The 2-day race has grown from 42 runners in 2014 to 198 this year, with a total of 350 runners taking part over the two days.
It is a two day stage race and has become a “must do” in trail running circles.
Day 1 started in the very cold George’s Valley as runners headed up the Iron Crown.
Edwin Sesipi led from the very start and it was obvious that defending champion, Bennie Roux, would have to work hard to stay with him.
Edwin summited the Iron Crown in an impressive 1:37 and continued leading down the other side of the mountain. In the Women’s race, British elite runner, Holly Page, proved why she was the favourite and pushed the leading men up The Mountain.
The runners headed down the Iron Crown towards Haenertsburg Village, passing through the protected Wolkberg Granite Grasslands bordering the Village and completing the 35km course in the Village itself.
Day 2 was a slightly shorter run with the pack taking on the 25km trail surrounding Stanford Lake College.
The course included some magnificent forest single-track as well as fast, flat roads, starting and ending at the school.
Once again it was Edwin Sesipi and Holly Page who dominated the rest of the pack to secure their overall wins.
Overall, second and third went to Ben Pelligrini and Herman Muller, while in the ladies race, Marcelle Coetzee and Naomi Brand took the podium spots.
Stanford’s own Amy Taylor completed the course on Day 1, while the Headmaster, Craig Carolan completed both days in a very competitive time. Tiaan Fullard showed why he was a podium finisher last year, coming in 11th overall behind a highly competitive field.
