Year end efforts

The 23rd December saw a small field line up. Sean Underwood returned to his bike after a considerable period of inactivity. Sean's regular partner Craig Randall kindly held his hand on the way round, although this may have been mixed blessing as Craig's form of encouragement is along the lines of: "Hey hurry-up, what's up with you, you tired or something, yus' you're slow, taking strain ? Come on its getting dark!"

Raw took off with speed and was hoping that Randall would come past to give him a tow on the Nkhanini back straight, but it wasn't going to happen and he was happy with his self-powered time. Mike Craigie came in second with a good consistent time. Sean Stuarts was third, but still well off his sub-45 min best in the previous season.

Darron Raw    00:46:28
Mike Craigie    00:47:46
Sean Stuarts    00:50:13
Richard Darne    00:57:14
Craig Randall    00:58:35
Sean Underwood    00:58:52
Nadja Shields    00:58:53
Dave Gregor    01:08:35
Zoe Bosman    01:08:35

The 30th of December produced a very similar finishing order, however contrary to expectation the efforts of Xmas feasting was only positive and not negative. Raw posted a personal best (PB) shaving 2 seconds off his previous best from exactly a year ago. Mike Craigie also trimmed 7 seconds off his PB and Sean Stuarts speeded up by a minute forty-five from his previous week's effort.

Riley Healy made a rare appearance and newcomer Themba Mahlalela followed him round. Rodney Mountjoy clearly overcome by a sense of time passing (new year resolutions etc.), road a decent time despite having tackling the Tea Road earlier in the day. Phew!

Anita Raw and Zoe Bosman picked up a few sleek looking male cyclists on the route and pulled them back to the finish to introduce them all round.

The Swazi Trails MTB Mid-weeker would like to thank everyone for their participation over the past few months and extends best wishes for faster times in the New Year. Keep death off the road - ride in the bush! 

Darron Raw    00:44:50
Mike Craigie    00:45:56
Sean Stuarts    00:48:31
Riley Healy    00:58:37
Themba Mahlalela    00:58:38
Rodney Mountjoy    01:02:20
Anita Raw    01:17:49
Zoe Bosman    01:20:10
Johnny Green    01:20:10

For anyone needing some inspiration to ride harder and faster in 2010 - just check out this MTB free-riding  video.

Xmas Dinner Charity Ride - 16th Dec

 

The 16th was slated as a special running of the Swazi Trails MTB Mid-weeker. There were three aspects to this: a corporate challenge for teams of four, a donation collected for charity and a post-event dinner. In the end not many legit teams were entered (all four members needed to be from the same place of employment) so this aspect was downplayed. However, the donations to charity were generously made and the dinner was well-attended so all-in-all a great end-of-year event.

Darron Raw took off like a rabbit being pursued by a pack of dogs and held the lead until the Lobamba uphill, when he was hauled in by Moshoeshoe Khumalo, Menzi Tsela and William Kelly. After the racing snakes scattered a few confused bemanti adjacent to Ludzidzini (surely a mark of great disrespect - eish siyacolisa madvoda), Raw put his weight advantage and recklessness to good use and opened up a small lead again before finally hitting the wall near Esitjeni.

Carlos Malinga pushed hard to catch the leaders, but was clearly feeling the strain of the 35km ride he undertook to reach the start. William Kelly and Moshoeshoe broke from the group of four close to Nkhanini, with Kelly continuing onwards to win in a personal best of 42:04, taking 1min50s off his previous best time.  Khumalo was a mere one second behind, also in a personal best. Malinga had to be content with third in 44:57, whilst Tsela was within sight of him in 45:20. They were both approximately two minutes slower then their previous best efforts.

Raw used the wheel of Denzel McFadden to recover on the flat sections of Nkhanini, before again using the downhill to his advantage to open enough of a lead to capture 5th spot in 46:10.

Behind them Mike Richardson took a dive in the Red Sea for what appeared to be a mud pack treatment, whilst strong pushes from Dumi Mhlongo and Nadja Shields saw them both posting personal bests.

Kevin Haycocks a regular campaigner who has recorded many starts, but few official finishes was also notable for finally posting an officially recorded time. Next mission is to get in under one hour Kevin!

