Race Report: SA DHI Cup Round 4 & KZN Enduro 5

KZN ENDURO ROUND 5

A brisk, chilly morning greeted riders in Town Bush Trails, formerly Cascades Mountain Bike Park in Pietermaritzburg. Saturday saw the running of the final KZN Enduro, the fifth in the series and riders last chance to garner points towards the series leaderboard.

Course designer Nick Floros didn't disappoint with a mix of technical and fun trails designed to get the adrenaline pumping. Firm favourites "Left Right", "Floros Gives You Wings" and "Supertubes" has racers smiling from ear to ear right up until the last tap out.

Town Bush Trails (formerly Cascades MTB Park) doesn't disappoint with its lush forest sections. Andron Allan Pic: Chris Taylor Media

After the final chip was read, it was no surprise that reigning champion Keira Duncan once again held on firmly to his series lead, and win overall. Having won the SA Cup, and KZN Champs in June this powerhouse of a rider was not about to let this one slip away.

Keira Duncan setting the standard in KZN Enduro racing, and stamping his cleats firmly on that coveted top spot.

Ballistic Bike Armours Nic Venter, a regular at the events cruising through "Gums"

The ladies' competition was clinched by Louise Kotze, an enduro legend who took some time off the circuit but proved that wasn't enough to stop her winning the women overall yet again.

LOUISE KOTZE 14:24
MELODY FRENCH 15:44
JADE DAVIES 16:14
AMBER COLE 16:20
WENDY ODENDAAL 16:50

Overall Mens Podium:
KEIRA DUNCAN 11:14
OMAR WILSON 11:49
STUART WATERWORTH 11:54
ANDRE PRETORIOUS 12:10
CAMERON MOREWOOD 12:26

---------

SA CUP DHI 4

The final race of the season, the SA CUP DHI 4 was combines with both the KZN and Gauteng Provincial Champs events.

With riders from as young as 9 taking on a modified version of the World Cup track racing was an intense affair with coveted UCI points on the line. "Dr Evil", "A-Frame" and "Excalibur" were but a few of the big features riders had to execute with perfection in order to walk away with the podium place.

Young Sebastian Flynn Dudad-Smith from Western Cape hitting the "big stuff" showing some of the older guys how it's done. After a huge crash that laid waste to his seeding run, he was up and at em with his second run.

The racing was tight, and the crowd was waiting with baited breathe for the showdown between Junior Men, Philip van Schalkwyk and Ross Kew, with Ross having taken the seeing run by a split of a second, but it was Philip van Schalkwyk who walked away with the gold, and the valuable UCI Points.

Sean Bowden from team Trail Centre went on to claim his first Elite win of the season.

The weekend saw Sabine Thies close her lead on hopefully Frankie Du Toit claiming the title of SA Cup Series and SA Champion.

Juniors "The Hall Boys" twin sons of local legend Jason Hall from "Live Life" hitting tables as practice came to an end.

Blake Frosham giving it his all out on track. Pic: Chris Taylor Media

Vaughn Preston sending it on "A-Frame"

Overall Elite Mens and Women's winners Sean Bowden and Sabine Thies

Junior Mens Podium - Philip van Schalkwyk, Ross Kew and Nate Hall

PHILIP VAN SCHALKWYK (WP) 04:22.01
ROSS KEW 04:27.39
NATE TANNER HALL 04:29.85
LIAM TYLER HALL 04:30.99
CAIDE GOVEIA 04:34.41

Photographer Chris Taylor Media [Cape Town]
Results:
Enduro http://www.elitetiming.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/KZN-Enduro-Champs.xlsx
DHI http://www.elitetiming.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SA-DH-Cup.xlsx

Posted In:
Racing and Events Race Reports

Author Info:

kzngravity
Member since Mar 4, 2019
16 articles