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2017 4 Peaks set to be a humdinger

───   MORGAN PIEK 11:24 Thu, 21 Sep 2017

2017 4 Peaks set to be a humdinger | News Article
Lucky Miya - Craig Kolesky

The annual Trappers Bloemfontein 4Peaks Mountain Challenge presented by Bloemfontein Courant will be taking place on Saturday at the picturesque Moolmanshoek Nature Reserve between Fouriesburg and Ficksburg in the Eastern Free State.


This year will see the "reserve run" taking place for just the second time since its inception in 2015.

The run means that the same 300 competitors will tackle the infamous Sikonyela's Hat at the first big climb, instead of the Pyramid.

What makes it more arduous is that the first four kilometres of the 24-km route will be a flat run before the ascent to the highest of the four peaks begins. Not pacing oneself to the first climb could lead to the runners hitting the red and make life exceptionally difficult for the rest of the horseshoe route. Not being able to see the next checkpoint for some also has somewhat of a mental effect.

Amazingly the record for the reverse run and the normal run is pretty much the same and it's a matter of seconds that separates the benchmarks.

Thabang Madiba is the "defending champion" of the reverse run, while Lucky Miya won the 4Peaks in 2016 in his first attempt and then also went on to finish in second at the even more gruelling SkyRun 100-km in and around Lady Grey.

This has paved the road for what is expected to be a thrilling men's race in 2017 with both Madiba and Miya tipped to win the title.

On top of that, the king of the Pure Adventures Castle Lite Trail League, Chabeli Neyamandi, will also be running again, although he is carrying a slight injury. The local farm worker, Sampie Morapedi, who has collected numerous podiums at the 4Peaks, will also be staking his claim on this home turf.

Race organiser, Adrian Saffy of Pure Adventure, agrees that the men's race is leading to be something very special indeed.

"It is confirmed that both of them (Madiba and Miya) will be running, and we've also got Sampie, the farm local, who is a previous winner and record holder, so the men's race upfront will be super tough.

"We've got Chabeli, who really dominates the Bloemfontein scene because he is super quick and, of course, there is Edwin Sesipi, who is super exciting. I think we're going to have a real humdinger this year because these guys will be pushing each other to the limit.

"The beauty about this is how they manage themselves on the day. They've all got similar abilities, Thabang and Lucky are very experienced, Chabeli is super-fast and Sampie knows the farm like the back of his hand.

"Everyone is bringing a different element, so I think it will be an exciting race to witness."

The women's race in itself could also deliver something special, with the former Two Oceans top 10 finisher, Paulina Njeya, running her first 4Peaks, while Jayme-Sue Vermaas and Marzelle van der Merwe will also tackle the gruelling course the first time.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport


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2017 4 Peaks - Adrian Saffy part 1:

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