![\"ccs-58780-0-71903200-1480768685.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-71903200-1480768685.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Waterfall crossings and spectacular trails await participants of the 2016 STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure’s mountain bike events on Sunday, 4 December at the Summerveld Estate in Shongweni. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n
With 40km, 20km and 10km MTB races and a fun 2km Kiddies Ride, together with 18km and 9km trail running events, the Upper Highway region\u2019s paths will be ablaze with enthusiastic trail adventurers.<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s 40km MTB clash is poised to be a fascinating battle of the races two previous champions, Alan Hatherly and TIB Insurance\u2019s Andrew Hill, despite both only being midway through their off-season conditioning programmes.<\/p>\n
Riding in fresh team colours for the first time, 2016 Olympian Hatherly will be eager to retain the title he claimed in muddy conditions last year while three time race winner Hill will hope get back to winning ways having claimed the event\u2019s first three crowns from 2012-2014.<\/p>\n
The women\u2019s race appears less clear-cut with a handful of the province\u2019s competitors set to battle it out to add their names to the winner\u2019s list that is already occupied by the likes of Brenda Potts (2012), Tamryn Taylor (2013), Tanya Ortlepp (2014) and Frankie du Toit (2015).<\/p>\n
On the trail running front, 2016 men\u2019s runner-up Nhlanhla Nzama has confirmed his return for this year\u2019s 18km clash and will be eager to go one better than he did twelve months ago while top five regular Owen Bengo tries his hand at the shorter 9km race.<\/p>\n
The women\u2019s 18km field is a mouth-watering affair as a sextet of KZN\u2019s top female running talent goes head-to-head for this year\u2019s spoils.<\/p>\n
Two time previous winner, Xoli Madida will be eager to improve on her runner-up effort of 2015 and add another crown to her 2013 and 2014 victories while the in-form Frys ambassador, Zoe Papadakis will be keen to achieve a maiden podium at the event having finished fourth last year.<\/p>\n
STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure regular Patricia Damman together with Sarah Wilson and event debutants Kirsty Allen and Robyn Mare will however too be keen to show their mettle and stake a claim for the top step of the women\u2019s 18km trail run podium.<\/p>\n
While it will be action aplenty out on course, there is also plenty on offer throughout the morning at the event\u2019s spectacular race village.<\/p>\n
An exclusive Sunday staging of the renowned Shongweni Farmers Market gives participants, spectators and local community members alike a golden opportunity to explore local crafters handmade wares and Christmas goodies while fresh, artisanal food and refreshments will also be readily available.<\/p>\n
Adding to the day\u2019s end-of-year atmosphere will be the easy-listening melodies of local folk\/rock artist, Cheryl Engel as she combines her enjoyment of the outdoors, trail running and performing in a family-focused environment.<\/p>\n
The day also presents the Cell C Sharks squad with a rare opportunity to spend some time giving back to their loyal supporters by manning the water stations, handing out medals at the finish and pose for photos while fans have the chance rub shoulders with their rugby heroes through a signing session.<\/p>\n
Attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic basket or bring a portable braai along with them and make a day of it by spending some quality time unwinding and easing into the festive season on the lush meadows and in the shade of Summerveld Estates magnificent Plane trees with friends and family at the end of another long year.<\/p>\n
Online pre-entries for the event have closed but manual late entries will be accepted at the event\u2019s on-the-day registration at Summerveld Estate from 05h30-09h00 with the first race, the 18km trail run, getting underway at 06h30. More information can be found at www.sharkstrailadventure.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The picturesque Summerveld Estate in Shongweni will be a hive of mountain biking and trail running activity on Sunday, 4 December as it plays host to the 2016 STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure\u2019s action-packed programme of events. Waterfall crossings and spectacular trails await participants of the 2016 STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure’s mountain bike events on Sunday, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":38747,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1970],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-17309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-stihl-sharks-trail-adventure"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17309"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=17309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}