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IOL News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
SA's best ready to race SA Marathon Champs
Jess Hattam negotiates a rocky section over the river during the trail run at the 2024 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival. Image: Gavin Ryan / Gameplan Media On Sunday, South Africa's top mountain bikers will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in local mountain biking — the SA Marathon Championships. Fittingly, the event will once again take place on trails considered some of the best in the country. The 2025 SA Marathon Championships are the main attraction of the Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival, South Africa's longest-running mountain bike event. The festival runs over two days, with trail running and enduro riding taking place on Saturday, followed by the mountain bike races and a fun trail run on Sunday. One of the reasons the festival remains so popular — and a regular choice to host the national champs — is the ongoing effort to improve and update the trails. These constant upgrades make sure that both riders and runners get to enjoy one of South Africa's top off-road experiences. Danielle Strydom celebrates winning her South African title last year at the Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival. Image: Gavin Ryan / Gameplan Media Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ This year, defending champion Wessel Botha, recently crowned XCO Champion Michael Foster and a slew of other big names in the competitive SA racing scene will be able to challenge themselves once more on a route that is almost perfect for MTB marathon racing. Stretches of gravel, flowing forest trails, some tricky technical single track, grinding long ascents and some short punchy climbs make the event an ideal all-round test to decide the national champion. Meanwhile stunning scenery and the sublime infrastructure of the Absa Karkloof Country Club ensure spectators and the weekend warriors are also able to enjoy the weekend action. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Karkloof valley, the 250km network of trails has been meticulously shaped over the last 30 years, evolving from rugged 'spade and pick' tracks to the smooth, flowing lines created by Turvey Trails. While elite participants may enter for the thrill of the race, most participants ultimately come for the trails, each crafted with care to provide an unparalleled experience. Caleb Sanderman negotiates a rock garden in the ensuro at the 2024 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival. Image: Gavin Ryan / Gameplan Media The festival has grown from its origins 33 years ago, when it just featured mountain biking, into a popular multi-event weekend catering to runners and riders alike. Saturday, 24 May, will se a variety of trail running distances (9km, 15km, and 21km), and an afternoon enduro – which includes a section for E-bikes and a reduced enduro Lite. Sunday, 25 May, features a 9km fun run and a kids' 10km mountain bike race, plus the traditional 20km, 40km, and 60km MTB races, and culminating in the South African Marathon Champs' 85km. The Sappi Karkloof Classic Trails Festival at the Absa Karkloof Country Club has become the standard by which weekend trail festivals are judged, but there is a lot more to the co-operation between the leading forestry company and the country's top-ranked trail venue. They share a deep commitment to adding value to their region via community enrichment projects, including Education Karkloof (Early Childhood Development support), Improve Karkloof (safety and local conservation efforts), and the newly included Karkloof Conservation Centre. Through the Sappi Trails Programme, the Karkloof region has seen a significant rise in visitor numbers – up to more than 40,000 people annually, from hikers exploring waterfalls to cyclists, campers, and birdwatchers. According to a KZN Tourism study, the trails generate an estimated R231 million in annual economic impact, while directly supporting 503 jobs and sustaining 3,080 jobs within the uMngeni municipal area. 'Sappi's commitment to responsible land access means ensuring that events like these leave a lasting legacy,' says Tebele Makhetha, Head of Corporate Affairs, Sappi Southern Africa. 'Every entry contributes to meaningful projects that uplift communities and create sustainable opportunities, long after the dust has settled.' This co-operation means the various national champions will be crowned on Sunday and will reign for a year, but the legacy of the event will last for a lifetime for many of the community beneficiaries. IOL
The Herald Scotland
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Atsila makes Group Three leap with Athasi glory
The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain proved up to the task though, finishing the one-mile contest strongly under Gavin Ryan to prevail by half a length from Cercene, with Barnavara and California Dreamer not far behind in third and fourth respectively. Atsila takes the rise in class in her stride, powering home in the Group 3 @coolmorestud Auguste Rodin @IrishEBF_ Athasi Stakes, for the duo of Gavin Ryan and Donnacha O'Brien 🚀 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) May 5, 2025 O'Brien said: 'She's lazy at home so you don't really know you have her. We gave her a run in Bellewstown and she bolted up from a position she shouldn't have. 'We said we'd throw her in the deep end here and she's coped with that as well, so she's obviously a very solid filly. 'They went hard, there were no hiding places, she travelled well. She got a little bit tight for room as well, if she had a clear run she might have won a bit further. 'She just looks like she's a good filly.' Donnacha O'Brien has high hopes for Atsila (Niall Carson/PA) Atsila looks set for an immediate step up to Group One level, with O'Brien adding: 'I spoke to Barry (Fowler, owner) last week about putting her in the Coronation Stakes (at Royal Ascot). I talked him out of it and obviously shouldn't have. 'We'll see how she comes out of it. If she comes out of it very well, Barry mentioned that we could supplement for the Irish Guineas or something like that. 'All you can do from now is go up in class and see where her level is. She's two from two and she's earned a shot at a good race.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grove City's Gavin Ryan named OSU Wexner Medical Center Athlete of Week
Grove City lacrosse player Gavin Ryan is the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Athlete of the Week for April 7-13. Ryan had four goals and two assists in a 17-4 win over Kettering and six goals and two assists in a 13-7 win over Johnstown. Advertisement Ryan received 61.1% of the vote and was followed by Columbus Academy lacrosse player Kyndal Singleton who had 38.7%. Gavin Ryan, Grove City High School Related article: How to nominate OSU Wexner Medical Center high school Athletes of Week in 2024-25 Singleton scored six goals in an 11-9 win over Worthington Kilbourne. Also nominated were Bloom-Carroll softball player Madelyn Gates, Olentangy Liberty softball player Emily Chevalier and Bexley tennis player Sam Lessard. The Athlete of the Week voting recognizes athletes across all sports. Nominations are due Monday mornings for competitions that took place the previous week. The poll is live until 4 p.m. Fridays. Advertisement Anyone can nominate an athlete by email to bwhite1@ or through X (formerly Twitter) tagging @BrianWhite13. Once athletes win during the regular season, they're not eligible to be back on the ballot until the postseason. Athletes who have not been a recipient of one of the weekly awards can be nominated more than once. Have any questions? Email sports editor Brian White at bwhite1@ OSU Wexner Medical Center Athlete of the Week This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Meet OSU Wexner Medical Center's Athlete of the Week: Gavin Ryan
