The feedback from all who experienced this event has been sublime and despite having every conceivable season hit us in one day it did not put any damper on this unique Trail Run. Such has been the enthusiasm, that venue hosts The Featherbed Company, are already instituting plans for  2011 to accommodate up to 900 athletes over the same 3 runs we had in July. Entries this year sold out on many of the routes very quickly with waiting lists having to be established.

The newly upgraded course has received rave reviews and so to has the inaugural Night Run on the same route.

Don’t miss the Salomon Featherbed Trail Run presented by Petzl on TV – broadcasted on the following days:

The Otter – African Trail Run & Southern Storm presented by Petzl – Sept 2010
For those athletes who are taking on either the 42 km Holy Grail of Trail Runs, The Otter – African Trail Run or the brutally challenging multi day, multi stage Southern Storm, Trail Running and Mountain Biking Duathlon the countdown begins with just over a month of training days left.

Dubbed “Mother  Nature’s Marathon” traversing the 5 day Otter Hiking Trail all at once is a formidable undertaking and the achievement to make the 9 hour cut off is an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment.

Entries have closed for the iconic Otter African Trail Run, but thanks to SAN Parks we could allocate a further and final 10 last minute OTTER entries for runners that are still interested to run the OTTER – African Trail Run on the 26/27 of September. Please Email christine@magneticsouth.net if you want to enter for this run of a lifetime!

The Southern Storm will feature many new routes this year and be based for four of its days on the stunningly beautiful Forest Hall Estate that overlooks the Indian Ocean between Plett and Natures Valley.

Only a few entries left for the Southern Storm so feeling fit and ready for the chance of experiencing some Storm Racing enter now at www.southernstorm.co.za

Magnetic South involved in 1000 km Kalahari Challenge – Aug/Sept 2010

Botswana’s oldest and most experienced safari company,  Maun based, Penduka Safaris has teamed up with Magnetic South to provide the highly specialised logistics and management skills required to assist Finnish Adventure Athletes Jukka Viljannen and Kirsi Montonen join South African Adventurer Greg Maud take on 1000 kms in 20 days in Botswana’s wild Kalahari. With obstacles like predators, poisionous snakes and miles of energy sapping sandy tracks stretching out as far as the horizon,  The team will depart from Ghanzi into the  giant and remote Kalahari landscape before ending at Mokolodi Nature Reserve close to the capitol city of Gaberone. For Greg this will not be the end of his challenge as he heads south to compete in his second Otter – African Trail Run only days later. For more on the challenge see www.kalahari1000.com

Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge brought to you by Stonehage & Discovery – Dec 2010

Plett’s largest charity driven sports event that gives you the chance to support children with special needs in the Bitou Region. Last year this massively popular fundraiser (thanks to Stonehage and Discovery over R 500 000 were raised for the Sabrina Love Foundation) was increased to a two day extravaganza of sporting options and the success of this was clearly evident by the huge numbers of athletes who entered to either swim, run, walk, paddle or mountain bike.

Taking place between Christmas and New Year, the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge has all the festive vibe associated with a seaside paradise over the holidays. With something for every member of the family to enjoy and options that will challenge the hardened athlete to the weekend warrior this is a must do if you are planning to be anywhere near the Southern Cape for Summer 2010.

Until next time – happy training and enjoy the journey.

The Magnetic South Team

The 17 year old from Uitenhage announced his presence on the trail running scene by putting a minute between him and international trail running superstar Ryan Sands, as both men were the only athletes to get a sub 1 hour time on the spectacular new course. Fletcher’s time of 58 minutes and 7 seconds stunned even course designers Chris Crewdson and John Collins who believed that a sub 60 minute run would be a near impossible task on the technical trail.

Bloemfontein’s Edward van der Merwe clocked an impressive 1 hour, 1 minute and 8 seconds to round off the podium finishers.In the woman’s race Michelle Lombardi bagged her 2nd Salomon Featherbed Trail Run title to add to what is already proving to be a dream season for the team Salomon Runner with the two Oceans Trail Run, The African X and the Fishermans Trail Run titles already in her bag this year. Lombardi’s time of 1 hour and 5 minutes remains one of the talking points of the race. Former adventure racer Benoni’s Suzan Sloan claimed 2nd spot with a run that was 16 seconds faster than Stellenbosch’s multisport star, Hanlie Booyens, who finished 3rd.

Defending champion and hot favourite to win this year’s race Rohan Kennedy finished a disappointing seventh overall in the longer Coelacanth race and commented “ I may have over exerted myself in obliterating everyone on the morning running of the shorter Seahorse Route, and this year it seems the youngsters took on the seasoned trail runners on the long course with the opposite taking place on the short course. I will be back next year with a new strategy especially as the new upgraded route demands this.”
Kennedy’s time of just over 46 minutes in the Seahorse race was just too fast for Knysna local Marcel Roos who also ran both courses during the day and still posted a sub 50 minute time for the shorter course running in the dark. Piers Perow from Johannesburg finished 3rdalso just under 50 minutes.

