Raw_Steel

Sorry, that is how it is on the website. will try see if i find better ones.

Event Name: MiWay BIG 5 - Kwambo Lion MTB Race When: 29 September 2013 Where: Kwambo, Kwazulu-Natal Category: MTB Date: 29th September 2013 Registration Time: 6am - 8:00am Race Start Times: 50km - 8:30am | 25km - 8:45am | 10km - 9:00am Venue/Registration: Kwambo Club GPS start co-ordinates: S28 35.981 E32 04.731 Director: Mike Brown Contact: 083 631 9582 E-mail: mike@mikebrowne.co.za Co-Director: Mike Browne Contact: 083 631 9582 Track: John Swaine Contact: 082 804 5987 Go to Event Page

Event Name: MiWay BIG 5 - Monzi Hippo Challenge When: 8 September 2013 Where: Monzi, Kwazulu-Natal Category: MTB Date: 8th September 2013 Registration Time: 6am - 8:30am Race Start Times: 50km - 9:00am | 25km - 9:10am | 10km - 9:15am Venue/Registration: Monzi Club GPS start co-ordinates: S28 25.900 E32 17.924 Director: Brian Harrison Cel: 083 264 5106 E-mail: mgclub@polka.co.za Co-Director: Brian Harrison Cel: 083 264 5106 Track: Ronald Harrison Cel: 083 450 4323 www.monzivillage.co.za The Monzi farmers are waiting to greet you with a tall glass of something refreshing on the rolling lawns of the Monzi Golf Club, the venue for the 4th race in the MiWay Big 5 Series, the Monzi Hippo Challenge. Voted Best Overall Race 2011 by you the riders, this race has sections that are certain to both challenge and reward riders of all skill levels. This year the Monzi team have re-worked the route completely and now have a track that will be a delight especially for the rider who hasn’t quite developed those climbing skills and a perfect ride for the whole family through the country side. This is the ride you’d use to get the kids into cycling and for those of you hovering over the decision to upgrade to a 50km route. Being a comparatively fast track, for the race snakes and the riders chasing a position in the MiWay Big 5 Series, the Monzi Hippo Challenge race provides the perfect opportunity to improve your overall time. Leave this one out and you may be saddened to see your rivals leaping ahead of you with an improved overall average time. Set along the Monzi flats through the sugar cane fields and partially bordering the Southern Perimeter of the World Heritage site of the St Lucia Wetland Park, this tree-lined track winds through the scenic countryside next to the Umfolozi river. Once again there will be some very rideable single track at the start, as well as through the natural forest adjacent to the Futululu reserve towards the finish, with most of the long flat sections from previous years discarded. The 10km route is designed to be a fun race aimed at encouraging the next generation’s 50km entrants to begin their riding careers. The circular route is made up of two 5km laps, allowing the smaller kids or the unfit parents to participate in the race and take a break if the legs give in. The overall day promises to be a fun family day for all involved. Whether you are the cyclist in the family, or the family cheerleader, you are sure to find something at the Monzi Hippo Race that tickles your fancy. So even if it’s the Monzi ladies’ mouth-water bacon and egg rolls, there are many reasons to come join us at the Monzi Hippo Race on the 2nd of September. We look forward to seeing you all there once again. The weather forecast predicted cooler conditions with light rain for the fourth Big 5 MTB Race - The Monzi Hippo Challenge. The race was held at the Monzi Golf Club and by 5:00am there was much activity sorting out generators due to an unexpected power failure. However, it was not long before the farmers had made a plan and by 6:00am people started arriving for registration. There was much anticipation as riders huddled under the veranda hoping the rain would soon subside. By 8:00am the clouds had parted and we were all treated to a magnificent, dust free, cool Zululand morning. Despite the early rain, numbers had exceed expectations and it was not long before the riders were racing down the 18th fairway. Once out of the Monzi Village they passed through Macadamia orchards and through some soft sand which caused a few thrills and spills. It was then through the cane fields and across a foot bridge which was the gateway to a new stretch of single track cut through the Futululu forest. Upon exiting the forest, riders were treated to the hallmark section of the race - the scenic irrigation canals of the Monzi Flats. It was then time for the 25km riders to turn for home as the 50km riders headed on through a variety of landscapes from sugarcane, timber, strelitzia and banana plantations as well as the natural forest areas of Northern Zululand. All riders later came back together again on the home stretch through some great single track along the edge of the Dukuduku rural development and then up through the Monzi Golf Course and back to the club. The kids were treated to a 10km ride which had a few testing hills for their small legs and there was much excitement as mums and dads ran alongside to help push. Through the day, the Monzi Club was buzzing with noise, chatter and laughter as many hamburgers, coffees and drinks were consumed while people enjoyed the music, kids zone and parachute drop. Thanks to everyone for making 2012 a great event - roll on 2013 and we will be back to up our game even more! Go to Event Page

