BSG Energade Triathlon Series surges forward

PDF | Print | E-mail

Tuesday, 18 October 2011 13:22

User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

BSG Energade Triseries hots up in Potch

Andrea Steyn (Team BSG) makes it a hat trick in the Elite Ladies’ category and Erhard Wolfaardt (Team Mr Price) wins his second race from three starts, in the Elite Men’s category in the 2011 BSG Energade Triseries.

By sunrise on Sunday, 16 October the banks of Potchefstroom Dam were alive with activity as race organisers prepared for the third event of the BSG Energade Triseries. Potchefstroom proved to be an exciting event with 547 entrants for the Main Series and 135 young triathletes in the Kiddies race. The dry weather conditions lead to some very competitive times and spectators were treated to some exciting sprint finishes as race participants battled it out to secure a podium position.

Richard Murray (Team BSG), race favourite in the Elite Men’s category, was well positioned in the bunch following the swim leg, but then picked up a puncture eight kilometres into the bike leg and was forced to drop out of the race. This left the field wide open for Erhard Wolfaardt (Team Mr Price) to take the gold – making this his second win in the 2011 BSG Energade Triseries.

Erhard set the pace with his time of 0:55:12, closely followed by Theo Blignaut (Team Inov-8) who gave a stellar performance securing second place on the day with a time of 0:55:47. Claude Eksteen (Team Inov-8), making his first appearance in the 2011 BSG Energade Triseries, rounded off the podium just ahead of Chris Felgate (Team BSG) in fourth, who was also making his first appearance in the 2011 Triseries. Young talented Rudolf Naude (Team Future Life), rounded off the Elite Men’s top five.

Andrea Steyn (Team BSG) was unstoppable in the Elite Ladies achieving a hat-trick of victories in the 2011 BSG Energade Triseries as she crossed the finish line in a time of 1:02:52 just ahead of young Carlyn Fischer (Team Inov-8) who finished with a time of 1:03:24. Rosalyn Laurens (Team Future Life) came in third position with her time of 1:04:01, followed by Vicky van der Merwe (Team BSG) in fourth and Riana De Lange (Team Ocean Basket) in fifth.

Elite Men’s Category Race Results:

1 Erhard Wolfaardt 55:12

2 Theo Blignaut 55:47

3 Claude Eksteen 56:05

4 Chris Felgate 56:25

5 Rudolf Naude 56:42

Elite Ladies Category Race Results:

1 Andrea Steyn 1:02:52

2 Carlyn Fischer 1:03:24

3 Rosalyn Laurens 1:04:01

4 Vicky van der Merwe 1:04:30

5 Riana De Lange 1:04:57

Young Michael Pienaar took the gold in the Junior (15 – 19) category and was the fastest man in the Main Series with his time of 0:59:20. Michael just beat Wilhelm Steyn, who was the fastest man across the finish line in the first two events of the BSG Energade Triseries. Wilhelm, with his time of 1:00:11 was the winner in the 30 – 39 men’s age category, followed by Clive Chowles in 1:00:38 also racing in the same category.

The Junior women proved to be the fastest competitors amongst the ladies in the Main Series with Mnandi Weber crossing the finish line in 1:09:19 followed by Charne Prinsloo in1:09:31 – both ladies racing in the Junior (15 – 19) category. Esmari Goosen (20 – 29 age group) was third fastest with a time of 1:10:16.

One of the most popular changes carried over from the 2010 Triseries is the 12 – 15 age group in the Kiddies Series, where the race organisers have made this category a timed event. Winners of this race were Nathan Le Roux, who won the boys race with his time of 0:32:58 and Robyn-Leigh Jones, who lead the girls across the finish line in her time of 0:36:33.

The next race in the BSG Energade Triseries will be taking place at Midmar Dam, KwaZulu Natal on Sunday, 30 October. With less than two weeks to go race organisers are reminding athletes to get their online entries in early as entries are capped for both the Kiddies and the Main Series. Visit www.bsgmultisport.co.za to register and secure your spot at the fourth event in the 2011 BSG Energade Triseries.