Don-Wauchope sets new Skyrun record

Iain Don-Wauchope has won the 2014 Salomon Skyrun powered by Powertraveller in a new course record of 12h08.

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Overall winner Iain Don-Wauchope crosses a farm fence on his way to a record-breaking victory. (c) Trautman/Nikon/Lexar

Don-Wauchope triumphed over the strongest international field ever, in the iconic mountain challenge over an unmarked 100-odd kilometre route through the alpine region of the north-Eastern Cape. Canadian Gary Robbins – current course record holder for Hurt 100 in Hawaii – finishing second in a time of 13:47 with South African Jock Green rounding out the podium in 14:12:53, after out-sprinting Rhodes local Hylton Dunn.

“It was a tough day,” commented a visibly exhausted Don-Wauchope at Wartrail Country Club after his win.

“I really had to dig deep and just focus on myself the whole way,” he said.

Don-Wauchope, who had glandular fever less than two weeks prior, found himself in the chasing bunch on the first climb. “I wasn’t 100%,” he says. “I could feel it on the first climb and I was a bit back, but then when we left the first checkpoint I saw most of the international guys couldn’t run the tufty grass too confidently so I just went at my own pace and quite soon opened up a bit of a gap.”

That ‘bit of a gap’ would see him lead all the way to the finish. “I’m very surprised that no-one came from behind and caught and passed me,” he commented. “I struggled with really bad headaches and kept getting stones in my shoes…by the time I got to Balloch Wall (the halfway mark) I was ready to bail,” he said.

“It was Mike de Haast (race director for Pure Adventures) who told me I was on 12-hour pace and urged me to keep going. So I pulled myself out of the transition and I was so slow up the wall. It was a real grovel up there.”

At around 75 kilometres in Don-Wauchope got the proverbial ‘second wind’ and started pushing the pace.

“I could go a lot faster because it there were good roads, it was relatively flat and some downhills, but I actually ended up going too fast there and tore my left calf and had to ease up and hobble along. I’m very stoked with the win,” he concluded.

Landie Greyling won the ladies race in a time of 16:12 and finished seventh overall.

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Women’s champ Landie Greyling on her way to a convincing victory (c) Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar

Despite the good running conditions and her largely unchallenged run, Greyling echoed Don-Wauchope’s sentiments about it being a tough day out.

“The first thing I thought when I crossed the finish line was that I’m just happy to be alive and in one piece,” said Greyling shortly after. “It was really hard day for me out there. I was trying for the 14:30 record and I was on par until Balloch, but on the other side of the wall I basically just started feeling not so great, but very happy with the win and to close the year off with a highlight is really awesome,” she said.

“I’ve had a tough year so I’m quite chuffed that it is actually over now and that I can take a break from racing,” concluded Greyling.

Neither Greyling nor Don-Wauchope claimed the $10 000 incentive, on offer for the first male who goes under 12 hours and first women under 14).

“Sub 12, is definitely achievable,” Don-Wauchope said, confirming that he would definitely be back to challenge for it in 2015.

“I made so many bad route choices and stopped four times to empty my shoes of stones. And, I lost around 20-minutes up-and-down Balloch. So I think if I’m 100% fit and healthy and better prepared in terms of the route – do a bit of scouting – then it’s definitely achievable.”

Skyrun Lite, over 65-kilometres was won by Nico Schoeman in 9:59. Karoline Hanks comes in second overall and was first lady in 11:03  This year for the first time the Lite also finished at Wartrail Country Club.

Course Record: 12:08Iain Don-Wauchope, 2014. Previously 12:36, set by Ryan Sandes in 2012.

Website: www.skyrun.co.za

2014 RESULTS

  1. Iain Don- Wauchope
  2. Gary Robbins
  3. Jock Green
  4. Hylton Dunn
  5. Bruce Arnett (previous multiple course winner and record holder; 16th running of Skyrun)
  6. AJ Calitz
  7. Landie Greyling
  8. Christiaan Greyling
  9. Graeme McCallum
  10. Justin Short