The tenth Triple Challenge will long be remembered for it’s dramatic racing; the guts and glory of ultra distance multisport racing. For the Change A Life squad it was their day of reckoning with Nhlanhla Cele taking the honours in the Multisport race and John Ntuli claiming the victory in the MultiX version.

Ntuli, a South African Duathlete, made his intentions clear from the outset as he clocked the fastest run split over the first 20km trail run (1h22.51), then cycled his heart out to maintain his lead over the tough 53km mountain bike leg down to Inanda Dam and still held off a strong pack of pursuers to break the tape in three hours, fifty-eight minutes and 49 seconds. Behind him, the battle for second and third unfolded with Derrin Smith taking a minute out of respected Ironman triathlete Andre Booyens. In the women’s MultiX Sarah Gray took a convincing win in a time of four hours, fifty-three minutes and thirty-seconds. Alison Misselhorn placed second with Robyn Adendorff third.

Man of the Match must go to Cele; a true Triple Challenge Champion who has served his apprenticeship well and brought it home for the first time for Team Change A Life. Team mate Kwanda Mhlophe followed through in a deserved second place less than three minutes back with Carl Folscher third. Drama unfolded in the women’s race as Jean Hackland and Jane Swarbreck fought it out to the bitter end after a race long battle – cramping and determined, Hackland claimed it on the finish line to record the closest finish in the history of the race. Marion Young placed a hard earned third in nine hours and twenty minutes.

A new introduction to the Triple Challenge this year was the Challenge Trail Run and Challenge Mountain Bike events which allowed individuals to take on these respective legs on their own and be a part of the Triple Challenge experience. The Challenge Trail Run attracted over eighty participants who enjoyed the scenic and testing 20km stretch between the start at Polly Shorts Spar in Pietermaritzburg to the finish at Camperdown. Guy Allen took first place overall (1h33.35), just twenty seconds ahead of Dean Moore (1h33.55) with Grant Harper third (1h34.04). Janene Carey posted a fast time of one hour, thirty-four minutes and 55 seconds to win the women’s race and place fifth overall. Teresa Moller claimed second (1h44.44) with Jenny Sutton third (1h50.28).
The Challenge Mountain Bike over 53km down to Inanda Dam was won by Andrew Hill who was the only rider to break two hours (1h58.56). Per Lofstrand placed second (2h18.58) and Jaco Kellerman third (2h23.13). Jackie Church took the women’s title (2h41.05) with Liesl Curtis second (3h11.22) and Mary-Anne Greenland third (3h46.57). Particpants enthused about the course; raving about the single track into the valley and the unique section through Phezula Estate which involved a creative pallet bridge hike-a-bike over the game fence.

Triple Challenge is about heart and soul, it is a uniquely African race which takes in the beauty of KwaZulu Natal’s Valley of A Thousand Hills down to the finish at Inanda Dam, testing the participants at all angles. A handful of individuals completed their tenth journey along the Triple Challenge route; the Vuilbliksem teams and individuals Christopher Mortimer and Dane Lievesley will be recorded a Triple Challenge Legends. Here’s to the next decade.
 
RESULTS – Multisport / Men Overall: Nhlanhla Cele (Change A Life) 5h59.37, Kwanda Mhlophe (Change A Life) 6h02.20, Carl Folscher 6h09.44. Women Overall: Jean Hackland (Team Jeep) 7h08.31, Jane Swarbreck 7h08.38, Marion Young 9h20.
MultiX / Men Overall: John Ntuli (Change A Life) 3h58.49, Derrin Smith 3h59.33, Andre Booyens (Future Life K-Swiss) 4h00.33. Women Overall: Sarah Gray (Scottys) 4h53.30, Alison Misselhorn 5h16.11, Robyn Adendorff (Team Jeep) 5h33.52.