km . As long as participants registered and the ‘ Challenge ’ added up to 200km , then the objective had been achieved . Each entrant donated to the cause and was part of the excitement ,” he adds .
There is no doubt that the power of sport can be used to drive positive change , and this was one of the catalysts for event sponsor BrightRock to become involved in the event . “ At BrightRock , we have learnt that even during life ’ s most unexpected changes , one can find positive opportunities . Also , we have seen that sport , with its inherent unpredictability , provides the perfect platform for this message of embracing change . Sport unites people by bringing our sports legends together with all South Africans to effect the changes we wish to see in our society and , in this case , it can help alleviate some of the impact that COVID-19 has had on our country ,” says BrightRock Deputy CEO , Suzanne Stevens .
The complicated 200km route
Team Running ’ s Bongmusa Mthembu , David Gatebe and Jenna Challenor
25