Canadianâ€™s Win Senqu African Quest

Rob / 15.06.2004

Beating off strong local competition, team Salomon Canada won the most recent AR World Series event, the Senqu African Adventure Quest. The 500km race, sponsored by the Senqu Municipality and presented by the Adventure Centre for Excellence, is one of the African continent\'s flagship multi-sport events and it gave teams the chance to visit some of the most scenic and demanding terrain in South Africa .

Forty of the world\'s premier endurance athletes had started the African Quest, and one hundred and eighteen hours later, Team Salomon Canada became the first team to complete the grueling course traversing the magnificent landscape of the northern Eastern Cape Province. Along the race route, competitors had to contend with the soaring peaks of the southern Drakensberg (Dragons Mountain) and Witteberg ranges, in the process summitting Ben Macdhui, at 3001m the highest point in the Cape Province. Temperatures were often well below freezing, with the wind chill on Tuesday night measured at a hoary -14 degrees Celsius.

Communities from remote villages like Maclear, Ugie, Rhodes, Tiffindell, Barkley East, Lady Grey, Herschel and Aliwal North contributed greatly to the success of the event. Farmers, conservancies, nature reserves and other local landowners allowed racers and back-up crews access to the area, affording them the opportunity to experience the phenomenal natural splendour of the scenic Ukhahlamba region.

Although the Canadians did have it their own way for most of the latter part of the race, they had to contend with a strong challenge from local teams Diadora, Kinetic Transcor and Tension Structures early on. Team Cyanosis paced themselves beautifully to come from way back in the pack, eventually finishing strongly in second place. Of the ten teams, which started the race, only 7 managed to officially complete a course comparing well with current world standards. \"We were tested every step of the way, but left with enough leeway to enjoy and express ourselves along the route\", said Lawrence Foster of Salomon Canada.

The winning team gains free access to the World Adventure Racing Championships planned for 2005, while the race spoils included cash and equipment prizes as well.

The full results were:

1. Salomon Canada - 4days 21h18m
Lawrence Foster, Tamara Gopel, Chad Ulansky, Scott Ford
Diadora (unofficial team)
Kirsty Burrows, Des Searle, Dave Joyce, Alex Harris
2. Cyanosis
Nicholas Mulder, Erica Terblanche, Clinton MacKintosh, Simon Robertson
3. Tension Structures
Evan Price, Tatum Prins, Jacov Lalov, Andre Gie
4. Jeep
Sakkie Meyer, Jeannie Bomford, Deon Bruss, Max Cluer
5. Kinetic Transcor
Stephan Muller, Heidi Muller, Arrie de Swardt, PJ Doyer
6. Kojopani
Paul Mitchell, Nici Wilson, Kobus van Zyl, Jonathan St Clair
Raid the North (unofficial team)
Geoff Langford, Debbie Gerrand, Kevin Hakl, Mike Popik
Sterling Distance (unofficial? Unconfirmed)
Deon du Preez, Ina van Tonder, Herman Fourie, John-Michael Tawse