Craig Randal showed he was well into the festive season spirit and did the fatherly duty of escorting daughters Sky and Storm around the course, whilst Anita Raw was accompanied by little Paige and Lynn Taylor by Kirsen. Well done folks!

from left to right: Racing snakes: Carlos Malinga, William Kelly, Menzi Tsela & Moshoeshoe Khumalo








William Kelly    00:42:04
Moshoeshoe Khumalo    00:42:05
Carlos Malinga    00:44:57
Menzi Tsela    00:45:20
Darron Raw    00:46:10
Denzel McFadden    00:46:34
Mike Craigie    00:48:02
Gcina Ndlangamandla    00:49:11
Wandile Msibi    00:50:08
John Williams    00:50:17
Dumi Mhlongo    00:50:59
Nadja Shields    00:53:07
Victor Oliveira    00:55:25
Mark Kashiki    00:55:56
Mike Richardson    00:57:15
Kevin Haycocks    01:03:09
Manyakatane Dlamini    01:05:19
Bafana Dlamini    01:15:08
Abtaab Dada    01:31:00

White-water MTB’ing

The 2nd of December delivered some of the most extreme weather so far experienced on our weekly timetrial. The better than average turn-out of riders ended up being scattered by a violent thunderstorm, which saw many, including timetrial leader Robert Bie, breaking from the course to avoid lightning strikes.


Those with less brains, powered on and were led home by Darron Raw, who managed to carve almost 2 minutes off his previous best effort for this season. Mike Craigie was home second, Wandile Msibi third and the Logico crew of Andrew van Rensburg and Dumi Mhlongo thereafter.


Newcomers Sipho Mkhabela and Linda Vilakati both joined in for the first time. Welcome ma-Gents!


Perhaps as a result of the chaos the week before, the 9th of December saw only three riders lining up in equally rainy conditions. As there was a newcomer in the form of Gavin Moir amongst them, the decision was made to take it socially and help him to learn the route. The group of Jon Williams, Darron Raw, Nadja Shields and the novice cruised in after approximately one hour.

Darron Raw 00:46:30

Mike Craigie 00:47:46

Wandile Msibi 00:50:41

Andrew Van Rensburg 00:52:41

Dumi Mhlongo 00:52:43

Pedro Isidoro 00:57:29

Sipho Mkhabela 01:02:02

Richard Darne 01:02:05

Manyakatane Dlamini 01:06:10

Linda Vilakati 01:10:14 

Unexpected action on MTB Time Trial

This past week’s MTB cycle timetrial (25th November) was not short of unexpected action. Broken bikes, children in unexpected places, cattle in the road and punctures all had their influence on the results.

It started with top rider Craig Randal’s brand-new carbon-frame bike disintegrating before he even reached the start line (Sorry Craig !!). His absence from the line-up left the front of the pack reasonably relaxed on the first section through Lobamba. That was until leader William Kelly reached the little single track with the pipe and hole on the stream crossing behind Ludzidzini. Bracing himself to ramp across the eroded hole, he suddenly spotted a child’s head emerging from the deeper than expected obstacle. His grabbing of brakes saw him somersault over his handlebars to have Bie, Mountjoy and Raw all piling up in a messy, but minor collision behind him.

Thereafter the leading group cruised for a short while before Bie changed pace just after the "Red Sea" crossing of the Mhlambanyatsi River. “ He went up the hill so fast that his back wheel was wheel-spinning,” claims Vaughn Mountjoy, who was showing some promising return to form up until that point. Shortly thereafter Mountjoy’s tyre jumped off his rim near Somhlolo, which he says was a blessed in disguise, “because I couldn’t hang on any longer.”

Robert Bie consequently posted another unchallenged win with William Kelly in second and Mike Craigie claiming third. Both Kelly and Craigie posted their best times for the new season. Darron Raw and Wandile Msibi had a neck-a-neck tussle through the bottom end of Ezulwini, with Raw’s downhill recklessness given him an edge over the tall youngster.

Robert Bie    00:43:56
William Kelly    00:45:15
Mike Craigie    00:47:36
Darron Raw    00:48:12
Wandile Msibi    00:48:47
Gavin Aranky    00:52:11
Dumi Mhlongo    00:54:11
Victor Oliveira    00:56:19
Vaughn Mountjoy    01:01:14
Manyakatane Dlamini    01:01:16
Leon Jacobs    01:02:41
Victor Barreiro    01:03:37
Pedro Isidoro    01:33:00
Anita Raw    01:38:00
Lynne Taylor    01:38:00

M-U-D spells mud !

