Otter Challenge sets the tone for Trail Run

The Otter African Trail Run, presented by Emperor Asset Management, is regarded as the Grail of Trail in South Africa and one that leading trail athletes all over the world want to win.

In our build-up and reporting on the Otter, which this year follows the ‘Classic’ east to west run from Storms River to Nature’s Valley we focus especially on two young athletes whose best years lie ahead of them.

These are Bianca Tarboton, one of the favourites to win the women’s race, and Sinovuyo Ngcobo, who is living his dream in his first high-profile trail race, building valuable experience for the future.

by Stephen Granger

Skippy Claassen and Courtney Pulford took the honours at the Otter African Trail Challenge, run between Storm’s River and Nature’s Valley in sunny weather on Thursday (October 7) as elite athletes began to arrive in Nature’s Valley for the Otter African Trail Run to be held on Saturday (October 8).

The Challenge offers an opportunity for the middle of the pack runners to take on the challenging 42 km trail marathon, which takes place over South Africa’s best-known five-day hiking trail. The race includes four river crossings, over 2400m of elevation gain and no fewer than 11 significant climbs. While the cut-off time for the main race on Saturday will be 9 hours, the Challenge affords runners an additional two hours to complete the course.

Conditions for the race were deceptively benign, with a mild tailwind resulting in athletes overheating and struggling with dehydration. And while the Bloukrans River crossing 27km into the race was a mere trickle at spring-low tide when the front-runners went through, the high-tide conditions had become serious enough to lead to a decision to stop the race for the last seven runners on the course.

“A combination of the prevailing conditions and the state and pace of the runners led to the decision – it is highly unlikely that any of the seven would have been able to complete the course before the cut-off in any respect,” race director John Collins commented.

Claassen and second-placed finisher, local runner Josen Swemmer, ran together for most of the race, before Swemmer was forced to stop with cramps on the final climb out of Andre Hut, 8km from the finish. He bravely resumed, finishing just five minutes behind Claassen.

“It was a great run,” said Claassen. “We ran so well together that I felt bad in pushing on when Josen was struggling but it’s great he finished well.”

Pulford ran the ideal race. Starting conservatively she ran faster in the second half, winning by eight minutes in 6:48:53. “It’s my first Otter – an amazing experience,” said Pulford. “I started off comfortably and the lead changed a few times in the first half, before I managed to get away in the second.”

Several of the elites arrived to see the winners of the Challenge finishing and to check out the course for their race on Saturday. LIV2run athlete, 27-year old Sinovuyo Ngcobo from Durban was an early arrival, living his dream to compete against some of South Africa’s best trail athletes on a beautiful coastal trail.

“I’m excited to be here to do the Otter. I have not raced against elite athletes before in trail so this is another step for me – I’m very happy and excited. Ryan Sandes has been giving me some advice about how to run the race. He told me just to have fun – so that’s what I’m going to try to do.

“The LIV village outside Durban have helped me a lot. They have become my second family and have enabled me to get to the race.”

UCT chemical engineering graduate, Bianca Tarboton, has enjoyed some relaxed days in the area to finalise her race preparation, hoping to improve on her second place last year behind Toni McCann. With McCann not racing this year, Tarboton will start favourite to take the title and has the ability to challenge for the record for the “Classic” east to west run of 4:52:51, set by McCann in 2019.

“This year is very different to the last two years, when I’ve arrived at the Otter at the last minute due to academic exams and projects,” Tarboton admitted. “I always seemed to be juggling many things whereas this year I’ve had the luxury of being able to focus just on the race.

“I don’t want to put added pressure on myself by going for the time incentives, and would rather just go out to do my best. If the record or incentive time comes, then that’s a bonus. But I admit that it’s in the back of my head!”

Although Tarboton ran well last year to finish second to McCann, that was in the reverse west to east direction, known as the Retto. She returns on Saturday to the scene of her dramatic race in 2019, where she collapsed through heat exhaustion just a kilometre from the finish. After an hour, she was able to walk the final stretch to finish sixth, but is eager to put that experience behind her.

“That was the first time I had run that distance. I’ve now completed the Otter in the other direction and feel confident of my ability to finish well this time,” Tarboton added.

Otter African Trail Challenge

Results

Men: 1 Skippy Claassens 5:36:50; 2 Josen Swemmer 5:41:32; 3 Dennis Wevell 6:03:57

Women: 1 Courtney Pulford 6:48:53; 2 Dormehl 6:57:14; 3 Karen Luyt 6:58:19

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