KNYSNA: Olivier Feuillette – ‘The French Housewife’ (he maintains that he stays at home to train while his wife, Janis, goes out to work) – made it a hat-trick today when he won the Land Rover Waterfront Rush brought to you by Men’s Health Magazine for the third consecutive year.

The finals of the Rush – held by tradition immediately after the South African Navy Band’s Waterfront Concert at the Pick ‘n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival – came after two grueling days of time trials that were marked by ding-dong battles for positions in the knock-out rounds.

In the end Mr. Feuillette beat local favourite, Martin Fraser-McKenzie, to the top of the climbing wall in a tightly-fought contest that Duzi Canoe Marathon king Martin Dreyer described as “incredibly exciting.”

But it was, above all, a day for spectators.

“Adventure racing doesn’t usually offer much for spectators,” said Race Director Mark Collins of event organisers Magnetic South, “unless you watch it on TV, of course – but the Rush is different because it takes many of the disciplines you find in adventure racing and distills them into a series of explosive on-on-one competitions.

“And the fact that it’s held at The Waterfront at the Knysna Quays – rather than far away in some wilderness area – makes it totally accessible for people on the sidelines.”

One of the spectators at today’s event was the man whom many regard as Africa’s greatest living adventurer – Kingsley Holgate, whose Outside Edge Expedition (which circumnavigated Africa by road) will end at the Cape of Good Hope in a few day’s time.

Mr. Holgate said that he was proud to be back in South Africa after seeing the whole of the African coast (and delivering 100,000 mosquito nets through his ‘One Net One Life’ campaign) – and added that “I’m really proud that we have adventurers such as we’ve seen today who keep alive that wonderful spirit of adventure that makes South Africa famous.”

Storm Bell, a visitor from Durban, said that, “this whole event is fantastic for guys to try something completely different.

“With it being right here in the centre at The Waterfront, it draws so much attention… it’s a great way to get people involved.

“I think the support is absolutely important to keep them (the athletes) going and when they feel like they have nothing left in their arms and legs to help them give it that one last little push to get over the wall.”

Each of today’s races included kayaking, Hydro Bronking (running on the water in an inflatable ‘hamster wheel’) and climbing – and in what might well have been a first, the South African Navy allowed the organisers to make use of one of its vessels as an obstacle on the course: competitors (dressed in gear by Helly Hansen) were required to access the ship via a cargo net and then to crawl along the outside of the hull on a narrow ledge created by a wooden rubbing strake.

In the spirit of all the events at the Pick ‘n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, the Land Rover Waterfront Rush was used to raise funds for a local humanitarian cause – in this case, the Knysna Canoe Club Development Programme.

“Some of the paddlers from the Development Programme tried the Rush this year and did very well in the time trials – and we’re hoping to see at least one of them make it to the knock-out rounds next year,” said Mr. Collins. “And who knows – maybe even steal the title from The French Housewife!”

More information at www.magneticsouth.net

ENDS 641 Words

RESULTS

QUARTER FINALS

1 Olivier Feuillette BEAT Steven Webber

2 Kevin Gaynor BEAT David Bruiners

3 Martin Fraser-McKenzie BEAT Marthinus Esmeyer

4 Johnnie Heatlie BEAT Andre Gie

SEMI-FINALS

1 Feuillette BEAT Gaynor

2 Fraser-McKenzie BEAT Heatlie

FINALS

1 Feuillette BEAT Fraser-McKenzie

MEDIA RELEASE BY BarefootClients

MARTIN HATCHUEL Barefoot Writer martin@barefootclients.co.za

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