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Adventure Racing. Nguni Eco-Challenge.

Top level

About Eshowe.

Author: P. Smit.G.Chennells

Publishing date: 04.08.2004 13:48

Eshowe from the Air

Nguni Eco-Adventure Race. Adventure racing in Eshowe, Zululand

Nguni Adventure Challenge

National Adventure Racing Calender

Nguni Eco-Challenge Logo

1. INTRODUCTION

Results of Nguni 150 km Adventure Challenge held on 12-13th March 2005.
Team TrailGear - Kevin Dold
Team Bryson Inc - Lauren Greeff
Team DueSouth - Jeannette Walder

The idea of a proposed Adventure Race from Melmoth, across the rolling hills of Zululand onto the undisturbed beauty of Lake Phobane, followed by some of the most scenic sugar cane country and ending if off in the pretty little town of Eshowe, has been in the back of my mind since my arrival in Eshowe almost 2 years ago. Thanks to the motivation (and pressure) that I received from various Eshowe residents, Eshowe patriots and friends, this idea seems to be turning into a reality.

2. WHAT IS ADVENTURE RACING.

Lake Phobane

Lisa de Speville, whom I consider the ‘queen’ of AR in South Africa, describes this concept as follows:

“Popularised by television coverage of Mark Burnett’s Adventure Challenge events, Adventure Racing (AR) is no longer an obscure extreme sport. In a classical sense, AR is a multi-discipline multi-day endurance sport where competitors compete in teams of four, navigating from checkpoint to checkpoint to cover vast areas in a number of disciplines. Sprint and short course categories now exist, luring those hesitant adventurers out for a morning or day of gloriously dirty, off-road fun.”

Disciplines frequently include: mountain biking, kayaking, abseiling, orienteering and hiking but can also include kloofing, caving, swimming, coasteering, rock climbing, sea and river kayaking, and the like.

Aloes and Monkey Apples

Teams are required to navigate using 1:50000 topographical maps and a compass. GPS-assisted navigation is not allowed, and like Lisa describes it further:

“ … this is where the whole ‘strategy’ aspect of AR comes in. Like the hare and the tortoise, just because you’re fast and strong, doesn’t mean you’ll do well. You have to be clever. Teams often get lost through inexperience, bad decision, and they most frequently discover that short cuts aren’t always what they appear to be.”

Teams are required to check-in at passport control (PC) points between discipline transitions, where they have their ‘passports’ checked by the event organisers. This keeps track of where a team is on the course – safety factor – and provides navigation points, places that they have to locate.

3. PROPOSED NAME

Melmoth Gum & Cane

Initial discussions on this topic suggested a proper name for his event should be the NGUNI Adventure CHALLENGE. Motivation for this name can be summarised by the words of Mr Graham Chennells, a famous character and part of the furniture of Eshowe.
" The Zulu’s were part of the early Nguni migration. Their Nguni cattle were primarily draft animals and an integral part of their society. These colourful cattle were small, hardy, heat tolerant, disease resistant, had a low mortality rate, had good temperaments, were excellent foragers, lived long productive lives and had been shaped by natural selection in the African environment for thousands of years.

Those Nguni qualities are some of what Adventure Racers should possess and it is a fitting traditional and historical Zulu name.”

4. THE PROPOSED RACE AND COURSE.

Nkwalini Valley from R66

The event caters for 2 different categories:

*Open Category
Official = 2 team members.
*Schools (14-19yrs)
Official = 2 team members.

This will be a Stage Adventure Race. There will be surprise obstacles and disciplines along the route. Anybody who is of average fitness and enjoys outdoor activities will be able to complete the race. The navigation and map reading will be basic and not too demanding

The course is a very ‘mild’ course and one that I would imagine would be very suitable for all beginners and potential Adventure Racers. The proposed course is over 2 days with an overnight stop at Lake Phobane. Teams are at liberty to book into any overnight accommodation in the area. This race is not one of those where ‘little sleep’ aspect is supposed to be classified as fun!

Teams of 2 are preferred. This will minimise logistics with kayaks, etc.

Zulu Huts in Countryside

Day 1
Competitors meet at Lapa at Mondi Dam on the Eshowe side of Melmoth, just off the highway. Race briefing will be held at the lapa just prior to commencement of the race.Teams will start with five to ten minute intervals.

Stage 1: Approximately 80m rope slideing (foefieslide) into Mondi Dam from tower.
Stage 2: 120m swim up that dam
Stage 3: Running/hiking to Fontein Store/Butchery combining orienteering. Distance will vary from 8 – 10km, depending on orienteering.
Stage 4: 19km mountain biking to Lake Phobane amongst some of the most scenic dirt road routes that Zululand has to offer. Your team’s position for the end of Day 1 is determined at the end of this stage.
Stage 5: Walk through dam tunnel and climb 7 storeys to top of water tower to find your next marked point to which you must get to.
Stage 6: Swim 100 m to finish line.

Melmoth Hills

Day 2
A short race briefing will yet again be held on the Northern Bank of Lake Phobane just prior to commencement of Day 2. Teams will be advised whether they will start together, or at intervals.

Stage 1: Canoe +- 8km (depending on orienteering) on Lake Phobane. Please note importance of Stage 5 on Day 1.
Stage 2: Run/Hike 7km to KwaNxumalo store
Stage 3: Mountain Biking for 6km to Eshlazi Dam
Stage 4: Tube 600m to picnic site
Stage 5: Run/ Hike 2-3km to entrance of the Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk. Your team’s position for the end of Day 2 is determined at the end of this stage.
Stage 6: Walk to the highest point of the Boardwalk and find directions to the finish line where an ice cold Ale will be waiting for you!

5. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED by competitors and teams.

Mountain bike with good brakes;(no helmit, no ride) and compasses with maps are essential. Swimming gear and proper hiking / running shoes are compulsory. Competitors will possibly be issued with updated maps at the race briefing before start of Day 1. Water (1.5 L) and running shoes necessary.
Teams need a cellphone in waterproof bag. Waterproof covering for map and pencil.

The event organisers have secured 7 Canadian Kayaks for teams to make use of. This caters for 14 people (7 teams). Although these boats are very stable, they tend to be somewhat heavy and slow in the water. Teams are therefore encouraged to supply their own craft.

Booking of the Canadian Kayaks with the organisers is essential.

6. Rules and regulations.

Dlinza Forest. Bishops Seat

1. The event must be started and completed by the entire team.
2. All members of the team must be within visual and hearing distance from each
other at all times (spread over no more than 20 metres).
3. No substitutions will be allowed
4. The team is to complete the entire event without any outside assistance, except
from a marshal.
5. Teams are required to pass through all the checkpoints in numerical order and mark their arrival at each point.
6. Any team found to have transgressed the rules and regulations of the event or acting contrary to the spirit of the event will be liable for disqualification or time
penalty.

Markets on Route

All team members must read the indemnity form prior to entering. Indemnity forms need to be signed at registration before race numbers will be issued on race day.

Eshowe Logo

Contact persons.
Graham Chennells
035 4744919

Peet Smit
082 3266133

Zululand Eco-Adventures
Eshowe. Zululand.
KwaZulu Natal. South Africa.
info@eshowe.com
035 4744919.

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