Media release: Wheelchair race is a winner        Afrikaans

The Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC) presented by Vodacom in George on Saturday (February 20) boasted entries from more than 650 people with disability from across South Africa and a number of other countries such as Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

8991: Denis Lemeunier of France won the men’s T53/T54 category racing wheelchair marathon for the second year running. [Photographer: Desmond Scholtz]

Denis Lemeunier of France won the men’s T53/T54 category racing wheelchair marathon for the second year running in a time of 1:32:39.  South African Paralympic gold medallist, Ernst van Dyk, came second in a time of 1:41:18 and Eugene Klaasen of the Western Cape was third in a time of  2:37:13.

‘It was hard for me - I had a tough race,’ Lemeunier said. ‘It was very hot - in France it is winter and raining - but I am happy to have won and to keep the winner’s title.’

The hand cycle marathon was won by Rico Mornau of Canada in a time of 1:12:58, with Stuart McCreadie of South Africa in second (1:14:22) and Kenny Herriot of Scotland in third place (1:24:32).

8952: Nikki Emerson of England took top honours in the women’s racing wheelchair marathon (T53/T54 category). [Photographer: Desmond Scholtz]

Nikki Emerson of England took top honours in the women’s T53/T54 racing wheelchair marathon in a time of 2:35:22.

The oldest person to take part in the fun event this year was 89 year old Bernice Vorster from the Fleur de Lis Old Age Home in Franschoek and the youngest was Jayden Van Vuuren from Pacaltsdorp in George, aged 1 year and 9 months. Both were pushed by enthusiastic family members.

The crowd applauded appreciatively as television presenters Paul Rothman and Dieter Voigt passed by, along with Melanie du Bois (who plays the role of Felicity in the TV soap, Sewende Laan) and Jeff Tsoutsos, a finalist in the 2010 Mr South Africa competition.  All four celebrities pushed a youngster in a buggy in the fun event

The wheelchair-friendly city of George was once again proud to host the event. The race boasted 96 participants from George and 66 from neighbouring towns, mostly entrants in the fun event. Relatively few females took part in the race this year. 

‘Despite early difficulties when one of our major sponsors withdrew, this year’s race was of the best ever with funding coming in from as far afield as Mauritius and Malta,’ said event director, Esther Watson. ‘In addition to the enormous benefits that road racing has for participants in terms of improving health and quality of life, the race has become a significant tourist attraction for the region and an event of growing interest to the international sporting fraternity.’

The OCC is the only international wheelchair road racing sporting event in South Africa for persons with disabilities and is recognised as an official Championship event by the SA Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD). It is open to paraplegics, quadriplegics and people with cerebral palsy and offers prizes in four categories: a 42,2 km marathon, a 21,1 km half-marathon, a 10 km distance and a 5 km fun event, where participants were pushed by helpers, friends or family members.