Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge

The Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge started when the first ever competition was staged in 1992 and was at the time called the “PERM Boland 90”. The original founder of Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Event was the Late Mr. Ameen Lagardien (pictured) along with his wife Mrs. Lilian Lagardien and his daughter Shireen who together with other stakeholders grew the event.

Mr. Lagardien or as he was fondly known as “Mr. L” to all, was a retired Junior school principal, a highly passionate environmental awareness educator, and seasoned hiker whose unbelievable vision for this event and environmental education particularly amongst the youth inspired many who both participated in the Boland 90 and volunteered their time and expertise thereby creating this world-class South African event.

The annual Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge has over the years grown into an event comprising over 320 participants in teams of 4 persons competing over 3 days which includes 2 stages per day to complete 90 km over the 3 days of the event.

Competition Format

Each team of 4 hikers completes a circular route each day ending at the base camp in Nuweberg over 3 days and a total of six stages (i.e. two per day) over the period as follows:

The teams may participate in any one of six categories, namely:

The competition points are awarded per stage on the following basis:

Team tasks along the way and which encompass a wide range of activities, viz.

Navigation activities
Conservation activities
First aid activities
Emergency simulation procedures

All four team members are required to complete the event over the period.
The points system applied during the competition is determined as follows:

The following maximum points may be earned for the various aspects tested.

The competition is staged in the Nuweberg Mountain region of the Hottentots Holland Nature reserve of circa 70 000 hectares in size and stretching from Elgin in the south to beyond Villiersdorp in the north, and from the Stellenbosch mountains in the west, eastwards to the Groenland mountains situated in the Hottentots Holland Mountains and part of the Cape Fold Belt in the Western Cape, South Africa.

The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve is a World Heritage site also about 90 minutes from Cape Town as shown in the above map illustration.

The event will be hosted annually during September in the Hottentots Holland Nature reserve by the Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Competition NPC. Since the start of 2022 we have hosted 4 planning overnight hikes over the same routes as per the Challenge whereby we train our marshals and accommodate potential participants who are preparing for the challenge as can be seen in the pictures here. These were all very well supported.

We also have to acknowledge the incredible support we have received from Cape Nature throughout this process as well as the endorsement from the Nuweberg Community who all live in the reserve.

The key details for the event are as follows:

For all competitors please complete enclosed entry form and send it to Team.Entries@boland90.co.za together with proof of payment of the entry fee by no later than closing date 16 September 2022. You can also access the form with the following link for easy reference as follows;

https://forms.gle/fV6CNzZhnsk8YuTK9

For all marshals please complete the marshal form enclosed and submit the signed form to Benjamin.pietersen@boland90.co.za
Please try to arrive on Thursday 22 September 2022 @ 12h00 noon or earlier if possible at the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve. The staff at the boom gate entrance will advise you to proceed to the Info centre where you will be met by marshals (wearing reflective bibs) and officials to welcome and direct you to the registration area where you will receive your race numbers and other important details of where to setup camp and other logistics.

For all enquiries please use the following contact details;

Mr Ashley Seymour

Ashley.seymour@boland90.co.za

082 3389813

Capenature

Competition Format