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<\/a>TIB Insurance’s Andrew Hill charges to victory during his debut appearance at the Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race, the third leg of the South Coast MTB Series. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\nAfter the event\u2019s first ever staging was washed out in 2008, the subsequent eight editions have remarkably produced a new men\u2019s winner each time, TIB Insurance\u2019s Hill the most recent to join the rare club after he overcame the most richly talented field in the history of the event.<\/p>\n
Both the Hillcrest based rider and his three nearest rivals \u2013 Swiss Cycles\u2019 Andrew Johnson, ROAG Racing\u2019s Jedson Tooms and Kargo Pro Cycling Team\u2019s Andrew Warr \u2013 were however made to work harder than expected after navigational errors by the initial lead quartet erased their early advantage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to come down to this great South Coast race for the first time and get the win, especially as there was some serious talent that came to race this year,\u201d said Hill.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew the climbs were going to be where I could get a bit of an advantage today so I tried to make the pace quite hard on the ascents early on and thankfully my tactics paid off as I managed to get the King of the Mountains hotspot.<\/p>\n
\u201cMyself and a couple of the guys behind me then had a bit of a mix up with markings and by the time we realized and turned around, we rejoined just behind the top five.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe raced our way back through the field and once I got back in front, I just put my head down and looked to hammer it all the way through to the finish,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Despite the unplanned disruption, Hill\u2019s Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race debut was one he thoroughly enjoyed and the vastly experienced marathon competitor was highly impressed by the 45km course.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was some unbelievably brilliant track out there!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cSome of the sections of trail, particularly through the Sappi plantations, rival a few of those that we associate with some of the province\u2019s big-name race such as the renowned Sappi Karkloof Marathon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis race is all about exploring the area via some incredible single track, some good climbs and even some technical, off-camber stuff \u2013 there\u2019s a bit for everyone at this race.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Scottburgh race is a highly underrated event and is definitely one for everyone to come and do!<\/p>\n \u201cIts not too far from Durban or Hillcrest, it\u2019s a great destination for a weekend away where you\u2019ve got both the beach and some really incredible trails.\u201d<\/p>\n While Hill charged to victory, riders chopped and changed positions behind him with Hendrik Bester ultimately racing home to claim the runner-up award and RMB Change a Life MTB Academy\u2019s Mboneni Ngcobo clinched a memorable third place.<\/p>\n Tooms and Warr claimed fourth and fifth place respectively while routing issues limited Johnson to ninth and Think360\/Leigh\u2019s Cycle Centre\u2019s Leeroy Emslie seventh place as iStudent\u2019s Jason Davies (sixth), Chainworx Cycles\u2019 Darryn Purtell (eighth) and Kargo Pro Cycling Team junior, Cayde Muldoon rounded out the top ten.<\/p>\n With the event\u2019s first ever multiple winner, Hayley Smith (Kargo Pro Cycling Team) not taking to this year\u2019s start line as planned, 22 year-old Parker-Dennison was unchallenged in her title defence effort, a result she was well pleased with.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really stoked,\u201d said the young Scottburgh local. \u201cIt\u2019s always cool to ride, let alone defend my title, in my hometown.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice having a little local advantage \u2013 knowing when to go hard and when to take it a little easier \u2013 and I looked to use that to my favour as best I could.<\/p>\n \u201cI really thought the course was going to be quite hard after the flood a month ago, but the route was so well prepared and the single track was absolutely amazing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe organisers did a great job!\u201d<\/p>\n It was a South Coast dominated women\u2019s podium as the hometown star was followed across the finish line by Umtentweni rider, Debrah Thomas who in turn narrowly edged out Shelley Beach\u2019s Nataschka Mowat.<\/p>\n In the 28km Dash and Splash race, Chad Stevenson and Marina Thorne claimed the men\u2019s and women\u2019s titles for 2016 while scores of adventurers young and old also enjoyed the 10km Family Fun Ride.<\/p>\n<\/a>Riders charge under the N2 freeway during the 2016 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race, the third leg of the South Coast MTB Series. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Eventual runner-up, Hendrik Bester is chased by third place finisher, RMB Change a Life MTB Academy’s Mboneni Ngcobo during the 2016 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race, the third leg of the South Coast MTB Series. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Scottburgh local, Candice Parker-Dennison charges onto the sand and Scottburgh Main Beach as she claims victory in the women’s race of the 2016 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race, the third leg of the South Coast MTB Series.Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Umtentweni’s Debrah Thomas raced home to second place at the 2016 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race, the third leg of the South Coast MTB Series. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n