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Global Trader Drak Challenge 2010

 

SA K1 River Champs

Global Trader became a proud sponsor of the Drake Challenge for the first time this year. It was our mission to make it the best race of the year which, judging by the responses from both sponsors and seconds, we managed to accomplish.
GTX was well represented this year, with 23 paddlers making it to the finish line successfully.   Shaun Biggs was the Top Performer finishing 20th. Paul Cartwright brought home the field by accompanying youngster down his first K1 race.
Some had more swims than others – Leslie Lee was overheard describing a swim that left his boat on a rock. It was later confirmed that it might actually have been a flat water swim. Charles Savage abused his rear as a suspension system while swimming below Black Murray. He was last spotted sporting the latest in S & M fashion in the form of a bright purple bruise which he needs no encouragement to show off. Meanwhile, Flynn Robson decided that the course was way too easy for him, and settled on half a paddle to shoot Black Murray.
The Global Trader team made sure that the seconds and paddlers were being looked after at the Trout Hatcheries and Glenhaven by plying them with the Champers, OJ and Donuts. This created a very festive atmosphere, especially on Day 2 at the infamous Glenhaven rapid which claimed many swimmers and bruised shins despite a specially erected WSY Slalom gate to guide the paddlers down the correct line. Nic has taken some amazing photo’s which are in the gallery – check them out and vote for your favourite one!
The Global Trader team entered 2 four balls into the Golf Challenge at the Underberg Country Club on Saturday afternoon. After a shaky opening hole, the James Saulez captained team roared into life bagging successive 7 pointers off the back of some phenomenal putting and a few Hansa mulligans. They cruised to victory and lifted the “Beast”, despite the best efforts of Tristan and his co-driver Georgi in the cart with their beers.
Thanks goes to the team that came down and supported the event! Everyone got stuck in, making it a memorable experience for all!
See you all next year at the Himeville Arms.
Cheers
Stu
 
 

  

GTx Fish 2009        
 

This years Fish River canoe marathon will be remembered for several reasons. The main reason being it was the first major event for the GTX Canyon Kayak Club and its members. The quiet town Eastern Cape town saw nearly 900 boats and their seconds descend on it for 4 days in October, of those 15 boats had members in them, made up of K1’s, 2’s and K3’s. The highest finisher was the evergreen Gavin Tarr who captured the silverware in the Vets race. Dawie Du Plessis brought the team home in 810 position in his K1. There were two virgin Fish paddlers in Gregg Mcdonagh and Gregg Mandy, well done to everybody.

The Friday and Saturday were both finished off in style at the GTX tent with wors rolls and beers and a few fines handed out to those that had earned them. Some of those were a harsher then others. Everybody enjoyed the opportunity to socialize with each other and meeting Charles the CEO of Global Trader while being entertained by Binary Saulez the able second. The club was also a major contributor in the K3 race with 3 boats, Greg Carter-Brown ended in 2nd position in the K3 race. There was a big tussle on Day 2 between the Turton/Mcdonagh K3 and the Rawly K3, with some interesting driving being done and the race was decided over Cradock were both teams made in successfully, unlike Greg C-B and Brett Green who was seen taking a novel line.

 

Flynn Robson powered his way down the river to inflict a painful defeat on the crew of Savage and Mandy which led to a particularly nasty fine as witnessed by those that attended. It has fuelled a fierce competition between the boats which will be resumed at Drak Challenge, where we will be having another large gathering of members at our home race. Thanks go to Dr Dyl Herwill another trusty second that was on handed with painkillers and ice cold Hansa to ease the ache of long days on the water. Good luck to the paddlers training for 50 Miler and Dusi.


Cheers
Stuart

 
 
 

  

Karkloof 2009

Rider Review

Profile: Taygan
Age: 28
Years riding: 1 and a half
Proffession: Personal Trainer
Bike: Santa Cruz Superlight

Karkloof classic was a brilliant riding weekend offering four races catering from endurance to fun rides. It was great to be part of the GTx MTB riding team, which brought camaraderie to the festival of races. Thanks to Global Trader for sponsoring me with free kit and entries for my races.


