National #1 Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch

What an opener! Sauser, Breintjies, Bundi - world class. These chaps really lifted our game. Burry looked set on teaching them a lesson but was forced to retire with mechanical problems. It was awesome seeing such support out on the track - loads of fans (why don't they come when just the SA'ns are riding !!??) Wicked. It really fires you up with all the support -thanks everyone !

Well I had a pearler of a race finishing 4th overall and 1st South African. This is the first time in the last 3 years that I have managed to get a decent base training period under my belt, it seems to be paying off already. Hopefully this is a shade of things to come - watch out - XLB is back ! Gary Perkin took some awesome photos out on the course, images HERE.

Hill2Hill - puncture nightmare!

4 punctures but hey, thats biking! Finished the race with a smile and a bruised ego :)

Jeep Msinsi - Nagle Dam - Win

What an awesome dam! Really interesting - thats one of the best things about competing in sport... you get to visit some really amazing places. Nagle dam is set deep in "the valley" just down river from Cumberland Nature reserve.

The Multi-Cross race went well, one team had a good runner who paced me into the finish of the first run.

Well done to Marty and Iain who were both on form. Unfortunately Mart broke his chain otherwise there would have been a tussle for first place within the LRG athletes! Jeannie was once again in a league of her own cleaning up in the ladies division.

Tina had a good race and did really well, despite not training much over the past few months. Shot !

Howick Highlander

2nd Place

Nothing like a Scotsman playing his bagpipes to see us off ! Unfortunately fires demolished the forests around Howick and Karkloof last month. The course organisers did a good job of finding us some new track to ride.

Andrew Warr took the win - well done "Spider-tjie"!

Jeep Msinsi - Shongweni - Win

The multicross event is certainly gaining popularity amongst the Natalians - good to see some new faces out on the course! There were a couple of chaps in Orca gear - does that mean that tar is boring !?? I think they have seen the light.

5km run started us off - nothing too hectic or challenging, after the Xterra Shongweni run course my expectations were perhaps a little too high. Thats probably why the Msinsi series is popular - there is nothing too challenging on the courses so it appeals to everyone.

Bike course was pretty good - 2 x 13km loops saw severe congestion with everyone being out doing laps at the same time! Maybe next year the organisers can take advantage of more of the surrounding hills !!??

The second run was short and steep, its always a killer running after pushing yourself on the bike - good brick training i suppose.

My teammates cleaned up, Martin won the run-ride-paddle event men's and Jeannie Bomford won the ladies section.

Thanks to my Tins and Karlee for coming and supporting me today - my girls are the best!

Cowan House Classic

MUDBATH !!

I exaggerate, it wasn't that bad! It did bring back memories of racing in europe though. A strong field assembled at Cowan House to take on the Hilton singletrack.

Burry took overall honours with Pete Smith hot on his heels. Pete did well to catch Craig Paul who was starting to ease off toward the end somewhat ... but not enough for me to catch them. It was good racing - well done chaps.

Brian Magor and his team did an amazing job on the course, the work and effort put into it was amazing - thanks guys!

Imana Wild Ride - 2nd

Tyrone White partnered me on this unique pairs team event - he has excellent skill on the bike - we combined well to come within striking distance of the win on a couple of occasions. But it was not to be.

Days 1,2 and 3 were challenging and fun - a lot of playing catch-up for us, trying desparately to keep our tyres on the fastest sneaks.

Day 4 in the past has been quite a demanding day but this year, it all fell apart for us. We had tripped the route one month prior to the event and had virtually everyting in check but unfortunately, at the race briefing after day 3, the organisers changed the rules.

They took out a technical section by allowing "mcDonald's sneak" and then allowed everyone to do an additional "peleton shortcut" to cut out the previously compulsory "charles camp". Well, this put the nail in our coffin, Nick Floros and Pete Smith rode a good day, not putting a knobbly out of line to come out victorious. We rode into the bush a couple of times in search of the "new route", sorry for U-us !! Don't worry Nick, i think I found a new sneak on our wanderings !! HA HA - watch your wheel next year...

I had forgotten how much fun the Imana Wild Ride actually is - its certainly my favourite stage race. The navigation adds an interesting dimension to everything - you win some, you lose some. The guys that do their homework reap the rewards. Well done Nick - your knowledge can only be rivalled by your google-earth-wielding boss "farmer Glen", congratulations on a good race.

R