Locals dominate at K2C 2024!
The 9th running of the Kruger2Canyon Challenge on 6 & 7 July 2024 saw locals show their class and partnerships taking K2C to the next level! Hosted by Lauren and Andrew Booth at Laerskool Mariepskop in Kampersrus, Limpopo, the event provides a platform for trail runners to challenge themselves while exploring Mariepskop Mountain (the most northern tip of the Drakensberg) and the Lowveld wilderness on foot.
Hosted in partnership with the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, the event raises funds for the meaningful conservation work undertaken by this dynamic organization.
With four distances available over the 2 days of running, participants either take on the 70 km 44 km 30 km or 20 km stage race over the 2 days. A field of 241 participants gathered from all over South Africa, as well as Canada, and Switzerland, to take on what is known to be one of the toughest trail stage races in the country.
While the focus of this event is primarily on the experience out on the trail and enjoying the diverse landscapes, the racing at the sharp end of the field is always incredibly fierce at the Kruger2Canyon Challenge. The men’s 70 km Stage race winner hailing from Acornhoek, Tshepo Pebane showed his class and the rest of the field a clean pair of heels, winning in 7:29:14 ahead of Jason Peckham in 2nd (7:37:04) and Chris Louw in 3rd (7:49:04). In the woman’s 70 km event, local Kampersrus resident & physiotherapist Karine Bezuidenhout showed the benefit of her weekly training on the mountain, taking her fourth win at K2C and 4th overall in 8:05:48.
Hoedspruit residents, Francois Steyn & Nicole Fiolet took the top spots in the 44km Stage Race, while Kayla Wheeldon won the 30km womens stage race and Steyn’s brother Villiers was the 3rd man home. The newly introduced 20km stage race saw a clean sweep by the women, taking the top three positions overall – Joané Pienaar 1st, her mother Rina de Klerk 2nd and Mareli Janse Van Rensburg finished 3rd. Pienaar & Janse van Rensburg are both teachers at Laerskool Mariepskop, emphasising the benefit of local knowledge!
For full results, click HERE.
On Friday evening, participants and spectators were treated to a demonstration by Colbec K9 on their work with K9 tracking dogs and their use in detection, tracking and detaining suspects. Colin & Tristan Patrick not only demonstrated the abilities of their K9s, but that they are fiercely determined athletes themselves, completing the 30km Stage race, with K9 Koda and K9 Tora alongside them every step of the way!
Saturday saw the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre captivate the audience with their snake demonstration. Very active in the conservation of reptiles in the Lowveld, they uphold their ethos of conservation through education and research, and are on most local residents’ speed-dial for their service of removing / rescuing reptiles in “undesirable” locations. They demonstrated how the feared snakes (venomous and non-venomous) avoid humans whenever possible and taught us so much!
“While it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to pull off an event like this: said Lauren Booth “Without the support from crew, safety teams, and partners and sponsors, the event wouldn’t’ have been the success that it was. We are so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them and to showcase the amazing work being done by the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere organisation.”
The event was supported by partners PURA Beverages who supplied their new electrolyte beverage, PUA Hydration to keep runners well hydrated throughout the event. Between them and the amazing services from AM Spa, who provided massage services throughout the event, there was no cramping on the finish line at K2C 2024!! Hoedspruit FM were the event Media partners, essentially our “voice” into the community and beyond – tune into them Live, and listen out for Lauren’s final interview with Greg Smith coming up soon – where they dissect what when down at K2C 2024!
Dates for Kruger2Canyon Challenge 2024 have provisionally been set for 27 – 29 June 2025, with entries set to open on 1 September!