VAN TONDER PROVES WHY HE IS OCR KING

Pretoria – This past weekend, 17 and 18 March, Tierpoort Adventure Farm just outside Pretoria played host to race 3 of the Toyota Warrior Series, powered by Reebok. 

The Toyota Warrior Race, South Africa’s largest obstacle course race (OCR) series, with three categories on offer, rookie, commando, and black ops; challenges participants from all fitness backgrounds to complete a set course of trails and world-class obstacles. The main event of every Warrior weekend is the black ops elite race – a demanding 15km with 35 intense, military-inspired obstacles. 

Thomas van Tonder (Jeep Team SA), winner of Warrior #1, hoping to claim a second win of the series, didn’t get off to an ideal start. Having fallen into fifth place and seven minutes off the lead halfway through the race, he had to dig deep to realise a win.

Van Tonder, powering through the obstacles, proving why he is number one in the country, collected the gold medal in 01:37:07, just over two minutes ahead of Bradley Claase (Battle Rush) in second, and Greg Avierinos (Team Nevarest) in third.

In the ladies’ race, Trish Eksteen (Supa Mama) once again showed her racing prowess to claim victory in 01:50:56, 12 minutes ahead of second-place finisher, Hanneke Dannhauser (BeSnapped). In third place, with a time of 02:03:36, was Carla van Huyssteen (Team Nevarest).

“This was one of the toughest mental games I have ever had to play. I had my faith properly tested today. I was so happy to stand on the top step of the podium today. Having been in 5th place and 7 minutes off the lead halfway through the race, and then coming back to take the win was unsurreal,” said van Tonder.