Positive results for Change a Life Academy
The CAL Academy has made its presence felt with some fantastic results recently.
WHETHER it is on foot, on a bike or in a canoe, the Martin Dreyer Change a Life (CAL) Academy has made its presence felt with some fantastic results.
The inaugural Maqhwe Mfula Challenge took place in Change a Life territory, in the heart of the Valley of a Thousand Hills. This tough multi-disciplined event included a 25km trail run, 55km mountain bike trail and a choice between a further 8km trail run or 8km paddle.
Dreyer’s academy displayed its pedigree when RMB Change a Life’s John Ntuli overcame hot and testing conditions to cross the finish line first.
“Winning the Adventure was great,” said Ntuli. “It’s awesome having a race like this so close to home and although it was really hot, it wasn’t an issue for me as I am training in conditions like that as I prepare for the 1 000km Munga MTB race in December.”
The RMB CAL Zulus continued to shine as Sizwe Mkhasibe finished second behind Ntuli, his performance highlighted by a gutsy final run after he was battling with cramp during his first 25km effort.
Not to be outdone by Ntuli, Change a Life paddler and 2015 non-stop Dusi Canoe Marathon champion, Nhlanhla Cele, dominated throughout the Maqhwe Mfula Challenge which substituted the final run with an 8km paddle, crossing the finish line unopposed in first place.
The Computershare Change a Life Zulus were also among the results of the Umpetha Challenge, the first seeding race of the 2016 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon. The challenging season opener is a great early Dusi form indicator, and with CAL Zulu’s in seven of the top ten pairs, many in the academy will be feeling positive about their early season form.
It was a great early season showing from Change a Life’s Banetse Nkhoesa, who is teaming up with CAL ambassador and 2014 Dusi champion Sbonelo Khwela, as he got his first big win at the Umpetha Challenge, setting him up for a strong showing during the rest of the pre-Dusi season.
The unlikely pair of CAL veteran and coach, Lucas Mthalane and CAL junior, Mpilo Zondi, managed an impressive third place overall.
CAL’s Mthobisi Cele teamed up with Alan Houston to win the U23 category, closely followed by CAL crew, Mmeli Cele and Khumbulani Nzimande in second place while CAL juniors, Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msiya, won the U18 category.
To add to the academy’s performances, Sthembiso Masango and Mboneni Ngcobo rode themselves into seventh place at the FNB Wines2Whales over 1 000 kilometres in the Western Cape. The pair competed against some of the strongest professional riding pairs in the country. The other RMB CAL Zulu crew of Bongumusa Zikhali and Mazwi Smimango managed a respectable finish as they ended just inside the top 20 with a nineteenth place overall.
“What an incredible few days of performances,” beamed Dreyer. “It just goes to shows how hard work really pays off.”
