May 7 is Grabouw MTB, Trail run and Harvest Festival
Riders in the Tru-Cape MTB
The Elgin/Grabouw Valley is celebrating the end of the apple and pear harvest with a full-day festival of activities from mountain bike routes to trail runs and farm-style festival attractions.
The Tru-Cape Grabouw MTB at the Grabouw Country Club has some of the best single track routes available. Organiser Alma Rossouw of Grabouw High School says “We want to top the R90 218.12 raised for the school from last year’s proceeds of the race and Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing’s valued sponsorship.
“As the organisers we are proud to announce that we achieved the highest award from PPA with the 2015 event and we strive for the same this year. We have a great team behind us and we especially thank Wouter Lochner, who is very passionate about cycling himself and the marking/building routes, for coming on board. He is very well known to everyone in cycling circles. He joined as the new route master after the sad death of Gerhard Huiskens in August last year. We’ll miss Gerhard dearly as a friend and the success of May 7 this year will be an honour to his memory,” Alma says.
The Tru-Cape Grabouw MTB has three routes in the popular Grabouw Forest. The 10 km route is aimed at beginners and youngsters (grandparents also welcome!), while experienced MTB riders can tackle the challenging 50 km endurance event. Alma says: “The two longer routes include some long, steady climbs, but the stunning view makes up for the sweat. The single track sections will still have you raving about them weeks later. There is something new this year which is a supporter’s area and kiddies entertainment as well as credit card facilities.”
Across the N2, at the nearby Applewood School, on the Appletiser road, people will be gathering at 8am for an 11km Tru-Cape Trail run through the beauty of the surrounding fynbos and farmlands, or participate in a more gentle 5km fun run or walk. Online entries for the Tru-Cape Grabouw MTB are via https://online.entries.co.za/entries/findperson.aspx?eid=3651
Applewood parent and apple grower Catherine Boome says that while the primary goal of the event is to raise funds for the Applewood school, it is also about celebrating all things apple. “The Applewood Harvest Festival is a day of adventure, apple-themed activities and the best of Elgin’s gourmet artisanal and farm-grown produce. Expect fine fare from local restaurants The Poolroom, Hickory Shack and Peregrine (to name a few) and the best of craft cider and Elgin wines. Master an apple tasting, buy apple pies and apples by the bag and let the kids run free. Lots of entertainment; from live music and tractor rides, to bobbing for apples as well as beautiful goodies from local makers. The trail run is a highlight as this is the first time that runners will experience this beautiful, privately owned and unchartered land, on this side of the N2. Runners already know the older areas but this run will be something truly new.
Quicket.co.za has tickets and information to enter the trail run. Pay R10 per family at the gate at Applewood School while entries are R100 per Applewood trail run entry and R50 per Applewood fun run entry. There is no fee for visitors and supporters to enter the Grabouw Country Club.
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest marketer and distributor of South African apples and pears, and responsible for marketing the fruit that supports over 15 200 people and their families, many coming from the Grabouw and related Valleys, is a sponsor of both events.