Event Name: MiWay BIG 5 - RIS Hluhluwe Rhino Charge When: 21 July 2013 Where: Hluhluwe, Kwazulu-Natal Category: MTB Date: 21st July 2013 Registration Time: 6am - 8:30am Race Start Times: 50km - 9:00am | 25km - 9:15am | 10km - 9:30am Venue: Hluhluwe Private School, False Bay GPS start co-ordinates: S27 57.928 E32 20.522 Director: Greg Davies Contact: 079 189 3996 E-mail: greg@isinkwe.co.za Co-Director: Greg Davies Cel: 079 189 3996 Track: Greg Davies Cel: 079 189 3996 In a new and very exciting development the MiWay Big 5 Series takes you to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and into the False Bay section of iSimangaliso. This has also meant a change of venue, and what an improvement this is, with loads of shady trees, a kid’s playground, a ready-made chill zone and best of all a brand new swimming pool situated right at the start/finish the Hluhluwe Privaat School is absolutely the perfect venue. Situated just 4km’s away from False Bay it made perfect sense for track builders Greg Davies and Julian Simon to head into the Park with its abundant wildlife (no dangerous game) and indigenous forests. The track uses the parks walking trails and heads down towards Lake St Lucia where riders will be treated to single track along the lake shores. Whilst the 25km heads back to the school the 50km race enters into the northern section of the park where the single track narrows and has you ducking and diving through the trees, move over Heatonville, this is a welcome new route with a few k’s of track that the technical riders will revel in. The 50km heads down and again rides south along the shores before re-joining the 25km route and back to the school and a dive into the brand new pool! Sadly the 10km track can’t quite get to the park but the route through the surrounding farmland is two loops of 5km’s which allows the parents to watch their off spring compete for a top place in the newly timed 10km Challenge. Go to Event Page

Event Name: MiWay BIG 5 - Pick N Pay Elephant Classic Eshowe When: 23 June 2013 Where: Eshowe, Kwazulu-Natal Category: MTB Date: 23rd June 2013 Registration Time: 6am - 8:00am Race Start Times: 50km - 8:30am | 25km - 8:45am | 10km - TBA Venue/Registration: Gratton Preparatory Eshowe GPS start co-ordinates: S28 53.311 E31 26.146 Director: Mike Vom Hagen Contact: 082 350 9775 Track: Gareth Chitteden Contact: 082 327 1698 Organisers: Gratton Preparatory Eshowe This original Zululand mountain biking race started here way back when mountain bikes had as much suspension as your granddads suspender belt and now they’re back to show us some true mountain biking country. Rumour has it that this race fell off the calendar because it was too hard!! This was before the Epic when the Giants Castle was considered to be the ultimate challenge and now of course the Giant is considered to be a short walk in the park compared to challenges like the Freedom challenge or the Homeward Bound. So back to the Eshowe Elephant, taking all of the above into consideration news from ESHOWE is Gareth Chittenden, the track builder, has the 25km ready to ride, and has a very exciting 50km planned and is almost ready to deliver a superb new track for the Series. Owning a nursery helps as the labour from the well- known Zululand Nursery in Eshowe has been diverted from their normal routine to make this track a favourite for the Big 5 series. Are there hills? Hello people have you been to Eshowe, yes there are hills, but you’re a mountain biker and Gareth has been awfully considerate this year and has skirted around the hills allowing the track to meander around dams, through single track along natural forest next to the Umlalazi river to make this a very scenic ride. Go to Event Page