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More popular than ever, we have been able to extend entries for the 40km and 20km Mountain Challenges and will close these at MIDDAY on Friday 23 February. Thereafter we will operate a waiting list and substitutions will be allowed until 10 March 2018 – email info@kzntrailrunning.co.za for details.  The 10km and 6km will stay open right through until midday on Thursday 22 March and late entries will be available for these distances on the day.

Accommodation at the venue is fully booked, but Hlalanathi is approx. 20min away and has availability – https://www.hlalanathi.co.za/. Other options are listed here. Delicious food and drink will be available for sale courtesy of our awesome host restaurant The Phatt Chef, so relax with us and soak up the vibe!

The 40km and 20km entry includes a super-soft technical garment, which will also be available for purchase at the Trail Shed.

We are proud to partner with Raidlight South Africa as the event apparel sponsor – their fantastic gear will be on display and sale at the Trail Shed.

QUICK INFO:
Saturday 24 March 2018
The Border Post, Oliviershoek
40km, 20km, 10km, 6km
Registration from 4pm on Friday 23 March
Start: 40km – 6am, 20km – 7:30am, 10km & 6km – 8am
Finish line hydration to all participants sponsored by Aquellé.

MORE INFO & ENTRIES

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Now in it’s third year, the event drew a strong contingent of athletes from across the country, all eager to tackle the testing terrain and claim a podium finish at the race, which marks the start of the South African Skyrunner Series. #DNT2017 comprised of four distances including a 20km, 10km and 5km, but it was the 40km skymarathon that was most prominent.

The men’s field was hotly contested, with Pedro Calderon leading the pack, conquering the technical terrain and coming home in 4:18:54 ahead of Jack Macdiarmid (4:27:40) and Martin Crous (4:27:40). However, it was the performance of the ladies in the field that was second to none. Of the first five runners to cross the finish line, three were women who placed second, fourth and fifth overall. International trail star Holly Page clinched first place in 4:20:34, with Nicolette Griffioen (4:32:56)  and Carla van Huyssteen (4:46:50) close on her heels in second and third respectively.

Clinching the winning title in the 20km mountain challenge was a bittersweet moment for prominent athlete, Tarquin Mezaros. He has run all the instalments of DNT and had his sites set on once again conquering the 40km marathon however, due to recent injury, was forced to downgrade. This did not deter him though and, possessing a wealth of knowledge and familiarity of the course, he blazed his way to first place in the shorter distance. Meanwhile, in the women’s division, hybrid athlete Sabrina Daolio, who is an OCR and triathlete, took top spot in the 20km.

Conditions were tough at this year’s edition of DNT, with athlete’s having to battle through rain, mist and cold as they scaled the challenging terrain. However, there was a wealth of grit and tenacity on display as trail runners came to the fore despite the challenges. There was close on 400 participants taking part in the various categories, making #DNT2017 another successful event.

Many local trail runners now set their sites on the next challenge of the Skyrunning calendar. For more information, log onto https://skyrunningsa.wordpress.com/.

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While the competitive side to trail running continues to grow to new levels in South Africa, the interest in the sport as a means to adventure is growing even stronger. More people who would not consider themselves prime athletes are taking on tough challenges in the mountains. Drakensberg Northern Trail has partnered with TrailLab, a company based in Johannesburg that offers trail camps and clinics with two of South Africa’s top trail runners- husband and wife duo Christiaan and Landie Greyling. While Christiaan will be racing, Landie’s presence at the event will be in a supporting role this time around as a TrailLab ambassador. The event also offers 20km, 10km and 5km courses for participants looking for something more moderate.

Race Director, Andrew Booth from KZN Trail Running had this to say about the upcoming trail championships “Firstly it’s an honour to be chosen to host the championship, we are in for some great racing up front. Equally exciting is our partnership with TrailLab at the event, what they are offering is a unique way of participating in events, under the guidance of some South Africa’s best trail runners. I couldn’t think of a better way of taking on the challenge and furthering your running.”

You can follow the build up to the event and race day itself through social media.

www.facebook.com/draknorthtrail

www.twitter.com/draknorthtrail

Use the hashtag  #DNT2016  on all your social media posts.

Supporting Sponsors and Organisations:

Greenfire Lodges, Brooks Running, The South African Skyrunning Association, KZN Trail Running, TrailLab and Trail Running SA

Women Elites:

Nicolette Griffioen

Megan Mackenzie

Su Don-Wauchope

Marzelle van der Merwe

Nicky Booyens

Men Elites:

Iain Don-Wauchope

Christiaan Greyling

Lucky Mahlangu

Johardt Van Heerden

Pedro Calderon

Bruce Arnett

Dillon McEvoy

Chris Strydom

Rory Scheffer

Kane Reilly

Stewart Chaperon

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