On 26 March 2020 South Africa was plunged into one of the strictest Covid-19 lockdowns the world had seen – signalling the end of The Warrior Race as we knew it. It took two years for restrictions to ease and today, exactly two years later, we’re back – braver and stronger than before.
This morning Warriors lined up at Prime View Adventure and Leisure with one goal in mind: to be better than they were yesterday. The chilly air, freezing water and muddy trails only added to the anticipation. Warrior Ric brought the scene to life with his unmistakable gift to motivate. Before long, the whole crowd was raring to go.
Joining the Black Ops Men’s Elite race was 17-time OCR winner Thomas Van Tonder. While this is certainly not his first appearance on the Warrior scene, he expected the new course to offer a serious challenge. He stood alongside South African OCR champion Claude Eksteen.
Eksteen secured his first-place title early on in the race and finished incredibly strong. Van Tonder crossed the line in second place, followed by Louis Smit in third place.
In the Black Ops Women’s Elite race, professional OCR athlete Trish Eksteen offered an unmatched display of strength as she finished nearly an hour before her closest competitor. Ashley Button worked hard to earn second place while Candice Clarke secured third.
The prize giving stage was set in between the start and finish line – the perfect reminder to all Warriors of just how far they’ve come. Names of the category winners echoed through the speakers and across the race village as trophies and medals were handed out. Participants and spectators alike enjoyed delicious food, grabbed cold beverages and shared their war stories.
The heart and soul of The Warrior Race has always been that no soldier gets left behind. We’re a team through and through. We climb together, we run together and we cross the finish line together.
EasyEquities challenged their employees to try something a little bit out of the ordinary – and a little bit muddy. With a team of nearly 200 Warriors, they crushed the course together. Thank you EasyEquities for bringing the gees!
Today we also introduced ‘Conquer for a Cause’, an opportunity for Warriors to raise funds for their chosen charity in a fun and original way.
As the final Warriors made their way across the finish line, the crowds were entertained by live local acts Ralph Michielsen, Dodo Nyoka and Christiaan Baartman – marking the perfect end to a spectacular day.
It was phenomenal to see all the Warriors out on the course! A massive thank you to all of our supporters for carrying us through the last two years. It’s because of your perseverance, determination, and grit that we can do what we do. Faces look forward to hosting and cheering you on again soon!
Photos by Besnapped