Mud doesn’t scare mountain bikers and just as well, because this week’s timetrial had plenty to go all round.  The going was hard and times were slow, despite a lot of effort.

“My legs feel like they did a sub-43,” said winner Craig Randall, “but I guess with the mud and that nasty headwind near Somhlolo, these slower times were to be expected.” Randall handled the course well with no mishaps, which is more than a lot of the other cyclists could claim. Second-placed William Kelly came off twice, and did well to overcome Mike Craigie who at one stage was well up on him.

Last season’s early place-maker Vaughn Mountjoy has returned to Swaziland after the close of the academic year in South Africa, but by his own admission needs to do lots of work to regain form. Vaughn was sporting a bleeding knee from early on in the loop.

Nadja Shields was the first lady home in a gutsy time of 56:43, having caught and hauled in both Richard Alexander and Johnno van Wyk.

Craig Randall    00:46:15
William Kelly    00:48:59
Mike Craigie    00:49:58
Vaughn Mountjoy    00:53:09
Dumi Mhlongo    00:56:08
Nadja Shields    00:56:43
Richard Alexander    00:57:39
Johno van Wyk    01:01:05

More MTB mud 11th November

This past week saw Robert Bie have a lonely ride in the front, on what was a slippery and muddy day. Although Bie's time was the slowest he's posted in the past 4 weeks, the 43:37 effort was nevertheless an impressive effort under the days conditions.

Second home was Denzyl McFadden, who, although not impressed with his 46:38 showing, is nevertheless indicating a return to the sort of form that saw him in the time trial's overall top 5 best results last year. Third home was Gcina Ndlangamandla, a minute and a bit behind McFadden, and then the consistent Wandile Msibi in forth.

Robert Bie 00:43:37
Denzel McFadden 00:46:38
Gcina Ndlangamandla 00:47:51
Wandile Msibi 00:48:10
Mike Craigie 00:48:37
Darron Raw 00:50:40
Phila Gamedze 00:51:26
Nadja Shields 00:55:35
Anita Raw 01:25:36
Zoe Bosman 01:25:36

Muddy day 4th November

This week, the course was very muddy after the recent rains and apart from another fast finish from Bie, times were generally slower. Bie was followed home by newcomer Justen Burgin, who clocked a very comfortable 45:13 on his maiden ride. According to Robert, Justen appeared to not even raise a sweat, so no doubt he will be a pace setter for future rides now that he knows the course.

Robert Bie 00:42:43
Justen Burgin 00:45:13
Gavin Aranky 00:48:02
Wandile Msibi 00:50:00
Darron Raw 00:51:56
Barry Spencer 00:53:04
Dumi Mhlongo 00:55:04
Rodney Mountjoy 01:01:30
 

Another new record for Bie

Picking up the pace nicely from his previous week's effort, Robert Bie carved a full minute and 10 seconds off the previous course record with a great ride. Moshoeshoe Khumalo showed some improving form as well, taking 22 seconds off his previous best.


Robert Bie 00:40:30
Moshoeshoe Khumalo 00:42:48
Sebbie du Pont 00:45:09
Craig Randall 00:46:14
Mike Richardson 00:46:14
Sean Stuarts 00:46:39
Gavin Aranky 00:46:45
Wandile Msibi 00:47:33
John Williams 00:48:17
Darron Raw 00:48:19
Richard Alexander 00:52:07
Barry Spencer 00:52:07
Dumi Mhlongo 00:52:49
Victor Oliveira 00:56:20
Phila Gamedze 00:56:59
Leon Jacobs 00:58:33
Pedro Isidor 01:01:51
Ronelle Holmes 01:01:51
Birgit Weyss 01:02:27
Carol Preat 01:03:00

21st October was a quick day

Robert Bie squeezed 3 seconds off Craig Randal's previous course record of 00:41:43

Robert Bie 00:41:40
Craig Randall 00:42:02
Gcina Ndlangamandla 00:44:51
Denzel McFadden 00:44:57
Sean Stuarts 00:45:58
Phila Gamedze 00:46:05
Gavin Aranky 00:46:09
Wandile Msibi 00:49:24
John Williams 00:50:51
Johno van Wyk 00:52:05
Victor Oliveira 00:54:09
Nadja Shields 00:54:14
Zoe Bosman 00:54:14
Mark Kashiki 00:57:18
Rodney Mountjoy 00:59:51
Victor Barreiro 01:04:30
Birgit Weyss 01:04:30
Carol Preat 01:04:30

