According to local Cederberg lore, Daniel Theron, the first settler owner of Kromrivier Farm, saddled his horse at the oak tree near the water spring and rode as hard and far as he could, to the foot of the Sugarloaf Peak and beyond. He stopped at sundown and was allotted the parcel of land he had covered in a hard day’s ride by the colonial government, following the custom of the day in the early 1800s (and as described in Olive Neiuwoudt’s book, My Cederberg Story).
On Saturday (May 15) fifty experienced trail runners will be following in the tracks of Theron, but without the advantage of being on horseback, taking on the inaugural Kromrivier Beast – a six peak traverse over almost 50km of tough, technical terrain. And for sections of the route, there will be no trail at all.
To add to the sense of adventure, a ‘weather incident’ is predicted in the area on race-day, promising buckets of rain in the semi-desert wilderness.
No wonder the race brochure warns ‘no pampering of athletes’ (other than indulging in the endless spectacular panoramic views – likely to be restricted due to the anticipated weather). It emphasises the race is ‘for the discerning trail runner, who enjoys adventure and wilderness’.
Climbing just one of the Cederberg’s rocky summits which touch the sky just below 2000m would be considered a rigorous day’s exercise for most. Tagging no fewer than six peaks in less than twelve hours during the race will require special fitness, strength and orienteering skills from those participants looking for something other than a Park Run.
Donkerkloof, eleven kilometres west of the Kromrivier tourist resort as the crow flies, is the highest of the six at 1746m, but not being crows, the runners will take a more taxing route via the Sugarloaf Peak (1445m) and The Pup (1728m). From Donkerkloof runners will turn south and east along an entirely new Cederberg’s trail along the ridgeline, pausing to summit Luna Peak (1675m), Murraysberg (1649m) and finally Winterbach Peak (1536m) before heading home to the finish.
Trail race organiser extraordinaire, Trevor Ball, has signed up several of the ‘usual suspects’ for the race, runners known for their thirst for adventure. The likes of old-times Derrick Baard, Noel Ernstzen and Roger Steel could contest the podium in the men’s race while Mags Wright and Karoline Hanks will likely be to the fore in the women’s.
“In true Ball style, the trail was 85% visible… in some places less convincingly than in others,” said well-known ultra-trail runner, Linda Doke, who recently did a ‘recce run’ of the planned course. “But wow, what a route! I can confidently report that this route ROCKS!
“This one’s not for the faint-hearted or the semi-prepared – it’s tough, it’s on rugged terrain, and as anyone who has hiked or run in the Cederberg will know, that wilderness has no mercy.”
Ultimately, however, the inaugural Kromrivier Beast will not be about ‘first across the line’, but rather about the completion of the route. That will ultimately define the race’s true winners.
The story of Daniel Theron on horseback is described by Olive Nieuwoudt, wife of Ernst Hendrik (Rensie) Nieuwoudt, Gerrit’s great great great grandson, in her book “My Cederberg Story”.
Story by Stephen Granger
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