I entered the Global Trader night race, Cross country race and the 45km classic. The 2 lap Global Trader night race was well- put together with a great technical 10km course. Unfortunately the race was very wet and muddy and during the end of the first lap I broke my front derailleur and had to retire.

Special thanks to Global Trader that had organised a team mechanic which put my bike together on the Saturday in time to race the Sunday 45km classic. The 45km race had 700 riders and was a tough race with 1000 meters of climbing and some of the best sections of single track I have ever ridden. With such a large field of riders, I was very pleased with coming 11th overall and 1st in the Elite men. Now knowing it is such a great race weekend, and being part of Team GTx with all there support, I will defiantly be back next year.

 
 
 

  

2009 Otter Trail

Runner Review

 

 Looking at the pictures of the Otter Run, something that strikes me is the amount of detail I’ve forgotten about the event – in my mind it had all become a blur of endless stairs, surprisingly jovial moods and mind-blowing scenery. Whether this is because my mind has repressed the pain or because I was overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the Trail, I’m not quite sure. I’m inclined to say that it’s a combination of both.

A phrase frequently repeated by participants after the race was that “the only thing that can prepare you for the Otter Trail is the Otter Trail”. I found this to be astonishingly true; and something that I’m glad I was unaware of beforehand. In the weeks leading up to the event, I found myself swinging between extreme excitement and unreserved terror that I’d entered myself into something verging on the physically impossible – and the alarmed looks on the faces of colleagues when I told them what I had planned were not exactly helpful.
Slightly less helpful was the pre-race briefing the night before the start in which it was repeatedly mentioned – in various not-so-cushioned ways - that the event was to be anything but easy.   But, despite the warnings and dissuasion there was still an overwhelming feeling of excitement on race day morning.   The participants filled their respective buses, and, among much nervous banter, we drove from the finish at Nature’s Valley where we had camped back up the coast to the start at Storms River Mouth, (an intimidatingly long drive). 
As I mentioned, the 7 hours and 18 minutes of the actual run are something of a blur... we began, at 5:30am, with a climb up the longest set of stairs I’d ever seen in my life, only to find out that this was not one of the many “significant climbs” that characterise the Trail. It was probably at the top of the third set of these stairs that I first realised precisely what I was in for – and that despite discovering 20 new types of pain and about 50 new muscles in my body (all of which can cramp) this was going to be one of the most unforgettable events I’d ever do. 



While the boulder-hopping, the arduous climbs, the tricky descents and the river-crossing were all thoroughly enjoyable aspects of the run, it was the incredible scenery and views that literally stopped me in my tracks that made this race so memorable for me. Truly, there are no words...

Having exhausted my repository of adjectives there’s one thing left for me to mention about the Otter Run: the organisation required for an event of this size and nature is a momentous task and one that was performed fantastically.   It apparently took almost four years and extensive planning and negotiating to obtain permission for a trail run to be held on the Otter Trail. This, along with the seamless accommodation, transportation and safety arrangements on a route which has severely limited access is a highly praiseworthy achievement.    Next year I’ll definitely be back for Otter, and might even have forgotten the pain sufficiently to daringly enter the five day event, Southern Storm. 
 

 
 
 

  

NEWS  

 

Great Weekend for Gtx on the water and off.
 
This weekend saw Team GTx competing in two events, firstly the canoeists took on the proclaimed  Vaal Marathon “South Africa's Toughest River Marathon” with  Gavin Tarr winning the Vets  finishing in a very impressive time of 5:38:48.
 
Taygan Robson and Mark Langman managed an awesome 3rd place in the Berg and Bush mountain bike event. Great to see our newly formed Mountain Bike team coming to the front and looking forward to some more impressive results.
Well done to all that competed and of course all those that finished.
 

 
 
 

  

Gtx Kit

GTx Paddling tops long sleeve-new thermo lite combo-mm/lycra. White colour. R 145.00

GTx Running Vests R 100.00

GTx paddling shorts black with white side panels. R 150.00

To order:

email: GTXathletics@gt247.com

or call +27 11 214 8013

 
 

  
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