In the Ladies race on the shorter course Jacoline Haasbroek beat local runner Kerry Roos with an impressive time of 54:07 whilst Denise Derbyshire of Somerset West just kept Knysna’s Alison Hyde off the overall podium with the 3rd fastest time.

Of the 600 trail runners that made the ferry trip across to Knysna’s spectacular Featherbed Nature Reserve, only four were beaten by the challenging trails and inclement weather and had to be transported back to the cosy Cruise Café finish line. Among those who braved the icy winds which were at times gusting up to 70km/hour, were the Rhodes brothers Jonty and Clinton as well as Hollywood actress Vanessa Haywood. Haywood who is also taking part in the Oyster Festivals Big 5 is raising money for the Starfish Foundation.

Point man of the Salomon sponsored runners, Ryan Sands, who generally specializes in longer and more extreme races has become the face of the Salomon Featherbed Trail run which he does 3 times in the day and uses as part of his build up for the Trans Alps Race in September. The Oyster Festival holds a special place in the heart of the professional athlete as his running career which has seen him dominate the extreme racing circuit globally all began in Knysna.
The Salomon Featherbed Trail Run which has grown 50% year on year since its inception in 2008 saw the addition of the PETZL night running of the route at this year’s event. Knysna Residents with a view of the lagoon were treated to the sight of hundreds of lights making their way across the railway bridge and could be forgiven for thinking that it was, at last, the Outeniqua Choe Choe returning to the town.

Magnetic South

SEAHORSE – Female Runners

Coelacanth – Male Runners

SEAHORSE – Male Runners

o

o

o

o

o

o



This years Salomon Featherbed Trail Run presented by Petzl has not only attracted many of the country’s leading Trail Runners, including desert racing superstar Ryan Sands but also has taken on celebrity status with the news that SA cricketing legend Jonty Rhodes and his brother Clinton are also making the trip to Featherbed and if that is not enough to get you packing for Knysna …….. hot off the press, is the news that Actress, TV Presenter, Model, Events & Marketing Company Owner and ATHLETE, Vanessa Haywood, is competing as well. Vanessa Haywood achieved world wide acclaim as an actress when the SA movie “District 9″ made it to the Oscars. Vanessa has in fact taken on the Big 5 Challenge at the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival and is raising funds for the Starfish Foundation in an international campaign.

In 2009 Capetonian Rohan Kennedy not only ran both the Morning and Afternoon Runs back to back, but also managed to achieve the fastest times in both, to make him the undisputed KING of the Trail !

All eyes will be on who is going to depose our current KING and take hold of this prestigious title.

News in is that we have a “dark horse”, Victor Gugushe, who has quietly been making a name for himself running for the Plett Athletics Club. Having blitzed the Robberg Express Trail Run last year, will he have the big match temperament to hold out against the other favourites, Salomon sponsored athletes Cas Van Ardenne or desert and jungle endurance sensation Ryan Sands.

In the ladies race, current champion Alae Brand who set the course on fire last year will have the in form Salomon athlete and 2008 Featherbed winner, Michelle Lombardi breathing down her neck.

Its all wide open this year and you don’t want to miss the action.

The Featherbed Company has made available their entire infrastructure to further enhance the overall experience this very unique event offers its participants. This year the John Benn Ferry, which is a landmark on the Knysna Estuary, will be offering spectator packages to get you closer to the action and give you a feel of what the event is all about from the water. At R 130.00 per person which includes a meal on board this is a fantastic option to see your athletes from a vantage point not many sports events are able to offer ! There is a cash bar available on board to keep everyone well hydrated with alcoholoic and non alcoholic beverages.

So grab your Salomons, and your Petzl Headlamp for those who are looking for an adventure under the stars on the NIGHT RUN. Otherwise if you are more into running while the sun is doing its thing, choose between the MORNING or AFTERNOON RUN. Entries are filling very quickly with the Seahorse 11 km option already FULL on the Morning Run.

Full details and race info is on our website at www.magneticsouth.net and who knows you may even get caught out by Jonty Rhodes or be dazzled by the glitz and glamour Vanessa Haywood brings not forgetting being a part of the prowess of South Africa’s Trail Racing Snakes !

Don’t Miss The Boat – Never done a Trail Run before ……this is the perfect experience to get you hooked !

Happy Training.

The Magnetic South Team
info@magneticsouth.net
www.magneticsouth.net