An adventure day is planned for Saturday July 17th in the Seringveld Conservancy, approximately 15 km north-west of Cullinan in Gauteng.

Adventure Racing is a sport wherein the endurance of the participants is tested to the limits. Adventure racing teams comprise 2 or 3 members, and they have to navigate from checkpoint to checkpoint using maps and compasses (no GPS’s or radios are allowed!) over rugged terrain involving many different sport disciplines. Mountain biking, caving, field running, rope work, orienteering, kloofing and abseiling are only some of the typical sport disciplines involved. There is no individual glory: Either the whole team succeeds, or the team is disqualified even if only one member has to withdraw for whatever reason. Team spirit is of the utmost importance, especially constructive teamwork. The team has to function as unit, and needs to manage strengths and weaknesses of team members. Teams also focus to exploit weaknesses of other teams.
Many teams are expected to partake in the Seringveld Diamond Dash Adventure day.

On Saturday July 17th 2010, teams will set of at 08h30 to test themselves against the time and the elements.

The aims of the day are to promote adventure racing as a sport and also to promote awareness of the Seringveld Conservancy and its unique biodiversity, as well as to expose threats to the Seringveld. Read more about the Seringveld Conservancy here.

Local landowners work together towards this unique event, while local knowledge, technical skills and sponsors will be employed to execute this project successfully. Possible profits from the adventure day will be used towards conservation projects within the Seringveld Conservancy and also for adventure racing development.

The race will be hosted at the Bufulong Wedding Venue situated within the Seringveld Conservancy, and the race routes will cross no less than 8 neighboring farms. The day will comprise a 30km Adventure Race, 50km Adventure Race, 30km off road Duathlon and a 12km Trail run.

During the navigation parts of the race, teams will have to navigate from typical Seringveld-specific tree species to the next, to introduce Seringveld’s specialized floristic heritage to the adventure race community. The Duathlon and Trail run will start at 09h00 and will feature well-indicated routes which will offer competitors the scenic views of the characteristic and unique Seringveld savannah. Live video broadcasting will enable
spectators to view the competitors’ progress on the different race legs from the comfort of Bufulong lodge. Barcode technology will be implemented by local mechanical engineer Peter Visser to streamline entries and to determine race results accurately.

Trail Running involves running on different, mostly uneven terrain in the veld to enable runners to get up and personal with nature and its challenges. Trail running is becoming a very popular sport among the nature loving South Africans, and the Seringveld Conservancy lends itself in a unique way towards the development and aspirations of this sport discipline.

Contact:

Keane Ludick at 071 593 3221

E-mail to landie.visser@za.pwc.co.za or Christiaan at 084 516 2258 or send an email to christiaan.greyling@gmail.com