Added fun for Dolphin Challenge

THE Dolphin Challenge will be bigger and better this year as two more sporting disciplines have been introduced to the race on December 11.

The fun event, previously known as Jbay2PE, started with a group of friends on a casual run from Jeffreys Bay to the Maitlands River Mouth in Port Elizabeth, in 2013.

But the event is now a pre-Christmas adventure, with the introduction of mountain biking and a relay run.

Event organiser Steven Lancaster said the two additional disciplines were added to make the race accessible to a new and bigger market.

The relay would split the 38km run, to make the challenge easier for some runners to compete.

“There are three events and they all take place at the same time,” Lancaster said.

“Between the three of them, we are hoping to get about 150 to 200 entries.

“There are now two running events and one mountain biking event – all along the beach.

“The individuals and relay teams will take part in a 38km run, which will start at Kabeljous River in Jeffreys Bay and finish at the Maitlands River Mouth.

“The three sections of the relay run are 12km, 18km and 8km.

“The mountain bike riders will follow a different route from Maitlands to Gamtoos and back,” he said.

Prizes for positions and lucky draws will be handed out after the event at the Maitlands River Mouth.

All the proceeds of the event will be split among two beneficiaries, The Herald Christmas Cheer Fund and East Cape Coastal Water Rescue.

“We will also make a small donation to the Rotary International Foundation,” Lancaster said.

Participants can enter – for free – online, at www.dolphinchallange.co.za