Rand Park High learners, the De Klerk sisters, are 2024 SA Orienteering Champions
Piper de Klerk had many moments over the weekend when and was ready to give up. She hopes to improve her mental attitude for next season.
Rand Park High School siblings Piper and Bailie de Klerk won their respective age categories and were crowned the 2024 SA Orienteering champions.
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Held in the forests around Plettenburg Bay, the three-day competition, taking place in varying terrain, requiring some serious direction, distance, and contour navigation.
The middle-distance race – where they both took silver medals – provided a good warm-up for the main event, a gruelling, long-distance test through thick vegetation, valleys, and steep hillsides.
Piper was able to stay just ahead of Danika Gwilliam to take the SA Champs title, while Bailey had a close win over her rivals in the younger age group.
Piper explained that she is very proud of her achievements this season, for being the first U20 in the championships, and the annual competition.
“The first day was very technical. We arrived late and after a rush to the start, had to set off being a bit unprepared. However, the whole weekend was so enjoyable, running in totally new terrain.”
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She added that she gets a thrill out of finding elusive control points but gets frustrated when she can’t. “Winning is half important to me and I really enjoy the competition – a win is a bonus. I am not a very fast runner, so I have to rely on my navigational skills a lot. I will be practicing my sprints, medium runs, and uphill endurance for the 2025 season.”
After being close to giving up, and lost in the forest, Bailie pushed through and got the win. “I’m hugely impressed with myself. It was absolutely breathtaking. The terrain was tough but beautiful, with the feel of the ocean close by, it gave me the motivation I needed.
“I enjoy the suspense (and shock) of who is in front or behind me on the runs, because, in this sport, there is no way of telling until the finish. Winning is certainly an ego booster. It takes a lot of hard work, running, and mental fitness to keep in top shape for this sport.”
Orienteering is a cross-country running activity where competitors must locate several checkpoints in the rough terrain, aided only with a detailed map and a compass. Although entrants, aged from eight to 80, are eligible, the championships are contested in specific age categories, with course distances and complexity to suit.
Events are organized on a monthly basis at venues all over Gauteng and these range from urban to bush environments. The Rand Athletic Club Orienteers are always eager to show newcomers the techniques, providing basic instruction and easy to learn beginner events, with distances from 1km to 10km for the more adventurous.
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