The wonders of leading a double life. On the one hand suited and tied sitting in court waiting for my trail to commence and on the other hand a down and dirty smelly Swazi X Adventurer. What a weekend!!! But I am getting ahead of myself.
Here is an account of Team Sterling Light's journey to the Kingdom of Swaziland to tackle Darron and his teams Xtra Large event.

We had the privilege of importing Owen Middleton the current SA orienteering champ from the Cape to race with our team and I was relieved that after naving Swazi last year I could entrust our team to one of the best and enjoy the ride and what a ride it was.

I must admit that after getting smashed last year on the rafting section and having one of my team mates getting a foot entrapment, I have had a year to build up Swazi Rafting Demons in my mind giving me shivers every time I saw a posting on the Swazi, but we are a strange breed us Ar'ers, we are fear beaters, fear eaters (okay those who saw me portaging a couple of the nasties won't agree) and I believe respect for the powers of nature keeps you on your toes it keeps you alive. (Yet again I digress).

We had a great journey to paradise. Not knowing which teams were taking part we almost fell on our backs when we saw all the Adventure Racing Pedigree at the starting venue. Its always great to be part of an event with SA racing legends like Martin Dreyer, Phillip Swanepoel, Mark and John Collins and the other Ar greats that we have come to race with at most events. I immediately said to Owen it is going to be a great contest between the "Old School" and the "New School" and for once I wouldn't have minded being on the sideline to witness the clash of titans.

Our team was realistic regarding our goals for this event:

Goal Number 1: STAY ALIVE !!! (mission accomplished)
Goal Number 2: Have fun!!! (mission accomplished)
Goal Number 3: Don't get lost!!! (mission accomplished with distinction thanks to Owen's great ability)
Goal Number 4: Finish as a team in the top quarter of the field (we were aiming for a top 5 but shifted the goal posts when witnessing the racing machines on the starting line)

MY PERSONAL MAIN GOAL: SURVIVE THE RIVER (THE RIVER DEMONS LOOMED LARGE )

A lot has been written about the weather and the cold at the start but we as racers have so much to be thankful to. Imagine if the weather had not cleared and we raced the whole weekend in the conditions at the start. MMMMMM I think the attrition rate would be have been hectic. Overall we had perfect racing weather and we must thank the Caretaker of our playing fields for getting the pitch right.

We had a great 1st bike leg with Owen taking us on a totally different route to the rest of the field. This was going to set the trend of our event. We had a great all be it short dice with Land Rover gear and it was great dicing with legends up to CP3.

We had an awesome hike leg, Mine caving, abseil and spectacular view as we ascended Ngwenya North and started our descent as the mist rolled in, we ran into transition chasing the clear night air with the mist close on our heels.

Our seconds were great (Tam was quite strict in making sure that we don't overstay our welcome). We had a quick meal before heading out in the ghostly mist to search for CP's 15 and 16. With an initial bundu bash we backtracked and found a path that led us right by CP15. Over the game fence with our bikes and then Owen did an amazing job navigating us right onto CP16 without even so much as a second of hesitation. We cruised into transition after catching our good friends Team Kinetic USN just before meeting our seconds.

Again a oasis awaited us and Deon and Tam sprung into action like expert corner men in the corner of a world champion at a title fight, no mess no fuss they worked like a well oiled machine. It was clear that they understood adventure racing with Deon being an accomplished racer and Tam having loads of experience seconding for Team Tension Structures Owen's usual team.

The long hike started in earnest with I must admit a gross underestimation on my part as to the time we would take to complete it. We started the hike at 10pm and I said to the team, we get through the first kloof and make it to the hydro dam where we can sleep awhile to daylight before tackling the technical section to CP24. HA HA HA!!!!!! Little did I expect that we would still be in the first kloof well past daylight. I made my acquaintance with lantana or whatever its called. It could have been worse the stuff could have had thorns. Gerry was a real hero in this grippy in your face weed. He threw his body into the impenetrable wall over and over, hour after hour and whenever I offered to take over he plainly ignored me thankfully only muttering about the fact that we didn't smuggle in a couple of cases of Sterling into Swaziland that would serve as motivation to penetrate this jungle.

We made it to the spot where CP22 should have been but saw nothing. Team Cyclelab joined us and although we were less than 20 to 30 meters from the CP we could not find it. Search patterns started and eventually I slid on my ass following a pair of Salomon treads left by Mark Collins and to my surprise landed in front of the CP. I quietly called the team and we clipped and left still hearing the frantic searching of the other team.

We made our way out of the gorge and into the second kloof and were passed by powerhouse team McCains Adventure Addicts while I had the best No 2 with a view in my AR history.

The second kloof proved great with Owen leading the way and Ina eventually getting the upper hand on those slimy river rocks. We got to the Hydro dam and Red Ants caught us up. Expecting a cold technical kloof we put on wetsuits and swam the 50m through the icy dam. Our exit was up a wooden ladder after we had been warned not to trust them. At the top We saw that there was problems below in the Kloof and I immediately saw that McCains were below I got a cold shiver and thought that they were the ones in trouble we saw the space blanket and they shouted that the kloofing leg was a no go at that stage in all this excitement a Bee stung me on my hand. I am quite allergic to bees and as soon as this happened I said to Gert from team Red Ants I have been stung and he must please just watch me as we had to negotiate some rickety ladders and wooden bridges to get out of the kloof. I popped some pills and off we went I was fuelled by the fear of going into shock from the Bee sting so never doubted the safety of those suspect wooden structures.

