Your New SA Marathon Champs Buys and Wakefield Are Crowned In The Karkloof!

by | Jun 1, 2022 | Bike, Bike Events & Racing, Bike Race Reports

Karkloof – Philip Buys and Amy Wakefield produced supreme displays at the 2022 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival to claim maiden national marathon titles in the men’s and women’s races respectively on Sunday.

Highlights From The Karkloof: 2022 SA Marathon Champs

Both riders were chasing down a first national marathon title and they produced equally dominant displays on a picturesque day in the Karkloof.

The racing was fierce at the front with a large group jostling it out for position in the early stages of the race with a number of the top riders all in the mix at the front.

Your New Sa Marathon Champs Buys And Wakefield Are Crowned In The Karkloof!
The terrain of the Karkloof means real mountain biking! The perfect stage for a SA Marathon Champs Race! PC: Ant Grote / Gameplan media

At the 30km mark PYGA Euro Steel’s Buys, Team Specialized Toyota’s Tristan Nortje and Team Honeycomb Pro Cycling’s Marc Pritzen had grouped together at the front of the race and the trio stayed together to the top of the tough Lebanon climb before Buys started putting the pressure on at the 40km mark.

Your New Sa Marathon Champs Buys And Wakefield Are Crowned In The Karkloof!
We love a close battle and that is what both the elite ladies and men’s races delivered! PC: Ant Grote / Gameplan Media

From there Buys put in a strong surge after a mistake behind him, and got that decisive gap on the chasing field but had 30km to negotiate at the front of the race.

He kept his head down from there and powered to a memorable victory ahead of Marc Pritzen in second and Tristan Nortje in third.

Your New Sa Marathon Champs Buys And Wakefield Are Crowned In The Karkloof!
There was an all out chase from Marc Pritzen and Tristan Nortje but they couldn’t reel in the flying Buys! PC: Ant Grote / Gameplan Media

“This is a title that has eluded me forever and to finally win it is very satisfying,” Buys said.

“I’ve felt really good over the last month and I think the race was at the perfect time because if it was any later I don’t think I would have been as strong.

“I thought the distance would get me in the end but I just had enough in the tank.”

Sa Marathon Champs
Launching his attack with close to 40km to the finish, Phil held his pace alone in the front to claim the SA title! A brilliantly executed race. PC: Ant Grote / Gameplan Media

It was an unfortunate day for defending champion Matt Beers who had to settle for fourth following a navigation issue that saw him fall off the pace and finish just off the podium.

The women’s race was another exciting clash to a point before the unrivalled Symbtech ZA’s Wakefield got herself in the lead and never looked back.

Amy Wakefield
The lead in the elite women’s race was constantly changing until the top contenders reached the upper slopes of the Lebanon climb where Amy Wakefield (right) said cheers to her opponents! PC: Ant Grote / Gameplan media

Despite what appeared to be a dominant victory, Wakefield was haunted by mechanical issues throughout the race.

“I’m still trying to process this because fifteen kays in my shifter stopped working so I didn’t have gears,” Wakefield said.

“I had to fix that so lost about six or seven minutes and had to fight back from there.

“I then lost my gears again so had to get a new shifter put in in the tech zone so I thought from there that I had lost the race.”

Your New Sa Marathon Champs Buys And Wakefield Are Crowned In The Karkloof!
Sam Sanders held the lead at the bottom of Lebanon but Wakefield was on the hunt! PC: Ant Grote / Gameplan Media

It was a strong fight back from Wakefield who eventually got herself back to the front and puts this win down to pure determination.

“I have wanted this title for so many years so the determination as well as the preparation got me over the line. I’ve been working so hard with my coach and put absolutely everything into my training.

“That along with just keeping calm and putting my head down because I wanted this title so much gave me the strength in the end.”

Efficient Insure Infinity Sam Saunders came home in second in the women’s race with a comfortable gap back to team mate Theresa Ralph in third.

Your New Sa Marathon Champs Buys And Wakefield Are Crowned In The Karkloof!
A strong build up to the 2022 SA Marathon Champs delivered big results for Wakefield in the Karkloof! PC: Ant Grote / Gameplan Media

In the 60km Marathon, the Junior Men’s race saw Franjo Hattingh claim the national crown while Omar Wilson won the Youth Men’s title.

The Youth Women’s title went to Carla Janse van Vuuren while the Junior Women’s crown was won by Riley Smith.

More info can be found here

SUMMARY OF RESULTS – Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival

85km Marathon

Overall
1.Phil Buys 3:45:42
2.Marc Pritzen 3:46:55
3.Tristan Nortje 3:47:01
4.Matt Beers 3:48:19
5.Marco Joubert 3:48:31
6.Wessel Botha 3:50:07
7.Gert Heyns 3:50:08
8.Arno du Toit 3:52:52
9.Johan Fourie de Villiers 3:55:33
10.Keagan Bontekoning 3:57:00

Women
1.Amy Wakefield 4:49:47
2.Samantha Saunders 5:00:20
3.Theresa Ralph 5:03:32
4.Yolande de Villiers 5:10:46
5.Janice Venter 5:27:49

60km Marathon

Junior Men
1.Franjo Hattingh 2:50:58
2.Jordan Boschoff 2:53:45
3.Justin Swanepoel 2:55:33

Youth Men
1.Omar Wilson 2:51:53
2.Jean-Jacques Koekemoer 3:01:37
3.Miles Liebenberg 3:04:08

40km Marathon

Junior Women
1.Riley Smith 2:31:20
2.Tyler Jacobs 2:32:45
3.Kayleigh Stevenson 2:47:53

Youth Women
1.Carla Jansen van Vuuren 2:27:22
2.Jodi Mackinnon 2:32:38
3.Errin Mackridge 2:35:28

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