Buys & Neethling defend their titles at HP Urban Rage
Press Release / 18.12.2009
For the second year, Philip Buys (Garmin Adidas) and Candice Neethling (DCMchrome) were crowned champions of the Hewlett Packard Urban Rage presented by Jeep Apparel at a glitzy grand finale which finished at uShaka Marine World’s Wet n Wild Park on Saturday 12th December.For the Super Cat finalists, it was the culmination of a day’s intense racing over a tight 2km circuit which included thirty obstacles to test the rider’s skill, speed and agility. In a unique racing spectacle, mountain bikers, BMX riders, multisporters and downhill racers were brought together to contest the R50 000 prize purse.
Having set the fastest time on heat one, Craig Paul (Team Jeep) slipped into second place in the Super Cat final - just one second ahead of young Luke Roberts (WSquared), who had qualified seventh. Three seconds later, Travis Walker (DCMchrome) took fourth place, followed by German Xterra Pro Nico Pfitzenmaier who filled the final podium place.
Neethling played a calculated game in the women’s race; racing just hard enough in the first two heats to qualify fourth and secure her position in the women’s top five Super Final. Qualifying third, Hungarian Eszter Edelyi Cluer (Jeep/Multigirl) claimed second place on the podium just six seconds behind Neethling. Fastest in qualifying, Amy-Jane Mundy (Team Jeep) completed a classy women’s podium.
Team Garmin FPC (Fritz Pienaar and Philip Buys) teamed up to win the Cool Cats (Teams of 2) category in a time of 17 minutes and 33 seconds. Team Jeep’s Craig Paul and Peter Smith were second (17min, 41sec) with Team Dura Cycles Jonathan Downham and Tyron Bird in third (18min, 06sec). DCM chrome’s Travis Walker and Candice Neethling dominated the mixed category while Amy-Jane Mundy and Tamryn Taylor (Jeep/Futurelife) won the women’s pairs.
The Corporate Cats (Teams of 3) category was won by the Prairie Dogs (Brandon Moore, Nick Porteous and Wayne Bursey) in 23 minutes, 59 seconds.
Over three hundred participants enjoyed the fantastic course while hundreds of spectators were treated to a display of speed and skill never seen before in the two-wheeled sport. Added to which the Hewlett Packard display truck, specially shipped in from Europe, provided the public with a display of the latest HP technology and some great give-aways throughout the day. With uShaka Marine World alongside, there was fun and entertainment for everyone.
