This year’s Sappi Scottburgh MTB and Trail Running Weekend will see unprecedented numbers for the mountain biking and trail running races on Saturday and Sunday with hundreds of riders in for a treat as they celebrate the tenth anniversary of this sporting gem on the South Coast.
The 2018 edition of the event will form part of the popular Quattro ROAG Series and the South Coast Fever MTB series and Sunday’s 45km marathon will have added spice as riders chase some valuable points in the run in to the final three races in both of these series.
Photo:Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media
With two titles in consecutive years to his name, TIB Insurance’s Andrew Hill will be back on the start line on Sunday hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins. It is going to be tough going for the experienced racer with a stacked field expected.
Despite the dominance of Hill over the past few years, the challenge is going to come from a few riders that he has spent a lot of time riding with and against in the forms of Tyronne White and the young Julian Jessop.
PYGA/Euro Steel’s Jessop will be in a race against time to get down to Scottburgh after he takes part in the South African national cross country championships in Bloemfontein on Saturday. He only needs two more results to complete his allotment of races to qualify for the ROAG Series winner’s prize.
Jessop’s name is on the entry list so it will be interesting to see how the riding and travelling affects him when he gets to the South Coast.
The interesting dynamic that has developed with the race this year being part of the ROAG Series is that if Stuart Marais wants a shot at the prize purse he has to take part in the event. Marais, who will also be in Bloemfontein for the SA Champs, will also need to get back to Scottburgh if he wants to win the series.
Tyronne White is no stranger to racing along the coast and finished second to Hill last year and will be another rider ready to pounce should the riders fighting it out for the top two spots come unstuck.
In the ladies showdown it’s another cross country racer that will be hoping to get back in time for the start on Sunday who will be the major threat. Red Bull/Cannondale’s Bianca Haw will have a whirlwind 24 hours after she finishes her national champs race on Saturday.
In the mix too for a ladies title will be Christie-Leigh Hearder. Hearder is right in the mix for a ROAG Series title and will be hoping to get a win at Scottburgh to give herself some breathing space on the top of the log.
Entries for the mountain biking events, which include a 28km intermediate race and a fun 10km race, are heading towards record levels, making for a bumper weekend for Scottburgh businesses.
Entries for the three new trail runs are close to matching the MTB entry. For the more serious runners there is a Funky Pants 18km run and for the less serious or for those that are looking for a fun morning out there is a Funky Pants 10km run/walk as well as a 5km run/walk.
