Illovo Eston MTB Challenge - World's Biggest 1 Day MTB EventThe e’Lan South African Rugby Legends, led by ex Scottish and Springbok hooker John Allan, have pledged their support for the Illovo Eston MTB Challenge to be held at Eston, KZN on the 2nd August. Ex Natal Sharks and Springbok rugby players will be swopping rugby boots for cycle cleats and baggy shorts for tight lycra...
One of “Natal’s” most capped centres, Jeremy Thomson is already a fully fledged mountain biker competing on a par with South Africa’s established professional riders. Thomson has brought the same dedication and determination to mountain biking that saw him win numerous Natal / Sharks and Springbok Caps. He will be competing for a win in the overall and age categories of the 60km Illovo Marathon.
At the other end of the scale, household names like John “Slugger” Slade, Wayne Fyvie, Shaun Platford, Trevor Halstead, Craig Jamieson and the legend himself – John Allan, have all been invited by the SA Rugby Legends to attend the day. These legends will all be competing in the less demanding distances of 40 and 18km, but you can be sure that the action on the course will be on a par with a full rugby international.
Mountain biking has been identified by Allan as a good way of getting the Rugby Legends into communities that have shown excellent service to the sport of Rugby as well as a means of keeping the guys “relatively fit” after their competitive rugby days are over. Gary Fyvie, brother of Sharks stalwart and tearaway flanker Wayne Fyvie, farms in the Eston district and is chairman of the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club. The farmers club is the host of the mountain bike event which is held to raise funds for the community and to assist with various community projects. Over the last 3 years approximately R250 000 has been raised for the community, funding projects like fencing around farms schools, repairing a roof of the local church, shelving for school books and a contribution to a resource centre for the Eston Primary School. Without outside contributions, these projects would never have been possible.
The ever approachable e‘Lan SA Rugby Legends team will be available after their rides to sign autographs and chat to any aspiring youngsters who are thinking of Rugby as a career. Make sure you have your pen and autograph book on hand to make the best of this unique opportunity.
If you need any more info on the Illovo Eston MTB Challenge, go to www.illovosugar.co.za and click on the race logo for more information. Or look at www.roag.co.za for entry details.
