BIKE4BEASTS Race Report 2009

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SUMMARY

On 13th September 2009, almost 60 mountain bikers took part in the first ever Diamond Route BIKE4BEASTS MTB Challenge on the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, near Bronkhorstspruit. This exhilarating and unique cross-country event aims to raise funds for the conservation activities of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, promote awareness of the region, and stimulate eco-tourism. Race organisers, Lycaon Logistics, were thrilled with the success of the event, and hope it will grow in as much popularity as its sister BIKE4BEASTS event held in April each year on the De Beers Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve in northern Limpopo Province.

FULL STORY

Now in its third year, the Diamond Route BIKE4BEASTS VENETIA MTB Challenge has raised almost R200, 000 for the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). Lycaon Logistics was proud to introduce a new addition to the mountain bike calendar, and showcase another Diamond Route reserve with BIKE4BEASTS EZEMVELO. In contrast to Venetia’s aridness, rocky outcrops and magnificent baobabs, Ezemvelo has spectacular cliffs and huge rock formations, and the only ancient rock paintings open to the public in Gauteng.

The BIKE4BEASTS MTB Ezemvelo Challenge route winds for 63 km through the heart of the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, which is situated in Gauteng, and forms part of the Diamond Route, a network of conservation properties owned by the Oppenheimer family and De Beers. It then crosses the Welge River into Telperion, an exclusive and private reserve in the Mpumalanga Province. Following existing vehicle dirt tracks as well as single tracks, riders are rewarded with the unique and privileged opportunity to ride through some of the most stunning scenery in the region. The 4500-hectare reserve has over 2 000 animals of 34 different species and over 250 bird species, and many riders reported amazing sightings of white rhino as they rode alongside and through herds of zebra, black wildebeest, impala and kudu. Only an hour’s drive from Pretoria, it is expected that BIKE4BEASTS Ezemvelo will grow in popularity to match its sister race, BIKE4BEASTS Venetia held in each year in April.

Each year, a different threatened species is chosen as the mascot for the BIKE4BEASTS MTB Challenge. In 2007 the mascot was the black rhino, and in 2008 it was the Endangered African Wild Dog. The mascot for the 2009 challenge was the Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, which is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Of all the big cats, the Cheetah is the least able to adapt to new environments and they also face greater pressure from other native African predators as available range declines. In the past, the Cheetah pelt was viewed as a status symbol of wealth, which led to their being hunted. Current global Cheetah population estimates vary from 7,500 to 10,000, with approximately 550 of these found in South Africa.

The men’s individual category caused much excitement for the spectators and organisers. Damian Booth, Cornell van der Westhuizen and Bernard Bronkhorst, the first, second and third winners of BIKE4BEASTS Venetia in April this year, took on George Oertel, the winner of the very first BIKE4BEASTS Venetia in 2007. Meeting on new territory, these four men took on the challenge to be the first to win BIKE4BEASTS Ezemvelo. With much anticipation, it was Cornell van der Westhuizen who crossed the winning line first with a time of 02:26.55 setting the course record. Cornell crossed the line 3 seconds ahead of Damian Booth and George Oertel and Bernard Bronkhorst finished in third and fourth places respectively. The winning lady was Karin Stoll, with a time of 03:34:13. Kelly Marnewick of The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Carnivore Conservation Group took second place and Thursia Hardenberg in third. The winning team was BIKE4BEAVERS, with time of 03:58:01, with Team Troskie 1 and Team Troskie 2 in second and third places respectively. The youngest rider was Bryton Stevens. Each of the 3 places walked away with prize money, sponsored by Barloworld. Lycaon Logistics would like to thank all of the winners for their extremely generous gesture of donating all of their winnings to EWT. Full race results and details can be found at www.lycaonlogistics.co.za.

Richard Durrant, race commissaire for the past three years of BIKE4BEASTS Venetia has been highly complimentary of the BIKE4BEASTS Ezemvelo challenge.

In addition to major sponsorship from the Diamond Route and Barloworld, the organisers would like to thank the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Land Rover McCarthy, Global Communications, and Exxaro. Special thanks go to all of the volunteers who made the day such a success; Friends of Ezemvelo, the Land Rover Owners Club, staff from EWT and in particular Simon Nash, Shane Clayton and Brenda de Witt for help with designing the course.

More information about the Diamond Route can be found at www.diamondoute.co.za or from Duncan MacFadyen, Manager of Research and Conservation: E Oppenheimer & Son, at Duncan.MacFadyen@eoson.co.za .

Contact: Wendy Collinson
wendy@lycaon.co.za
www.bike4beasts.co.za
Cell: 083 657 1551
Fax: 086 628 8303