GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - Well over 1 200 disabled individuals from across the length and breadth of South Africa took part in the 5 km fun section at the 15th Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC) on Saturday 18 February.
With the inclusion of the serious athletes who come from the United Kingdom, Ghana and Zimbabwe to compete in the marathon, half-marathon and 10 km race, the number of participants swells to over 1 500.
For many of the individuals living with physical disabilities this is the only proper outing they have in the year said Ansie Swart, OCC event director.
"Many of the participants from Zimbabwe, Limpopo province and Northern KwaZulu Natal travel for two days by bus to George just to be pushed for 5 km by local volunteers for an hour and then they relax and mingle and renew friendships with others that are in the same predicament as them. This is what the OCC is all about," said Swart.
George Mayor Melvin Naik, congratulated all involved in making the event the success it is. "All our participants, supporters, the organizing committee, the sponsors of this prestigious event - you have all displayed the motto of I may win and I may lose, but I will never be defeated," said Naik.
Route change
This year the route was changed to accommodate the local business community and the starting times was staggered over a three hour period to improve the safety of the participants. This meant that the route was clear for each race - the 10 km, the 5 km fun section and the highly competitive 42,2 km marathon and 21,1 half-marathon.
In the past, at the end of the 5 km fun race the volunteers had to push the wheelchairs, across the racing path of the competitive hand cycle and racing wheelchairs that were still in full stride.
Paralympian Ernst van Dyk has competed in every OCC race since the inception of the event said that the new route is a safer course but a lot harder. "The uphill from the start to the top of York Street is much steeper than you realise and psychologically very taxing.
To cross the the start finish line four times and then having to do that long drag four times was soul destroying for the not so fit competitors. The York Street uphill section done four times is about 12 km in length, which represents just under 30% of the total race distance."
The new format and layout will have to be fine-tuned for next year’s race, but the basis that was lain this year, will result in the OCC becoming an even bigger event.
Van Dyk said he is disappointed that the public has such issues with the closing of the roads. "When I do the New York or the Chicago or the Boston Marathon they shut down the whole city for ten to twelve hours to complete the race. One has to wonder how do you justify what has happened here," said van Dyk.
The inclement weather slowed down the times as participants struggled to maintain their grip on the wet metal surface while propelling their racing cycles and chairs.
The results of the 2017 OCC
Hand cycle category Steward Mc Creadie (South Africa) 1:07:25
Racing chair Ernest van Dyk (South Africa) 1:46:13
Quads Pieter du Preez (South Africa) 1:44:10
Hand cycle Justine Asher (South Africa) 1:32:44
Racing chair Ayishetu Sedu (Ghana) 2:40:59
Racing chair (T53/54) Knowledge Munogweyi (Zimbabwe) 1:18:21
Racing chair (T51/52) Wilson Nyakoko (Zimbabwe) 1:28:49
Hand cycle Gert van Wyk (South Africa) 50:29
Racing chair (T51/52) Thandwe Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe) 1:25:43
Racing chair (T53/54) Ratidzo Tomu (Zimbabwe) 1:29:28
Watch a video of the start of the 42.2km race, below:
Click here for previous articles:
- SA athletes victorious at 2017 OCC
- OCC changes make for safer race
- Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge under way
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ARTICLE: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
