Almost as if the 2009 runners, with their knee and thigh deep snow, had taken the 2010 quota.
The balmy -5°C start, mild conditions on the Lesotho border road with wind measured at only 8m/sec and firm underfoot conditions favoured the fleet of foot. With no deep snow the runners once again took on the challenge of the now traditional Hooggenoeg Ridge section. With the Hooggenoeg Ridge section run able no deviation around marshland or snow drifts was necessary giving our visitors a cumulative climb of only 1346m this year.
Conditions which saw Kerry Koen take three best times with her 6th place overall and Trevor Toerien add a third title, showing that he can run in the dry as well as through knee deep snow conditions when he won last year.
Trevor was first to crest both the legendary Mavis Bank and then Hooggenoeg Point as he ran away from the field to win in a 40+ age group best time of 4:35:38. Trevor became only the third man to take a 3rd Rhodes Trail Run title, others being Jannie le Roux, who completed his 16th Rhodes this year, and Gary Smith.
Ironman South Africa Race Director Paul Wolff took 2nd spot and was followed home by Lance Chapman.
After a three year break from the event Kerry Koen looked effortless as she controlled the ladies race from the front heading Rhodes novice Tracy Zunkel back to the hamlet. Kerry took new Ladies Best Times at Mavis Bank (2:28:31) and Hooggenoeg Point (3:47:19) on her way to a Ladies Best Time of 5:07:54. Sue Chapman, Lance's wife, made it a good day for the Chapman's finishing third overall in the Ladies category.
Kerry and Tracy (10th overall) combined to place two ladies in the top ten for the first time in the 22 year history of the run.
Our local runners seemed to have a fierce competition between themselves with Billy Mollentze finishing a highly creditable 39th overall in 6:25:09 closely followed by Jeanette Steyn two positions further back in 6:28:53. Billy's time was almost 1½ hours quicker than his time last year.
Jeanette, a previous winner of the Ladies category, received a gold medal and a special miniature trophy for being joint 1st Lady in the 40+ category.
Francois and Hannelie Nel, from ‘Hamilton' once again braved the early morning chill to provide refreshments for the runners at their traditional spot at the Kloppershoek turn off. Dave Walker of ‘Walkerbouts' and Margie and Vassie Murray provided much needed sustenance as the by now wobbly participants came off Hooggenoeg Ridge. On the run into town it was once again the feeding stations of Tony Kietzman and Nigel Owles, who had a rollicking good time in the valley, and Kobus Buitendag and Johan and Petri Jordaan who helped the runners back to Rhodes.
The Rhodes Christian School, in spite of an Eskom power out, ensured everyone was well looked after with their usual high standard of catering, something much commented on by the visitors.
41 finishers received their ‘Snowflake' number for completing their third Liberty Medical Scheme Rhodes Trail Run, and Sham Singh and Danny Holton continued their remarkable unbroken run completing their 22nd tour in the foothills of Ben MacDhui. 2010 also marked the first showing of the Liberty Medical Scheme Rhodes Trail Run ‘Lizard Man', Kevin Light, who cheekily created brand awareness at registration and on the route.
Despite the perfect running conditions, or maybe because of, of the 314 entrants there were only 248 finishers inside the 9 hour cut-off.
And keeping with tradition, it snowed on the route the following weekend!
