Roberts stops Steyn’s unbeaten run in BSG Energade Tri Series

After all too often being the bridesmaid and not the bride in the BSG Energade Triathlon Series, Bloemfontein’s Kate Roberts this morning, November 22, had her chance to come down the “aisle” first as she won the fifth leg of this premier sprint triathlon competition at Bloubergstrand in Cape Town.

The petite blonde's, from the BSG Elite Team, victory, in a time of 58:52, also brought to an end her arch rival and reigning senior women’s champion, Andrea Steyn’s 11 race winning

streak in the competition. The latter was second in a time of 59:19 with Cape Town’s Vicky van der Merwe third in one hour flat.

For Roberts, however, the win has come a little too late as it will have no significant bearing on the series with Steyn virtually assured of being crowned the 2009 champion. After winning the first four races in the competition she (Steyn) now just needs to start – not even finish - the final race on December 6 in Vanderbijlpark to once again pick up the series’ winner’s cheque.

Having been regularly piped-at-the-post by Steyn, with only two seconds separating them on one occasion, Sunday morning’s victory was especially sweet for Roberts. “I’ve had lots of second places in this competition in my life so I’m very happy to win today,” she said after outlasting Steyn on the final 5km run leg of the race.

Wolfaardt victorious

In the men’s race it was business as usual as reigning champion Erhard Wolfaardt of Potchefstroom won his fifth race in as many outings in this year’s series. In crossing the line in a time of 51:28 he now boasts 11 straight wins in the competition and has his sights set on making it 13 in a row by winning the final two events of 2009.

Speaking after the race, he said the swim had been quite tough as the sea conditions weren’t easy and he felt second placed Hendrik de Villiers (52:00) and third man over the line, Claude Eksteen (52:14) had made him work for his win. “Hendrik and Claude were good competition today and it wasn’t an easy victory.”

In the junior men’s race there were no surprises as reigning junior champion Abrahm Louw took top honours in a time of 53:02 ahead of Vereeniging’s Rudolph Naudé (54:53) and Henri Schoeman (55:52) of Durban.

With this performance the 17-year-old Namibian-born youngster, who now lives in Potchefstroom, has basically secured the title he won last year in this division and only needs to start in Vanderbijlpark in the finale in two weeks, like Steyn and Wolfaardt, to lift the junior men’s title.

Winner of the opening race of the series at Midmar Dam in KZN in October in the junior women’s division, Lauren Dance of Boksburg recorded her second victory of the series at Blouberg to keep her hopes alive of being crowned this year’s junior women’s champ.

She crossed the line in 1:00:42 and was followed home by Ashleigh Blackwell of Tokai in a time of 1:02:33 with Pretoria student, Carlyn Fischer third in 1:03:11.

This division in the series is still wide open with a mere one point separating the three and the second last race, taking place on Sunday, November 29 at Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth, will be crucial in giving one of them an advantage going into the final on December 6.

Capetonian veteran Viv Williams of Rondebosch gave an outstanding performance once again to not only win her division in 1:03:29 but finish under the top ten overall.

Williams, who has won the veteran section on numerous occasions, crossed the line ahead of Lynette Fischer, 1:08:42 and Lee Thompson 1:13:28.

Randburg’s Piers Pirow won the veteran men’s race in 59:16 to outclass Anton du Plessis (1:02:22) of Harmanus and Douglas Burger (1:02:57) of Milnerton.

The master men’s category was won by Evan Jones (1:02:19) of Melkbosstrand with Colin Walker second in a time of 1:05:37 and Australian, Nigel Graves third in 1:14:48.

The BSG Energade Series now moves to Port Elizabeth for the penultimate race on Sunday, November 29. Triathletes who would like to participate can enter on Saturday at Pollock Beach Surf Lifesaving Club between 2pm and 5pm. Late entries will also be accepted on the morning of the race from 6.30am at the same venue. This applies for both the senior and BSG Energade Kids Triathlon Series races.