Duo take on debut ultimate MTB challenge
Terence Parkin and Dave Duke target their first ever uBhejane Xtreme Ultimate MTB challenge.
AS entries start to stack up for the gruelling 340km uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge on Saturday, 8 December, Olympic medallist Terence Parkin has upped the ante substantially by targeting the first ever “Ultimate” uBhejane ride of 570km with Durban rider Dave Duke.
The pair will start the newly added three day uBhejaneX ride from Hillcrest to Hluhluwe’s Hilltop Camp, and after completing the first two days and 230 kilometres they will return to Hillcrest to join the rest of the riders for the one-day 340km trek to Hluhluwe.
Parkin, who is deaf, is no stranger to ultra-distance events, having completed a 902km ride for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation that started cycling in Johannesburg and ended with multiple Midmar Miles and finished with the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon in 2018.
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Parkin said that he was passionate about supporting rhino conservation, and said his motivation to take the tough 340km ride and balloon that distance to 570km over three days was his growing outrage at the ongoing rhino poaching.
Parkin was approached by ultra-distance rider Dave Duke, who has been part of every edition of the uBhejaneX since its inception, and the duo quickly hatched the plan for the first ever uBhejaneX Ultimate ride of 570km.
PHOTO: Supplied/Gameplan Media
“My wife has signed up for the three day ride, and is feeling pretty nervous about it. That’s when I decided to look into doing the first two days of the three day ride to support her and then come back to do the full 340km ride. I needed a wing man. Terence is as mad as I am and he jumped at it. He is such a great athlete and a humble gentleman. And he is as tough as nails. So I know what I am in for with him,” said Dave.
Dave did the MRP Red Cap ride from Johannesburg at the weekend, which is over 600 kilometers and is then going into this Ultimate Rhino Ride of 570km.
The ride has extra significance for Duke as he pays tribute to a friend Neil Taljaardt, who rode the full 340km ride while battling cancer in 2016.
Those interested in taking part may apply to enter and donations can be submitted via the event’s website, www.ubhejanex.org.
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