Inov-8 have chosen their 'Top 10' and voting has started. The Inov-8 Wild Card finalists can be seen here

Who will be shivering on the start line in Rhodes on 14 July?

The road in front of Race HQ

Photo credit : Rhodes Trail Run

One of the traditions that you will notice on race day is that the race numbers are colour coded.

Black numbers are for first or second-timers.

Red numbers are worn by those running their third UTi Rhodes Trail Run and blue numbers carried proudly by our ‘Snowflake' permanent number holders.

‘Snowflake' permanent numbers are awarded to runners on completion of their third race.

Keep an eye out for two pioneers of the event, Sham Singh who runs with No 13 and Danny Holton with No 14.

Both Sham and Danny have competed all 23 previous UTi Rhodes Trail Runs, our only two 'full house' running survivors from 1989.

Sham & Danny with their special awards after completing the first 20 Rhodes Trail Runs (2008)

The first feeding station you reach, at the Kloppershoek turn-off, will be manned by Francois and Hannalie Nel (who farm further up the Bell River). Francois and Hannalie are the only surviving feeding station team from that ice-breaking inaugural run of 1989, and this year will be out in sub-zero looking after our runners for the 24th time.

Yeeehaa!!

With over R 1000 received so far for the 'Run to Read Challenge' the first of our books has been shaded. Wonderful!

Incidentally, this weekend sees our Polar Bear off to tropical climes as he takes on the Jungle Ultra. 240km of tough trails in the Amazon jungle and Peru cloud forests. Go well Polar Bear.

Donations are coming in -- Thank You

We have a pile of books to keep track of donations received; each book represents R1000 to Guy's Polar Bear 'Run to Read Challenge'. We'll shade a book as we move towards Guy's first goal - the school's first box library. 

Please use This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to arrange your donation to the 'Run to Read Challenge'. 

Are you as tough as the new Ford Ranger? 

Then you can take on the challenge of the UTi Rhodes Trail Run. 

Ford is giving away one ‘Wild Card’ invitation to the 2012 UTi Rhodes Trail Run. 

All you need to do is answer this question: 

"Which brand of motor vehicle has won all three of the major South African Motorsport disciplines in which it has competed thus far in 2012, being the South African National Rally Championship, Class T of the Bridgestone Production Car Championship, and the ABSA South African Off-Road Championship?" 

Send your answer before 5 June to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  – a draw will be made by Ford South Africa and one lucky runner will be in Rhodes on 14 July.

Competition conditions:

• The prize is one (1) complimentary ‘Wild Card’ invitation to the 2012 UTi Rhodes Trail Run
• The competition closes on 5 June 2012
• The winner will be announced on 6 June 2012
• Ford South Africa will decide on the winner by way of a draw
• The prize is not transferable to another individual and is only valid for the 2012 event
• Accommodation, transport and all associated costs are for the winner
• This is an invitation only event and all race confirmations will be handled by UTi Rhodes Trail Run

It's as we know it, Rhodes TCOTKU

Our village by Tim Rolston 'The Height of Good Cheer' from IOL.co.za

Rhodes landscape by Susan Staal

We are extremely pleased to welcome Ford as an Event Partner at the UTi Rhodes Trail Run. 

Ford will be providing support vehicles at Rhodes for the next three years.

When you near the summit of Mavis Bank you will run through the Ford tunnel. Look to pick up some extra horse power from the FORD RANGERS you will see there – Ford Rangers have horse power to spare!

Only the toughest survive at Rhodes. That well known ‘Walkerbouts’ slogan “Rhodes is not for sissies” holds true. Runners need to survive three runs before they are awarded their ‘snowflake’ permanent number. Ford Rangers are definitely not sissies, tough enough to repeatedly tackle the snow and ruggedness of the Lesotho border and the Ben MacDhui snowfields to welcome you on Mavis.

Last year Guy 'Polar Bear' Jennings completed the Rhodes Trail Run wearing a full Polar Bear outfit. Reason for this madness? To raise funds for the Rhodes Zakhele School.


 

Guy raised R 7504.00 and this was used to purchase and install DStv links to the classrooms. Rhodes Zakhele School is remote, very remote, and this technology (taken for granted by so many schools) has been a huge boon to the pupils.
Following discussions with Zakhele School it has been decided to focus on improving the 'functional literacy' of pupils, starting with Gr 1.

This year 'Polar Bear' Jennings will once again be donning his Polar Bear outfit and the goal is to raise money to purchase reading books for the Gr 1 class at Zakhele School. We have linked with Reading Matters who is assisting us with selection of appropriate reading books. As an indication, a box of books for the Gr 1 class will cost about R 10 000 -- and that is Guy's first goal as he takes on the Rhodes hills, iced river crossings, goat trails, trackless ridges, wind blowing off the Ben MacDhui snowfields and the lung burning thin air on the Lesotho border.

All contributions to Guy's 'Polar Bear Runs to Read' challenge will be gratefully appreciated and will make a meaningful contribution to the lives of the children in the area.

	Logistical support for the shipping of the books will be provided by UTi.
	Our thanks also to Apula Advertising & Design for their support with this project.

Please use This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  to arrange your donation to the 'Run to Read Challenge'