National Cross Country Championship – Round 2 – Gauteng
The Brother Leader Tread KTM team powered through dust and grit this past weekend at the second round of the National Cross Country Championships held at Elim Farm in Gauteng.
Leading the charge was Scott Heygate, who delivered a show-stopping performance by clinching his first-ever South African National Cross Country victory, leaving his competitors in a cloud of orange dust. This win is a testament to his dedication to the sport and that a ‘keep on pushing’ attitude definitely pays off.
Heygate beamed saying, “Today was my perfect day, qualifying P1 in the time trial made my day a little easier, and controlling the race from there. I put my head down and decided that today was my day and I had full self-belief that I am going to own the day!”
He continued, “I don’t even know where to start, it is a childhood dream come true for me! Thank you so much to everyone in my corner for always believing in me, my Brother Leader Tread KTM team, my family, and Uncle Kev, a big thank you to everyone.”
Heygate also thanked and complemented the farmer from Elim Farm stating that it’s been one of the best Nationals that he’s been to as well as the Route Director for a great route and safe marking.
Adding to the team’s success this weekend, Matthew Wilson continued his dominance in the OR3 Class, securing another impressive first-place finish after a rocky first round. Wilson’s consistency and phenomenal riding continue to impress, keeping him firmly in the championship hunt.
Wilson commented on the weekend saying, “Time trial started off good for me, I got a P1 in my class with a 26-sec lead from the front from second place. I had a small tumble in the first lap which led the rest of the guys to catch up a bit but I was able to pull away in the second lap, racing steady and consistently and bringing home the P1 in my class. I really enjoyed the layout of the track and the marking was really great too.”
Despite a challenging first-round crash, Brad Cox displayed his fighting spirit, battling back after being challenged with an injured ankle to claim a well-deserved third place in the Open Class, also with his eyes still firmly set on the championship.
Cox commented, “Good to be back racing at home after being busy overseas. I was glad that I was able to line up and race today getting a P3 despite my ankle injury. I was much more comfortable on my bike and pretty much rode by myself the whole day, not the ideal spot to be but we keep on building for the next round in Vryburg.
Kerim Fitz-Gerald also showcased his unwavering spirit after a significant crash early in the Seniors Class race, luckily walking away with no serious injuries. Fitz-Gerald claimed a fourth place for the day.
Fitz-Gerald stated, “Round two didn’t go as planned for me, I really wanted to finish the whole race and try race for some positions. Had some bad luck in the first 5km where myself and a fellow rider got tangled up and went through the fence, ended up upside down.” He went on to say, “ I managed to finish only one lap which isn’t ideal for me as there isn’t much racing left to make up points but we will come back stronger for the next one.”
“Great race for Scotty! He dominated by leading from start to finish. Matthew also grabbed first in OR3. The track was fast and tight, but Brad did well coming in third despite his ankle injury. He likely played it safe to avoid further complications. We are incredibly proud of the entire Brother Leader Tread KTM team for their outstanding performances at Elim Farm.This round strengthens their championship position, making the next race even more exciting!” said Kerim Fitz-Gerald, Team Manger.
Published by: Megan Prinsloo
Photography by: Sage Lee Voges – ZCMC Media
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