Saturday, 09 April 2011 12:46
Action at Vodacom Corporate Triathlon Challenge powered by Algoa FM
by Jarred Bradley
It was just 10% of Ironman distance but still 100% of the action. The water was calm as the sun peered over the horizon, on a clear morning on Saturday 9 April 2011, but in the hearts of more than 2000 athletes who took part in the Vodacom Corporate Triathlon Challenge powered by Algoa FM, the storms were about to start as the teams got ready to kick-off the official triathlon action of the 2011 Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa weekend.
The Vodacom Corporate Triathlon Challenge is the biggest event leading up to the Spec Savers Ironman South Africa. There was a record field of athletes, with 361 corporate teams, 13 school teams and 291 individual athletes. Men and ladies battled it out physically to make their way to the top of the corporate ladder in a manner of speaking. The Vodacom Corporate Triathlon Challenge consists of three disciplines: 380m swim, 18km bike and a 4.2km run. The spectators supported their teams, sporting corporate branded shirts and one could tell from the enthusiasm of the spectators that they were having just as much fun in sharing the excitement and wonderful atmosphere with the athletes.
The team swimmers opened the event at 08:00am, and the water seemed to play in their favour. Collin Allin, swimmer and runner for the Axxess ADSL corporate team, said the water was beautiful and clean. “It is a great temperature at 19°C. It is a bit ‘choppy’ and there is a back-pull as you move towards the pier,” said Allin. Next to enter the water were the individual men, who started at 08:20am and the individual ladies followed at 08:30am.
The transition process is especially crucial for teams who are taking part in the triathlon event, as the timing chip needs to be passed from one team member to another. The swimmers exit the water and make their way through to the bike transition area. Here, the timing chips are handed over the fence to the cyclists, who cycle their way towards Schoenmakerskop before returning to the start position. As soon as the cyclists return, the timing chips are handed to the runners who run to King’s Beach and back to the finish, to complete the final leg of the race and bring their teams home.
Khanyisa Melwa, matric student of Alexander Road High School, was extremely nervous about completing the running leg for his team. “I have not trained at all,” Melwa said. He was still confident that his team could finish the challenge and make his school proud.
Mike Bosch Properties was the first corporate team to cross the line in a time of 00:47:49 while the first school team to finish was the ‘Little Weewees’ from Grey High School, with a time of 00:50:18. In the individual race the first male to the finish was Rudolf Naude and the first female was Liza Bright with times of 00:49:00 and 00:57:40 respectively.
The event was a huge success, filled with fun and healthy competition. The Vodacom Corporate Triathlon Challenge powered by Algoa FM proved to be a fitting precursor to the highlight of the weekend, the 2011 Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa.
Top 3 results
Corporate Teams:Mike Bosch Properties 00:47:49
Bayethe Shamwari 00:48:48
Wayne Pheiffer Cycles 00:49:47
School Teams:Grey High School – Little Weewees 00:50:18
D.F.Malherbe and Framesby - Team A-Bomb 00:52:25
Alexander Road High School - 3X Trouble 01:01:07
Individual Men:Rudolf Naude 00:49:00
Corney van der Ryst 00:51:40
Emile van Niekerk 00:51:57
Individual Women:Liza Bright 00:57:40
Chrislie-Thandi Niehaus 00:59:55
Cindy Lee Anderson 01:07:48
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