“Same but different” adventure racing over the Easter Weekend
The BUCO Adventure Easter Weekend has been going for 12 years and when COVID put paid to the 2020 event it could have been the end of it. A lifeline from BUCO Plett, MTO Trails, and Plett Tourism in various ways and a pile of volunteers saw the event take place in a “same, same but different” format over the Easter Weekend
Saturday saw the traditional trail runs taking place at Cairnbrogie and the surrounding MTO plantations. The weather played into our hands and 132 runners of all ages turned up to take on the different runs from 5 to 16km in length. The open spaces and lack of the normal market festivities allowed the runners to enjoy the event, have some refreshments, and head home.
Winners
16km Mens
- Melikhaya Msizi Msizi 1:12:22
- Rodney Prins 1:13:09
- Terry Pickard 1:20:37
16km Ladies
- Monica Taylor 1:46:03
- Tamara Macmillian 1:48:12
- Taryn McLintock 1:49:1
The local Plett tourist attractions all came to the party and loads of runners will be enjoying activities around Plett from the lucky draw prizes donated.
Sunday saw a brand new event on the calendar, The BUCO Adventure DUO Challenge – a Ride-Run-Ride event hosted in the MTO Keurbooms Plantations. The event saw individuals and relay teams take on the three challenges for a total of 30kms with a leg-breaking 1000m of climbing. The winner was local Kevin Evans who managed to secure the win and showed that he is not just good on the bike but all the running to the shops during lockdown paid off.
Kevin had this to say:
“What a scenic route James Lettuce managed to set out for the BUCO Duo Easter event. James’ routes and events never disappoint, and today’s event lived up to all expectations.
The two MTB routes, 26km in total had a very punchy and hard 700m of vertical ascent, but the climbing was well rewarded with a super-fast Rocky jeep track, and then some sublime purpose-built single-track through the pine forests of MTO.
The 5km trail run was easy to underestimate with nearly 300m of vertical but again the views over the bay from the top of the climb were simply spectacular.
All in all a fantastic event and a much-needed one after such a dry spell of good events. Thanks Muddy Foot and Lettuce for putting on the Easter games as usual!”
Second across the line and first in the relay category was Kawno Academy coach Sipho (who did the run leg) and his riding sidekick Anelisa Aries. The beauty of this event was that we were able to get a wide range of people out onto the challenging course, but the shorter (yes harder) distance did allow them to come back to the transition area and refuel and head back out again.
Race organiser James Stewart said about the event:
“Yes it was tough and I never undersold the event, but people talk about tough. We do go out there to challenge ourselves and events like these make memories and allow people to go that little bit harder or further. I loved putting it together and would have loved to take part and am 100% doing it again next year.”
Thank you all for keeping the ball rolling and we look forward to a great event-filled 2021!
