Siblings take top honours in orienteering event in Pelindaba

BORDEAUX - Siblings Nicholas Mulder and Michele Botha won the orienteering event held in Pelindaba.

July 14, 2016

Gaahele Mokgoro 1 minute read

Epraim Chuene runs to the finish line at the orienteering event. Photo Supplied.

Brother and sister team, Michele Botha and Nicholas Mulder took home the winning honours at the Rand Athletics Club Orienteering (Raco) 2016 Bush Series, held in Pelindaba recently. Raco’s headquarters are situated in Bordeaux and they are affiliated to the South African Confederations and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) as well as Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA).

Mulder won the men’s open category 9-km race in a time of 00:87:0, while his sister took the women’s open title in the 7,8-km event in a time of 00:89:00.

Mulder said that he and his sister had been orienteering since they were five and eight years old, respectively. “My parents introduced us to the sport as they were active orienteers and I quite like the outdoors,” he said. He added that even though the course at Pelindaba was rough terrain and very mountainous, he kept a steady pace and tried not to make any errors.

“I like the sport because it has great health benefits; it’s unlike jogging on a long road, which can become boring,” he said. He explained that the sport not only challenged the body but the mind, as well.

Botha agreed with her brother that orienteering had great benefits and she continued to participate in the sport because it was a physical and mental challenge.

“I had tough competition behind me during the race but I kept a steady pace and avoided making mistakes that would take me off the course. I managed to beat the lady behind me by 00:2:40,” she said.

With over 28 years of orienteering behind her, Botha pointed out that because the course was mountainous she tried to climb up the mountain as quickly as she could, while following the map.

“I have introduced my two children, aged three and five years old, to the sport. They participate in the junior course, where they have to follow a string for about 500m,” she added.

Details: Rand Athletics Club Orienteering, patdeklerk@mweb.co.za