AMANZIMTOTI Cycling Club dedicated its ride last Sunday to a worthy cause, namely Jona Vaughan Mentally Handicap Home and had a ride named ‘Give a Gift’.
It is a daily challenge to meet all the needs of the 84 residents living there, but when it comes to Christmas, they all appreciate opening their own present.
The club member’s dug deep into their pockets and managed to fill a station wagon’s boot full of goodies. The support was overwhelming. One of the club’s sponsors Thirsty Whale, provided both mountain bike and road riders with a delicious free breakfast and coffee for their effort.
They all headed south at 5.30am, the mountain bikers riding to Umkomaas and the roadies making it to Scottburgh. The tail wind coming home was greatly appreciated, with some riders managing to average 40km/hr on the home stretch.
With escalating costs and the high care needs the residents require, the Jona Vaughn Home faces a constant uphill struggle. The residents love listening to music and watching movies on the TV, but their DVD has recently packed up. If anyone has a spare DVD player and is willing to pass it onto Jona Vaughan, contact Fiona Anderson, the home’s manager on 031-903-2111. They are always so grateful no matter how small the gift or gesture.
Some Mambas went inland to enjoy the Stihl Sharks Trail Adventure which is held at the beautiful Summerveld Estate. It’s about hitting the trails and admiring the avenue of plain trees that surround the race track. The 40km is a challenging but stunning route, designed by Impi Sport which has a good mix of tough climbs and brilliant single track sections that offer riders a wonderful riding experience in the Summerveld area. Throw in a few river crossings, the odd bridge and a few switchbacks, you have a very fast flowing course that keeps riders entertained from start to finish. For the 20km, things were changed to offer riders the best value for money experience that took them down into the heart of the Shongweni Valley and let them experience the awesome views. With a few tough climbs to test the legs and some single track thrown in as well, this is one enjoyable ride.
There was also a farmers market, live entertainment and a meet and greet session with the Sharks players, perfect for the whole family.
Mambas still managed to get podium finishes, despite most members riding the ‘Give a Gift’ ride. Dillon Holm held onto his second position in his age category and Biddy Theunissen is showing the other young woman riders that she’s no flash in the pan but rather a force to be reckoned with. Stephen van Rooyen from Giant Toti is enjoying riding an e-bike. Although there’s mostly no official category for e-bikes as yet, it’s a great way to get introduced to racing.
40km results: Second Dillon Holm (sub vet) 1.43.15, first Bridget Theunissen (youth) 2.08.12, sixth Penny Chapman (vet) 2.20.31, seventh Neil Tupper (grand master) 2.24.39.
20km results: Third Eleonore Tesnaar (sub vet) 1.30.46, 12th Willie Tesnaar (vet) 1.30.51, 17th Garreth Weitz (sub vet) 1.46.37, 10th Rene Tupper (master) 2.28.27, 14th Angela Reeve 3.09.19.
On Saturday, a group of Mambas ventured up to Hilton to ride the Cedara Forest hosted by the Berg Wheelers MTB Club. The single track through the forest was free-flowing with the occasional technical section and just for some fun, a few mean hills thrown in as well. The going was tough but it was thoroughly enjoyed by all and the Mambas will definitely return. The breakfast after the ride was welcome and enjoyed by all. The club thanks Berg Wheelers for being great hosts.
There’s a planned clean-up of Amanzimtoti River this Saturday, 9 December and the club once again invites its members (and members of the community) to roll up their sleeves and join in. Bags have been organised, as have bamboo poles with hooks on one end which will prove useful in assisting with the litter that is stuck in trees. For hygiene purposes, gloves are recommended. The clean-up will start at 8am sharp and run until 11am. Prizes are to be won, so be sure to make your way down to the Sports Centre this Saturday. For more information, call club chairman, Barry Walker on 083-459-8253.
