28 Nov | Die Bosveld
The final Warrior Race of the 2025 season unfolded at Die Bosveld under some of the toughest conditions competitors have faced all year. What is normally a fast, flowing course turned into a mud-slicked battleground after days of heavy rain, transforming each kilometre into a test of grit, balance, and pure determination. Yet in true Warrior fashion, athletes and crew embraced the challenge, proving once again why obstacle course racing continues to grow as one of the world’s most resilient and community-driven sports.
A raw race
At Die Bosveld, the Warrior Race was showcased in its rawest form: unpredictable terrain, natural elements working against every step, and obstacles made significantly harder by slick mud and water. It was a perfect reminder that the Warrior Race is not simply a race; it’s a test of adaptability and problem-solving under pressure.
A Course Transformed by Mud
The mud was the defining feature of the day. Sections that were normally runnable turned into a slow-moving, sticky sludge. Athletes lost about 15 minutes to the projected course times, with every foot placement becoming a strategic decision.
#3 Die bosveld Race Results
In the Black-Ops Elite men’s category, Brandon Hulley delivered another impressive performance, making it three out of three Warrior Race victories for 2025!
Hlelani Radebe, consistent in his efforts since Cradle #1, held a strong second place until the Mud Monster, where Claude Eksteen made a strategic, yet risky move. Eksteen chose the outer lanes of the obstacle, where the mud was still fresh and less churned up, allowing him to carry more momentum and overtake Radebe in a decisive pass.
The Elite women’s race was dominated once again by the undefeated Sabrina Daolio, also claiming three out of three victories for 2025. In second place and nine minutes behind Sabrina, Cindy Wills pushed hard throughout the course after taking a break since #4 Cradle in 2025, showing impressive determination in the tough conditions. Sarah Wright came in third place for her very first black-ops race.
This event also saw more women stepping up to the Black-Ops Elite category. With the Breaking Point obstacle removed, a notoriously challenging obstacle, more female athletes felt encouraged to take on the toughest division. This strategy was designed to grow women’s participation in the Black-Ops Elite race, and the impact was clear at Die Bosveld.
| Black-Ops Elite Men | Black-Ops Elite Women |
| 1. Brandon Hulley 01:28:55 2. Claude Eksteen 01:31:03 3. Hlelani Radebe 01:31:07 |
1. Sabrina Daolio 01:52:55 2. Cindy Wills 02:01:55 3. Sarah Wright 02:39:51 |
| Commando Elite Men | Commando Elite Women |
| 1. Caleb Hendriks 01:01:09 2. Tyron Bothma 01:04:06 3. Dirk Wijnbeek 01:06:05 |
1. Marinda Moolman 01:39:50 2. Annemarie Scholtz 01:44:25 3. Elizabeth Buys 01:45:21 |
| Rookie Elite Men | Rookie Elite Women |
| 1. Barend Bodenstein 00:46:30 2. Cedar Evans 00:47:11 3. Jean Le Roux 00:47:30 |
1. Mienke Vd Bergh 00:58:56 2. Elaine Bodenstein 00:59:05 3. Jenny-Lee Wilken 01:06:41 |
A Triumph of Grit and Community
While the muddy terrain made this one of the slowest Warrior Races of the season, they also made it one of the most memorable. The 2025 Bosveld edition will be remembered not for fast times but for teamwork, resilience, and the unmistakable camaraderie that defines the OCR community. Despite the mud, the slips, and the rain, the event was a resounding success, proof that Warriors don’t wait for perfect conditions; they rise to meet whatever the course throws at them, come rain and shine.
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Watch the extended highlights on YouTube here