Team BSG dominate Midmar round of BSG Energade Triseries

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Wednesday, 02 November 2011 08:11

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Triseries winning streaks continue at Midmar Dam

Queen of triathlon Andrea Steyn (Team BSG) won her fourth consecutive race in the 2011 BSG Energade Triseries on Sunday, as well as making the Midmar Dam round her 35^th win overall in the BSG Energade Triseries since she started taking part. Richard Murray (Team BSG) proved that he was in peak condition answering the question in the much anticipated show down with Erhard Wolfaardt, as he took gold in the Elite Men’s category.

The fourth event of the BSG Energade Triseries was held at Midmar Dam in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 30 October. The increasing popularity of triathlon was evident as race organisers confirmed significant growth in the number of entries received over previous years – 325 entries for the Main Series and 123 entries for the Kiddies’ race.

The event got off to a fantastic start with local hero Henri Schoeman (Team Future Life) leading the Elite Men out of the water by nearly 40 seconds. In the bike leg, Richard Murray (Team BSG), Erhard Wolfaardt (Team Mr Price) and Abrahm Louw (Team BSG) broke away from the bunch, reeling in Henri Schoeman and then further cementing a healthy lead over the rest of the Elite Men. With Louw, Murray and Wolfaardt entering T2 together, it all came down to the run, where Richard Murray was able to get ahead of his rivals and take first place with his time of 0:56:31. Following in second place was Erhard Wolfaardt with a time of 0:57:06, with Abrahm Louw coming in third. Henri Schoeman and Glen Gore (Team Future Life) rounded off the Elite Men’s top 5.

In the Elite Ladies’ race, making her first appearance in the 2011 BSG Energade Triseries, Kate Roberts (Team BSG) was first out of the water with Carlyn Fischer (Team Inov-8) chasing a mere 10 seconds behind her. Kate managed a small lead over the other Elite Ladies out of T1, but they soon caught up as she experienced handlebar problems that took her out of the running for a podium position. Defending champion Andrea Steyn (Team BSG) pulled away creating a significant lead on a very windy bike course, finishing in a time of 1:05:26. Carlyn Fischer, Carla van Huyssteen (both Team Inov-8) and Lauren Dance (Team MAD) entered transition together and battled it out during the running leg for the final podium positions. In the end it was Carlyn Fischer who came in second with her time of 1:06:31, closely followed by her teammate Carla van Huyssteen in third. Kate Roberts, with the best run of the day by nearly a minute and the only women to go under 20mins for the 5km run, closed the gap on all the Elite Ladies, but only managed to pass Lauren Dance, meaning they finished in fourth and fifth place respectively.

Elite Men’s Category Race Results:

1 Richard Murray 0:56:31

2 Erhard Wolfaardt 0:57:06

3 Abrahm Louw 0:57:47

4 Henri Schoeman 1:00:42

5 Glen Gore 1:03:55

Elite Ladies’ Category Race Results:

1 Andrea Steyn 1:05:26

2 Carlyn Fischer 1:06:31

3 Carla van Huyssteen 1:07:05

4 Kate Roberts 1:07:48

5 Lauren Dance 1:08:25

Not to be outdone by his wife’s success in the Elite Ladies’ race, Wilhelm Steyn (30 – 39 men’s age category) was the fastest man in the Main Series with his time of 1:01:50. Wilhelm was followed two minutes later by young Michael Pienaar, competing in the Junior (15 – 19) category, who finished with a time of 1:03:00, followed by Tiaan Rossouw in 1:03:12 who was also racing in the 30 – 39 age group.

The first lady across the finish line in the Main Series was Veteran athlete Kim Watchurst, who finished in a time of 1:09:51, followed by Esmari Goosen (20 – 29 age group) in her time of 1:10:53 and young Charne Prinsloo in 1:11:40, who was competing in the Junior (15 – 19) category.

In the BSG Energade Kids’ Series (12-15 age group), young Nathan Le Roux won the boys’ race after a close tussle with fellow BSG development squad team mate Sidney Engelbrecht. Nathan had to use all his running talent to reel in Sidney, who had the best swim and cycle on the day. Nathan's time of 0:28:36 was almost two minutes ahead of talented Robyn-Leigh Jones (Team Inov-8) who took first place in the girls’ category with her time of 0:30:33, more than three minutes ahead of her closest rival. These talented up-and-coming triathletes are the names to watch as they all followed up their Midmar performances off the back of great results at the third event of the 2011 BSG Energade Kids’ Series, held recently in Potchefstroom.

The next race in the BSG Energade Triseries will be taking place at Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, 13 November. 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 place at the fifth event in the 2011 BSG Energade Triseries.