SARLA / eLan / Jeep / Mercury Challenge

Team building doesn’t get better than this! The first day of the Legends Challenge got under way in perfect weather at the Blythedale Coastal Resort.

Four teams comprising 32 cyclists lined up at the start line for the 16km race through the coastal forest, some of the most scenic single tracks in the country. The off road race took them through indigenous forest, bamboo lanes and mangroves with plenty of uphill climbs to get the legs pumping. CEO of the South African Rugby Legends Association, John Allan took a spectacular spill on the first major hill heading down towards the river, going over his handle bars in magnificent style.

The Jeep Apparel Team were outright winners in the first event with a 15 minute gap over the remainder of the pack. Teams had to cross together over the finishing line which created more of a team spirit, seeing the cyclists chasing back to push team mates up the hills. The Jeep Apparel Team was lead by up-and-coming SA X-Country Mountain Biking Cyclist, Craig Paul.

From the cycling event, the competitors then moved to four challenges where they rotated around the park. Eventts such as the human catapult in the Gladi-antics and “Zorbing” around a race track, paintball target shooting and retrieving balls from the bottom of a foam bath put competitors through their paces.

After the second round clear leaders were Jeep Apparel who stamped their authority on the day. With The Mercury and the South African Rugby Legends team sharing second place. Fourth is the eLan team.

Saturday's focus is the Simbithi Golf Challenge where the course guarantees team members to be using all the golf clubs in their bag. On Sunday the duel starts at dawn with the deep sea fishing competition getting under way. Ushaka Marine World is the venue for the water challenge where events such as kayaking and stand-up paddling will test participants. Members of the public are invited to come down to support at 10.30am. The final challenge is a cook off where things are bound to get heated. Legends Breyton Paulse and Ryk Neethling are two of the sporting personalities who be competing in both of the final events.