Monday, April 21, 2025

Trail Running

Nedbank athlete, Anel Terblanche wins UCT’s 10km Memorial Run

By Stephen Granger Nedbank athlete, Anel Terblanche, won an exciting UCT 10km Memorial Run from the University of Cape Town campus in ideal conditions this morning (Sunday 1 May), winning the Merrilyn Smith trophy in the 40th anniversary of the event. Six...

Ultra-trail Drakensberg unearths new South African distance running star

By Stephen Granger A new South African ultra-distance star was unearthed at the fifth Ultra-trail Drakensberg, which took place from the Premier Sani Pass Hotel yesterday (Saturday 23 April) with 35-year-old Doug Pickard upsetting pre-race favourite Simon Tshabalala in the...

40th anniversary edition of UCT 10km Memorial Run to focus on celebrating Merrilyn Smith

By Stephen Granger Forty years ago, the life of Merrilyn Smith, a talented athlete and graduate from the University of Cape Town, was tragically cut short in a domestic accident.  On Workers Day this year – 1st May – runners will...

Africa’s most coveted ultra-trail race promises spectacular trails and a quality field

By Stephen Granger uKhahlamba, the Barrier of Spears, the Dragon Mountains or, as most know it, the Drakensberg, is Southern Africa’s most formidable mountain massif, containing the highest peaks in Africa south of the Rift Valley.  Forming the country divide...

Toni McCann on song in the Canaries, Kenya’s Diana Chepkemoi has a strong run...

By Stephen Granger South African trail athlete, Toni McCann, ran a superb race to finish second to local favourite, Sara Alonso Martinez from Spain, at the challenging Transgrancanaria 43km Marathon, run on the Spanish north Atlantic island of Gran Canaria...

Festival of trail races an ideal platform for new-look Toni

By Stephen Granger Leading South African trail athlete, Toni McCann, laces her new-look trail shoes this weekend (Saturday 5 March) for her first race of the year – the Transgranaria 43km, part of the series of races making up the...

How to form a winning partnership – UTCT and Table Mountain National Park

By Stephen Granger Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) Manager Frans van Rooyen has been unstinting in his praise for the recent Ultra-trail Cape Town (UTCT), suggesting that the event’s partnership with the people who look after the city’s huge tourist...

When a successful sporting event becomes Africa’s best brand advertising

By Stephen Granger The dust has settled on Ultra-trail Cape Town (UTCT) trails and most of the international athletes who participated have found sufficient gaps in flight bans to depart our shores, following an exceptional Ultra-trail Cape Town event which...

Live action another winner at UTCT

By Stephen Granger Jim Walmsley and Courtney Dauwalter blazed to impressive victories on Table Mountain trails in last week’s Ultra-trail Cape Town (UTCT) 100km, but there was an impressive ‘behind the scenes’ alternate ‘relay run’ over the challenging course with...

Walmsley takes Khumalo’s record at UTCT

Jim Walmsley wins Ultra-trail Cape Town 2021. Photo: Stephen Granger By Stephen Granger Jim Walmsley gave an exhibition of ultra-trail running the like of which has never been seen on the continent to win the Ultra-trail Cape Town in a new...