Brandon and Michelle are Maxi Race royalty in storm-affected race

George athlete, Brandon Hulley, overcame some of the toughest trail conditions in the business, to win his first major career title at the K-Way Maxi Race Cape Winelands 75km, presented by Banhoek Chilli Oil, at Stellenbosch over the weekend (Saturday 30 September).

1400 participants defied the conditions and took part in one of the seven events on offer between 7km and 75km.

The only athlete in the field to break the 8-hour barrier, Hulley won in 7:58:20, to finish 16 minutes clear of Joshua Blackshaw, with Didier de Villiers another 13 minutes back in third place.

Constant rain in the morning of the race added yet more water to the valleys and watercourses, saturated from the cut-off low downpour five days previously, making river crossings ever more dangerous as the race ran its course. With the third, and final, crossing taking the form of a flash flood, the organisers stepped in to halt the race.

“Two-thirds of the athletes had crossed the third and last significant river,” said Christiaan Greyling of the organising team. “But the river was rising rapidly and we needed to ensure race safety. We drove the remaining thirty athletes around the mountain so they could complete the final 10km to gain their medal.

“But overall we are happy that the race went ahead.  And everyone had same story about the ‘quite treacherous and but amazing route.’”

Many athletes struggled to ford the rivers. “I think my light frame was not the best for standing up to the strong flow,” admitted Pretoria ultra-trail athlete, Kennedy Sekhuthe, who had run in the chasing pack for much of the first half. “I lost my footing and hit my hip and shin on a rock. That slowed me and I ended withdrawing a few kilometres further on.”

Seasoned campaigner, AJ Calitz, agreed. “It was absolutely brutal out there – a race of attrition rather than speed.”

Another athlete earning her first call-up to the top of the podium in a major race was Hout Bay master, Michelle Rolfe, who saw off the challenge of race favourite, Caro Jordaan, to win the women’s race in 10:13:07. Leigh de Necker overhauled Jordaan in the final quarter to take second, almost 40 minutes off the lead time.

Experienced ultra-trail campaigner, Anele Bans, flew away from the start, and was almost five minutes clear of a six-strong pack through Banghoek Chilli Oil at 14km. Top trail athletes, Josh Chigome, Kennedy Sekhuthe and AJ Calitz, looked comfortable with Hulley, Joshua Blackshaw and Nelis Strydom also in the mix.

Women’s favourite, Caro Jordaan, held a minute lead over Rolfe with Jeanine Peck in third a further five minutes back.

A determined-looking Bans had increased his lead at the second checkpoint at 20km and was over 7 minutes clear of Chigome, who had started to make a move from the pack. Hulley and Sekhuthe were just 10 seconds back with Calitz in 5^th another 20 seconds down.

Rolfe had switched places with Jordaan and now held a minute lead on the early frontrunner with Von Broembsen having moved up into third.

Bans was a man on a mission and was ten minutes clear through L’Ormarins at 31km, with Hulley having moved into second ahead of Chigome. Calitz and Sekhuthe held onto a close 4^th and 5^th respectively.

Strong-running Rolfe had moved another three minutes clear of Jordaan in 3:18:34.

The race changed dramatically between L’Ormarins and the next check-point at Assegaaiboskloof in Jonkershoek at 52km, with Bans slowing substantially and Chigome and Sekhuthe dropping out of contention and out of the race.

Hulley moved into the lead at 45km and consolidated up a steep technical climb to Assegaaiboskloof, which he raced through in 4:48:10. Only a minute separating Blackshaw and Calitz in 2^nd and 3^rd, who were trailing five minutes back of the leader.

“There were five of us running together behind Anele for much of the first half of the race,” said Hulley. “The two Joshuas (Chigome and Blackshaw), AJ and Kennedy and I felt comfortable at that pace.

“At the Berg River Dam aid station (30km), I spent a bit longer than the others refueling, but I was feeling good on the long climb out of the station.  I was able to run all of it and about 4km past the station took lead from the others and never saw them again.

“I caught Anele at 45km – he told me he’d gone out too hard too early and was clearly struggling. I was enjoying the big climbs and wet weather as it felt similar to the Outeniqua Mountains near George, where I do my training.”

Hulley and Rolfe both finished strongly, opening their advantage still further on their rivals as they raced to decisive victories.

“In the past, I’ve had one or two stomach issues and off days which prevented me from performing to my potential. I finally managed to crack it today and I’m really pleased,” said Hulley.

Jacques du Plessis continued his recent impressive mountain form with an emphatic victory in the 45km race in 3:22:04, 9 minutes clear of Southern Cape athlete, John April, with Maryke van Zyl winning with women’s race in 4:14:45.

“My strategy was just to run very conservatively and make a move at the end,” said Du Plessis. “So me and John were just sticking with each other but I wasn’t really pushing. He started slipping back just before halfway but I just continued my pace.

“I guess I just felt really good today.  The trails were very slippery and there was one really big crossing which felt a bit sketchy. The rest were small but there were plenty of them. But overall the trails were very runnable which I love.”

Oudtshoorn-based athlete, Underson Ncube, took the honours in the 30km race in 2:13:02 in the longest race of his career, while German-born athlete, Marion Leiberich, was in a class of her own in the women’s race,  placing 4^th overall.

“It rained from start to finish so it was quite a mudfest and a slip and slide party,” Leiberich reflected. “But it was fun and a good training run. After last week’s storm I expected the trails to be worse. I’m impressed the race organisers made it happen after all the storm damage.”

Results: K-Way Maxi Race Cape Winelands

75km

Men

1 Brandon Hulley 7:58:20; 2 Joshua Blackshaw 8:14:49; 3 Didier de Villiers 8:27:08; 4 Pieter Durandt (1^st veteran) 8:40:14; 5 AJ Calitz 8:43:04

Women

1 Michelle Rolfe (1^st master) 10:13:07; 2 Leigh de Necker 10:52:08; 3 Caro Jordaan 11:24:36; 4 Suzette von Broembsen (1^st veteran) 11:41:32;

45km

Men

1 Jacques du Plessis 3:22:04; 2 John April 3:31:56; 3 Cornel Smuts 3:46:07; 3 Wandisile Nongodiwa (1^st veteran) 3:49:23; 5 Rob Hobson 3:50:45

Women

1 Maryke van Zyl 4:14:45; 2 Christelle Hattingh (1^st veteran) 4:25:46; 3 Monique Agenbag 4:28:18; 4 Nicola de Villiers 4:37:00; 5 Carla Whitehead 4:43:25

30km

Men

1 Underson Ncube 2:13:02; 2 Cameron Mackintosh 2:15:28; 3 Tyler Coates 2:16:26

Women

1 Maron Leiberich 2:18:05 (4^th overall); 2 Nicola Vahrmeijer 2:32:26; 3 Sarah Church 2:39:41