SAM BULL DOMINATES TO WIN ROUND 1 OF GAUTENG ENDURO SERIES

SAM BULL DOMINATES TO WIN ROUND 1 OF GAUTENG ENDURO SERIES

Rush Sports Sales Director and Former South African Enduro champion, Sam Bull, got the inaugural Sox Footwear Enduro Series, presented by SHRED off to a winning start with a dominant display at Grootfontein Bike Park, Pretoria on Sunday.

A total of 128 riders contested the event, which launched the first ever Gauteng Provincial Enduro Series. Cool, breezy conditions at the start became warm and slightly humid as riders charged down the seven racing lines, which offered a mixture of challenges from rocky roll-downs, rock gardens, gap jumps, step-downs, berms, flat turns and jumps, mostly set in foresty singletrack.

Piloting a Santa Cruz Hightower, Bull put on a show of skill, speed and consistency, winning five of the seven stages to record a total time of 10min 35sec. Chris Pearton finished second in a time of 10:49 with Christan Kirsten rounding out the overall podium in a time of 11:11.

There were 15 female entrants with Junior, Lauriesian Brett, the fastest female overall in a time of 13:25. Sub-junior, Arielle Behr was second overall in 13:48 with Veteran Elja van Urk third overall in 14:01.

Round 1 2021 Sox Footwear Enduro Series, presented by SHRED leading results:

Overall men

1 Sam Bull                               10min35sec

2 Chris Pearton                       10:49

3 Christan Kirsten                   11:11

4 Josef Bester                          11:26

5 Ryan van der Spuy               11:32

Overall women

1 Lauriesian Brett                   13:25

2 Arielle Behr                          13:48

3 Elja van Urk                          14:01

“I thought the stages were great for a provincial event like this. Not the most technically challenging, but to go fast on them was quite a challenge, especially with the loose, dry conditions where it was very easy to make a mistake. Putting clean runs together was not that easy. The stages were short but packed with features and nothing overly dangerous,” said a satisfied Bull.

“Kudos to everyone involved. The organisation was fantastic and the timing system was great. The venue was also ideal for this kind of event. Thanks to everyone who is getting behind growing the discipline of Enduro in Gauteng. I’ll definitely try and do the remaining events in the series,” added Bull

“We’re satisfied with the turnout for the first round. I’m sure the numbers will increase in subsequent rounds as Gauteng riders can now see that the events are well organised with recognition for all categories,” said Paola Damilano, Gauteng Cycling MTB Chairperson, who organised the event.

The remaining rounds of the 2021 Sox Footwear Enduro Series, presented by SHRED are:

  • Round 2: Buffelsdrift, Pretoria – Sunday, 17 October
  • Round 3: Buffelsdrift, Pretoria – Saturday, 6 November
  • Round 4: Grootfontein, Pretoria – Sunday, 5 December

 

First published on SHRED.co.za