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Scottburgh Winter Solstice Festival Trail Run and MTB Race

Think beach, forest, single track sugar cane and - crocworld!

Well, the Scottburgh Winter’s Solstice Festival event had a huge turnout on Sat 20 June. The Mountain Bikers congregated at the start on the Renishaw Sugarcane Farm.  The route was fast and exciting with dirt road, single track and forest lanes. There was exciting features including riding through the Crocworld, single track through forests and lastly the Cannonbrea SAPPI forest circuit.

See our gallery and race report below...

Peschl too quick at Scottburgh Solstice Festival

Shaun Peschl cruised to a wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural Scottburgh Winter Solstice Festival  mountain bike race at the weekend when he took control from the first climb of the 42km course and was in command from there to the finish.

Peschl modestly said after the event that “it was not an easy race”, but the five minutes the Marshalls World of Sport team rider took out on Mongoose teammates Brandon Moore and Nick Porteous proves he was never seriously challenged despite the big field of over 600 riders.

The undulating nature of the course through the sugar cane area between Scottburgh and Umkomaas (including a section through Croclworld), meant Peschl had to work hard in a time-trial situation. And he had to keep pushing himself to prevent the chasing duo, who were working together, from whittling away his lead. Subaru’s Carl Calverley rode to a comfortable fourth, a minute ahead of the first under 18, Elmo van der Spuy.

The women’s race was a battle of the youngsters with Candice Parker-Dennison finishing five minutes ahead of fellow under 18 Tamika Haw, with the first senior, Lucy Kewley, grabbing third, six minutes further back.

In the 24km trail run, Professor Cele led home of field of close to 300 runners. He was two minutes clear of Miles Rasmussen as they crossed the beach and returned to the Scottburgh Life Saving Club with Sibongiseni Maluleka another two minutes of the pace.

The Scottburgh Winter Solstice Festival, which featured three mountain bike races, three trail runs and the Island Tribe Surf Ski race, formed part of the annual South Coast Sardine Festival.

Mountain bike results

Men
1 Shaun Peschl  1:40:46;
2 Brandon Moore 1:45:52;
3 Nick Porteous 1:45:54;
4 Carl Calverley 1:47:52;
5 Elmo Van Der Spuy (1st U18) 1:48:56.

Under 18:
1 Van Der Spuy;
2 Lee Penderis 1:49:22;
3 Evan Van Der Spuy 1:55:04;
4 Rudi Kuhn 1:56:05.

Master:
1 Paul Lancaster 1:53:01;
2 David Douglas 1:57:21;
3 Charles Stander 2:02:02.

Veterans:
1 Glen Beckett 1:54:57;
2 Daniel Otto 1:55:01;
3 Andy Wood 2:07:57.

Women:
1 Candice Parker-Dennison (1st U18)  2:14:19;
2 Tamika Haw (2nd U18)  2:19:37;
3 Lucy Kewley 2:25:39;
4 Hayley Smith (3rd U18) 2:25:53;
5 Nikki Coates 2:26:50.

Trail run results
1 Professor Cele 1:56:58;
2 Miles Rasmussen 1:59:09;
3 Sibongiseni Maluleka 2:01:29.