Results 14th October

A pretty relaxed outing by all accounts:

Robert Bie 00:45:42
Darron Raw 00:48:47
Gcina Ndlangamandla 00:48:59
John Williams 00:52:20
Victor Oliveira 00:54:04
Mark Kashiki 00:56:30
Phila Gamedze 01:05:54
Nadja Shields 01:06:15
Victor Barreiro 01:06:15
Zoe Bosman 01:06:15
Pedro Isidor 01:06:19

Results from the 7th October

This was our first time trial of the new summer season.

Robert Bie 00:44:22
Sebbie du Pont 00:46:16
Gavin Aranky 00:47:34
Mike Craigie 00:47:53
Darron Raw 00:49:46
Richard Alexander 00:50:02
Johno van Wyk 00:54:03
Pedro Isidor 00:54:10
Victor Oliveira 00:54:10

Personal bests 2008/09

Here are the individual personal best times as listed during the November 08 to March 09 season:

Craig Randall	00:41:43
Ara Monadjem	00:41:58
Robert Bie	00:42:37
Kim Roques	00:42:38
Denzel McFadden	00:42:39
Menzi Tsela	00:42:40
Carlos Malinga	00:42:43
Vaughn Mountjoy	00:42:51
Moshoeshoe Khumalo	00:43:10
William Kelly	00:43:54
Leon van Wyk	00:44:25
Sean Stuarts	00:44:40
Mike Richardson	00:44:45
Darron Raw	00:44:52
Barry Spencer	00:45:43
Richard Darne	00:45:49
Mike Craigie	00:46:03
Andrew Van Rensburg	00:46:11
Sean Underwood	00:46:37
Stuart Hulley	00:46:55
John Williams	00:48:40
Mark Kashiki	00:49:00
Tiago Oliveira	00:49:05
Joseph Tibane	00:49:10
Manyakatane Dlamini	00:49:19
Patrick Masondo	00:49:25
Lucinda Bride	00:49:29
Mbusi Motsa	00:50:19
Richard Lemmer	00:50:48
Renato Oliviera	00:50:54
Shane Raw	00:51:17
Chris Morgan	00:51:19
David Melvin	00:53:39
Nicky Lemmer	00:53:39
Johno van Wyk	00:54:30
Lauri Koibula	00:54:47
Luke Malindzisa	00:55:14
Nadja Shields	00:55:17
Jared Pheiffer	00:55:48
Bheki Dlamini	00:56:02
Thulani Nkambule	00:56:02
Dave Roberts	00:56:05
Zoe Bosman	00:56:14
Mandla Mabaso	00:56:18
Riley Healy	00:56:34
Mduduzi Mkhabela	00:56:53
Jose Neves	00:56:55
Cathy Cunningham	00:57:07
Richard Alexander	00:57:13
Victor Oliveira	00:57:22
Victor Barreiro	00:57:45
Leroy Healy	00:59:11
Shirley Kenny	00:59:31
Bhekie Lukhele	01:00:13
Futhi Dlamini	01:00:33
Muzi Dlamini	01:00:35
Rodney Mountjoy	01:01:47
Banele Dlamini	01:02:32
Richard Melvin	01:02:41
Gavin Aranky	01:03:31
Sebbie du Pont	01:03:45
Hugh van Zuydam	01:03:48
Bandzile Mtethwa	01:04:00
Carol Preat	01:04:33
Clarence Preat	01:05:38
Wandile Msibi	01:05:41
Lungile Mkhabela	01:05:55
Berger Nxumalo	01:06:00
Baron Darne	01:07:59
Brian Harper	01:08:20
Lynne Taylor	01:09:00
Johan Grobler	01:09:15
Nathi Simelane	01:09:27
Allyson James	01:09:39
Anita Raw	01:09:40
Tania McHardy	01:11:18
Bradley Young	01:12:25
Ethan Young	01:12:25
Clive Mzamo	01:13:20
Asande Motsa	01:17:20
Kevin Haycocks	01:19:58
Cesar Preat	01:23:15
Julian Abrahams	01:23:41
Caryn Biggert	01:23:50
Hester Loots	01:28:07
Iris Atwell	01:28:07
Marianna Abrahams	01:28:07