Underberg was a hive of activity this past weekend, the 1st & 2nd February, as thousands of sports enthusiasts, music lovers, friends and family flocked to the town of Underberg to participate in the FNB Drak Adventure Weekend, which comprised of three main sporting events, the NT3C Drak Challenge, the Euro Steel Drak Descent and the Euro Steel Run the Rivers combined with the FNB Drak Music Festival.
With full fields and perfect weather, the stage was set for an enjoyable few days in the mountains with like minded individuals. The ever-popular music festival proved a highlight of the weekend with Prime Circle headlining the music line-up at the Country Club on Saturday night.
The running prowess of previous race winner Phillip Shezi saw him a literal country mile ahead of his competitors in the Euro Steel Run the Rivers Trail Run, winning in a time of 2:46.19, from Bongukwanda Dlamini (3:05.15) with Andrew Erasmus rounding out the podium. Kerry-Anne Walton (3: 38.35) had a tighter tussle with Anja Heenop (3:44.13) and Amy Mathew taking 3rd in the Ladies race to take home the spoils.
The 2019 Cape Epic stage winners, Team Pyga Euro Steel, took line honours in the Euro Steel Drak Descent, coming home comfortable winners from second placed overall and winning solo competitor, Andrew Hill. The pair of Matthys Beukes and Pieter Du Toit rode for a shade under 4 hours to complete the 91km over the two days, both full of smiles and compliments of the single track heaven they rode. The Ladies race was comfortably won by Chriestie-Liegh Hearder & Claudia Slattery, while the solo Ladies winner Hayley Smith won the weekend overall, in a time of 4:48.29.
Euro Steel sealed the weekend of top steps on the podium through Andrew Birkett and Jenna Ward, by winning the N3TC Drak Challenge, the canoe race down the clean and fast flowing Umzimkulu River where there was action aplenty for the 480 paddlers who participated in this iconic paddling event.
Race Organisers of the MTB and Trail Run events, Sani Spoors, were thrilled at the numbers as well as the smooth running of all the events. Race Director Derek Christie commented, “So many elements have to come together on race day for everything to be successful and we learn so much each year on how to improve, and when it all goes right, it’s a massive sense of achievement. We are so happy that the competitors had a wonderful weekend and that all of our pre-race objectives were met. It’s a huge thanks to our sponsors for making this a reality for us.”
The race looks set to enjoy a continued increase in its participation numbers for next year and those lucky enough to secure an entry will be the envy of their friends and colleagues.
For more information, contact drakdescent@sanispoors.co.za
The Spoors Team
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