Thank you, KZN, for the warm welcome and PERFECT weather! Virgin Active Warrior #2 at Manor House Seaton Estate on 22 July 2023 dawned clear, ready to deliver an electrifying atmosphere and an epic day of hard racing and testing obstacles.
Traditional Zulu dancers hailed the Virgin Active Warriors lining up at the start line with a fierce tribal war dance to the heart-pounding rhythm of beating drums, preparing them for the battle ahead. The stage was set in dramatic fashion as Warriors braced themselves to endure a true test of heart, mind and spirit.
Warrior Ric set them off like only he can – motivating every participant to be the best version of themselves on the day! Where our Warriors at?! 🔥🤪💥
Manor House Venue had it all. The diverse terrains saw Warriors running along incredibly scenic trails grassy meadows, scrubby coastal bush, and sandy beaches linking the various obstacles on the respective routes.
‘It was a very competitive race, a very fast race, but a very tough race because of the elevation and the sand. But the Elite athletes seemed to love it. It was a good race.’
– Jono Hart, Route Director
With the last few major obstacles clustered close to the finish line, the vibe was incredible as crowds gathered and exuberantly cheered on the participants.
The race started off quick and fast for the men with Claude Eksteen leading from the start, Brandon Hulley chasing, and Thomas van Tonder lying further back around the fifth position. Claude reached the beach obstacles first where he seemed to switch gears. He started gaining minutes on the rest of the field, opening up a significant gap which he maintained up until reaching the major obstacles. Disaster struck. He slipped right at the end of Breaking Point and missed the bell. He lost a band and was forced to do a penalty lap. Luckily the huge advantage Claude had gained on the rest of the field proved enough to clinch the win just before Thomas van Tonder who had come through the last obstacles quickly to finish in second just behind Claude. Third place went to Justin Landsberg.
In the ladies’ race, Sabrina Daolio came out strong right from the beginning and basically held the lead for the entire race. She completed obstacles faultlessly and ran strongly to finish with a comfortable margin ahead of Trish Eksteen in second and Lisha Sookan in third.
Black-Ops Elite Men:
Black-Ops Elite Ladies
Commando Elite Men
Commando Elite Ladies
Claire Maujean | 01:27:16
Rookie Elite Men
Rookie Elite Ladies
Every Warrior who showed up on that start line can be proud of completing a difficult and challenging course. Your unbreakable mindset, indomitable spirit and fierce heart prove you ARE a true Warrior!
Thank you for showing up. Thank you for pushing through when you feel like giving up. Thank you for doing hard things.
Victory is yours.
Mark your calendars. Warrior #3 lands at Devonbosch, WC on 30 Sept!
