50 Miler – First shots fired!

In what turned out to be a scintillating opening to the 2020 racing season the first shots were fired at the 50 Miler

and Mfula to Inanda Dam this last weekend.

All eyes were on the male race favorites to see if the training that Andy Birkett-Athlete and Khumbulani Nzimande had been doing in the Eastern Cape would pay off or whether that would leave them a little short on river knowledge in what looked to be a medium low river. Fortunately for them their super fitness worked out for them as they managed to clinch both races.

They certainly did not have an easy day of it, at the beginning of the 50 Miler they had a lot of work to do to reel in Stewart Little and Jacques Theron who had a lighting fast start and Banetse Nkhoesa and Msawenkosi Mtolo who took the lead whenever they got the chance.

In the women’s race it was the powerhouse pair of Jenna Ward and Kyéta Purchase that continued their winning streak from last years Fish River Marathon to stamp their authority on the 50 Miler and then the Mfula to Inanda the following day.

But, these are just the opening shots and anything can happen. In the women’s race the yet untested pairing of Christie Mackenzie and Cana Peek could really through the cat amongst the pigeons when Cana returns from overseas. Rumor has it she has kept up the running that took her and her sister Jordan to the win in 2018

Results of 2020 50 Miler
Men:
1. Andy Brikett / Khumbulani Nzimande
2. Ant Stott / Carl Folscher
3. Banetse Nkhoesa / Msawenkosi Mtolo
4. Steward Little / Jacques Theron
5. Andrew Houston / Alan Houston
Women:
1. Jenna Ward / Kyeta Purchase
2. Bridgitte Hartley / Tracey Oellermann
3. Shannon Parker-Dennison / Frances Forsyth (U18)
4. Cara Waud / Amy Peckett (U23)
5. Carol Reeves / Hilary Bruss