Dear Valued Readers,
A warm greeting to all as the winter season is well and truly upon us. This is also the time when SA celebrates Youth month in June when we reflect to consider in terms of the origin of this day in South African history
The Boland 90 embraces the advancement of youth with key collaborations that seeks to inspire and accelerate youth development and opportunities within the sport, leadership, environmental & climate change education, volunteerism and ultimately personal development.
The Steering Committee is pleased with the recce’s executed thus far at the second planned recce for the year we hosted scholar teams together with their Educators as chaperones accompanying the scholar teams on the weekend. We commend the efforts of the Educators for their sterling preparations prior to the weekend with the logistics and experience on the hike. It is heart warming to see and highly appreciated.
As can be seen from the adjacent group photo it was also equally good to see the return of our marshals for the recce without which the Boland 90 event would not be possible and we therefore remain eternally grateful for their continued support and participation.
Our planning for the current years’ event remains on track and we take this opportunity to confirm the plans which we previously communicated together with some of the key changes for this years’ event. These are as follows;
| Event | Distance/Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Boland 90 Ultra Interclub Hiking Challenge | 3 days /90 kms | No change |
| Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge - Day | 2 days /60 kms | Held on the last 2 days of the Ultra event and using the same route |
| Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge - Junior | 1 day /approx 8 to 10 kms for ages between 10 y/o and 15 y/o and a team of 2 | Held on the last day of the Ultra event and using a section of the same route |
| Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge – Trail Run | 1 or 2 days /90 kms | The final details will be communicated at a later stage |
For this year’s event we also further propose the following: 1. We will accept individual entries which may be placed with available teams where the 4 person team is incomplete or we may form teams with individuals so entered; 2. The Junior Boland 90 may enter teams of 2 persons within their age level which must apply during the current year and accompanied by parents/guardians; 3. The Boland 90 Trail run will be as per trail running competition rules with further details to be confirmed at a later stage.
We further recommend that all participants and their supporters arrive to register and setup up camp the day before the event starts. The event kicks off with the Opening Ceremony normally held early evening on the day before the challenge starts with the Ultra Boland 90 and this includes a final briefing on the key event final logistics as well as an opportunity to clarify any further uncertainties.
Please also note the following regarding the event to support your preparations and planning as we lead up to the event:
1. There are no costs for the supporters that join their teams for duration of the event;
2. A demarcated family friendly camping area will be provided at the base camp in the Nuweberg Reserve and all you have to do is bring your own tent, camping equipment, food and other provisions for the duration of the event. There will be no cost charged for this.
3. There will be made available ablution facilities with warm showers as well as a small communal kitchen with electricity for use by marshals, competitors and their supporters for the duration of the event. Marshals will also provide guidance and assistance where required to comply with the event rules as well as the Reserve requirements.
4. Demarcated braai area facilities will be available to all together with fire wood for the duration of the event also at no costs and you are welcome to use this for food preparations.
5. Dedicated waste bins will be made available around the base camping area and you are requested to comply with the event rules on the responsible waste disposal and support the event zero impact on the environment approach.
As in the past the Boland 90 event would not be possible without the Marshal volunteers and therefore we request that each team entering should also nominate marshals for the event.
We are exceedingly pleased to see marshal volunteers from last year returning this year to join the last planned recce and also happily welcome the new volunteers to the event.
These planned overnight reconnaissance (recce) hikes in the Nuweberg Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve serves the purpose of Marshals orientation training and continuing development on safety in the mountains, the route navigation and the other event logistics planning.
This will include all marshals, event officials and search and rescue teams, the full details and itinerary to be provided to those committed for these dates. A marshal application form would be provided to those interested and available for these dates.
Kindly share this with your club members and other interested persons. We would encourage marshal volunteers to join all the recce’s where possible.
Please also note the following regarding the event recce’s to support your preparations and planning as we lead up to the event as follows:
1. There are no costs involved to join any of the recce’s you just need to meet us at the hikers parking area in the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, Nuweberg just outside Grabouw by 7h30 am on the Saturday morning for the latest on the day of the hike. The hike will start around 8h00 am sharp. Come fully prepared with all your usual overnight hike requirements plus food for the period.
2. Kindly see below the directions to the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve as can be
found on the Cape Nature website as follows;
here