Three-day trail run now part of annual Eselfontein MTB festival
With entries pouring in for this year’s Eselfontein MTB happening from October 18-20 October, Tru-Cape, the main sponsor, along with the Ceres community, is getting ready to host hundreds of enthusiastic mountain bikers and trail runners in their beautiful valley. We caught up with Deon and Janene Malherbe, owners of Eselfontein Farm, and the dynamic couple behind this annual highlight on the fitness calendar.
What makes the Eselfontein MTB weekend such a special event?
Deon: As far as I know, it is one of the longest-running MTB events in South Africa. It kicked off 24 years ago when I was with the Ceres Cycling Club. Then, we had the Ceres Festival and raced from the showgrounds to the farm. I used to help build the tracks, but with all the new regulations, it became too expensive and hard to keep going, so we moved it to the farm.
Its vastness (2500 ha) and topography make Eselfontein ideal for this kind of event. Mountains mostly encircle it, so you don’t have to worry about neighbours. And, I have to say, the route is rather challenging, featuring plenty of single tracks that demand some technical skills. It is a fantastic way to push your limits! Several pros have entered over the years, and we’ve been part of the Cape Epic route on two occasions.
Getting to the farm from Cape Town is a breeze – just about an hour and a half. This means you can sneak away with just half a day of leave to enjoy a budget-friendly weekend outdoors with your family. We have free camping spots available, plus glamping options if you want a little extra comfort (for a small fee) in the meadows.
The first stage of the three-day MTB stage race kicks off on Friday at 18:00. This means half of the race is completed in the dark. It always reminds me of a train when I see all the bicycles and lights speeding through the veld. Folks get a bit anxious about it, but there are some awesome headlamps and bike lights out there that light up the area, making it feel like it’s daytime all around you. It might be unusual, but that’s how we, as farmers, used to train after work during the winter when it got dark so early.
In addition to the stage race, a one-day MTB race takes place on the Saturday.
We love sharing Eselfontein with others who share a love for sport. It is a fantastic way of bringing the community together as well.
Do you offer anything new this year?
Janene: We are super excited about our first three-day trail run! Trail runners will get the chance to showcase their skills with a 7 km run on the first day, 21 km on day two, and wrapping it up with a 14 km race on the last day.
For those only interested in a one-day race, we’ve got you covered with a 21 km or 10 km option. Plus, fun runners and kids on bikes can join the excitement with a 5 km race.
Are there any prizes up for grabs?
Janene: There is a grand prize of R30,000 for the team that smashes the current track record of 06:10:52. Plus, thanks to a local sponsor’s generosity, there are cash prizes worth R10,000 for the winners in the trail run. On top of that, sponsors like First Ascent and Leatt are stepping in to treat the winners with cool gear and other goodies.
What are the challenges and benefits of hosting a race on a working fruit farm?
Deon: It doesn’t impose too much on the farming operations, but people are definitely curious about our industry and way of life. They are usually up for a chat about different varieties or market trends. Tru-Cape, the company that sells our apples, pears, and cherries globally, hands out apples at the finish line, and people love to enjoy the actual fruits of our hard work.
Nowadays, agri-tourism is a big deal for many farms, especially those near popular tourism towns. Visitors to Ceres and Eselfontein love being in nature and the great outdoors, and we do our best to make their experience enjoyable.
We’re just ordinary farmers who are all about growing our crops, but when it comes to promoting the festival, we hit a wall. Our budget is pretty tight, and we’d much rather donate as much as we can to charity. Having sponsors like Tru-Cape, our sole financial backer, is crucial to helping us manage the costs.
How do you get the community involved?
Janene: We plough all our profits right back into the community. Over the last few years, we’ve mainly supported local schools and senior care facilities. Our overall donation is anything from R150 000 to R300 000, which might not sound like much, but every little bit makes a difference.
Our local dominee is getting folks to sponsor him for every kilometre he cycles or runs to help raise funds for a wheelchair and hospital bed that can be shared in the community. We just love efforts like these!
The weekend is all about bringing people together! We only have to pay our farm workers who help out as marshals or cleaners; the rest are all family and friends (who are like family!) that jump in and help to make the weekend a success.
We only allow local vendors on the farm and don’t charge a vendor fee, but ask for 10% of their profit, which we also donate to charity.
The Ceres Lions Club’s food is always a hit with everyone, especially the chips! They typically braai some tasty ribs and chicken along with a variety of salads. One of our friends is whipping up pizzas, and this year, he’ll also have lamb on the spit and shawarmas. A local retailer caters to the kids with ice cream, slushies, and popcorn. Grondpad Coffee is serving some awesome handcrafted coffee from Koue Bokkeveld, and another local from Prince Alfred Hamlet will be selling pancakes.
Who takes care of the routes?
Deon: I do! Figuring out how everything flows can be pretty challenging, especially with different groups starting at various times and some activities happening in reverse. You really want to make sure the routes are clear and well-planned. Over the years, I learnt from my own mistakes. I rely on sustainable farming methods to prevent erosion on the routes and design routes to move with momentum against gravity.
Is there still a chance to enter?
Janene: The entries are rolling in fast, and we are already up from last year’s numbers. While the online entries close on 17 October, we allow entries on the day. You can enter and register on 18 October from 15h00 for the three-day stage race or trail run and from 06h00 the next morning for the one-day events.
For more information and online entries, please visit https://eselfontein.co.za/festivals or email janene@eselfontein.co.za or info@eselfontein.co.za.
To arrange for interviews or photos, please contact Lucille Botha at lucilleb@tru-cape.co.za or visit www.tru-cape.com. Follow Tru-Cape on X (@TruCapeFruit), Facebook (@Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing) and Instagram (@trucapefruit).