A lot has been reported about the plight of the trapped adventurers so I will not elaborate thereon save to say that is was a great relief to see them out of there and that they were so experienced to assess the situation so spectacularly. Thanks Guys I think through your actions you definitely prevented tragedy.

We had a walk to the next transition accompanied by all the racers that were halted at the kloof section and were informed that the race would resume the next day. At camp that night we heard that a lot of teams were not continuing but we were adamant to go on. We had to face that Swazi River Demon once and for all. I think I had spoken the Fear of all Fears into Gerry as he was just as nervous as me.

We woke early to see that there were a whole lot of teams starting to our relief. We paddled across the dam and portaged our crocs down to the river below and our journey began. Owen and Ina in one croc and the jitterbugs Gerry and Myself in the other. At the first major rapid (the one that sucked racers into siphons and ended the race for a few teams) Myself and Owen got flung out and if we weren't able to hold onto the croc with Ina still aboard we to would have got sucked down as we both felt the grip and pull of the river on our bodies. Water is powerful my man. We washed out with the paddles but needless to say I lost round one and my confidence took a battering. As I was steering the croc you have to be confident which I was not so I swapped places with Gerry who did a great job of negotiating the rapids (except those that I refused to shoot – banggat) with flying colours. At the portage of the waterfall near the end of the paddle we climbed out of the river and found a canal system wide enough for the crocs to drift down towards the transition. Owen the cunning navigator he is made a call to push our crocs and run the final Kilometre to the transition. This saved us loads of time as we did not need to descend back down to the river and then climb back up again. Our super seconds were standing on the bridge watching the river with hawk eyes when we popped up out of the bushes above them to their surprise.

A quick transition and then on to one of the most amazing parts of the race a short kloofing leg up a river with cascading waterfalls. Awesome. At the top of the Leg Owen realized something that we have known for a long time and that is Ina's strength of mind and character. We stopped at the CP before the transition that was only about 2 km's away. Ina asked me how far to the next transition and I said about 25km's and we all played along. She didn't say a word in protest just put her pack on and off we went. Come what may she just does it and never moans or groans.

We made it into transition and were not allowed to dawdle by our taskforce seconds. We climbed onto our bikes for the last leg of the Swazi X. In all my mountain biking career I have never experienced such a great mountain biking leg. The single track and jeep track were awesome. As Owen said on many occasions PICK A TRACK as long as we were going in the right direction. Although there were teams in front of us we rode virgin single tracks. I will go back to Swazi with a couple of friends just to ride those ridges and down hills. Great route Darren.

We popped out of the mountains onto a dirt road only to be confronted by a convoy of Land Rovers roaring towards us. It was Chester and the Land Rover Gear gang on a rescue mission and one could see that although serious Chester was in his element. It looked quite cool seeing those branded Landy's put to the test and in the heat of things.

On this leg Ina came off her bike at about 40km/h on one of the down hills. When I stopped at her she was lying in a foetal position and not saying a word nor moaning or groaning. I expected a serious injury but when I got to her and stopped she said she was fine. I asked her why she was lying like that and so still and she answered that she was afraid we would ride over her. One tough chick.

We made it to the short hike leg up a hill and just for the fun of it tried to break the record up and down which we managed so plucked up with renewed energy we started the cycle home. We missed a turn of nearing the end and while back tracking saw a team coming towards us on the right track. We went into racing mode and flew to get ahead of them when Gerry got the first puncture of our race. We were P****d off. Our only mistake and we were about to get passed by another team. We bombed the tyre but this was no use so we had to replace the tube. This ghost team behind us never passed and eventually we realized that they were still looking for the previous CP to our relief.

We cycled the last leg in silence realizing that we were about to complete Africa's toughest adventure race as a team. The feeling of crossing that finish line is as you all know unbelievable. One thing about our sport is that places mean nothing. Its nice to finish high up but that is not and should not be the alpha and omega. To finish the route and have that high of achievement is much more important than the announcement at prize giving.

We ended third in this crazy race and that is great but what is even more important is that we faced the Swazi and overcame what it had to throw at us.

A special thanks to our Sponsor Sterling Light for making our journey in the wonderful sport so much easier and pleasurable. We might not be the elite racing team that you could afford but believe me that better ambassadors for your brand you will look hard to find. We appreciate your dedication and loyalty to our team and you can be assured of our dedication and loyalty in promoting your brand.

To our seconds Deon and Tam. You guys really know what its all about. Thanks for your enthusiasm and professionalism in managing our time in transition it was really awesome to race with you as part of our team.

Owen you are a master dude. It was great following one of the best. I have to pull up my socks in future as the bar has been raised when it comes to navigating. It was awesome how you choose your own routes even when we are among the best navigators in the country and we end up popping up just in front or with those teams.

Ina you are one tough cookie. I am glad that you were not at your fittest this race because otherwise us boys would have suffered to keep up. Its always a privilege racing with you.

Gerry my long time partner once again your character came through. In that lantana on the river you pulled through. On the Hike when you weren't feeling so hot you plodded on and came back so strong. Its always great to race with you dude.

Swazi we will be back.

Adrian «