According to race organiser Louise Wilson R6 000 was raised for the Knysna Sports School as well as "an entire bale of cycling kit with an estimated value of R40 000, a new Rocky Mountain 29er mountain-bike valued at R10 000 and a secondhand road bicycle were handed over to Charles Smith and Vernon Moos from the Knysna Sports School".
Wilson explained how the new Rocky Mountain 29er was donated: "Rocky Mountain Bicycles, our title sponsor, sponsored three 29er bikes. In the final prize-giving, after many, many lucky draws, guess who wins the bike? Rocky Mountain Bicycles!" She continued, "Abrie Botma, the CEO whispers to me that he would like to donate the bike to the Knysna Sports School.
By this stage the audience had been waiting forever to win the bike, so I suggest that we put it back into the pool. Finally, with a strange twist of fate, the overall event winners, Ady Enthoven and Delaney Impey also win the Bike!"
An excited Wilson explained that Enthoven and Impey immediately decided to donate the bicycle to the Knysna Sports School. "A few moments later they return to the stage, and donate their R6 000 prize-money to the Knysna Sports School as well," said Wilson.
Nina Hind, who finished third in the ladies section followed suit and donated her R1 000 prize-money to the Knysna Sports School as well. "A better written script we couldn't have asked for," Wilson said.
"Our [the event organisers'] mission from the word go has been to involve the entire community." She explained that 30 Nekkies residents were trained as course marshals by Yoliswa Dyanti, at the race's inception. "She has been in charge of employing, training and paying these marshals for the past three years," said Wilson.
Besides employing otherwise unemployed residents, learners were roped in to help. "Brakenhill Primary School learners supported riders en route and were each given a goody bag sponsored by Knysna Tourism and Garden Route Events," explained Wilson. Many Oakhill learners and their parents manned various water-points as part of their commitment to community involvement.
The Knysna Sports School, the main benefactors of the event, helped behind the scenes giving assistance to whoever required it.
Local marshals, the unemployed as well as local businesses "helped out behind the scenes", said Wilson.
She further explained that "several out-of-towners sponsored local cyclists while local B&Bs and hotels gave reduced rates and prizes to the many entrants, and in return they benefited from increased occupancy on an otherwise quiet weekend."
In closing, Wilson asked that all the residents of Knysna "get involved and help us to get these cyclists back at least twice a year - either at the Garden Route Rocky Mountain 300 mountain-bike race again next year in February and again before that - at the RE:CM 200 to be held in June on Thesen Island Harbout Town".
The Knysna Sports School, the main benefactors of the recently held Garden Route Rocky Mountain 300 mountain-bike race received R6 000 and a new Rocky Mountain 29er from the event’s overall winners Ady Enthoven and Delaney Impey, and a further R1 000 from Nina Hind, who finished third in the women’s division. In front (from left) Pedrozilliano Damons, Breyton Samuels, Cheldon Wabanie and Imiele Brits. In the back are Charles Smith (Knysna Sports School), Vernon Moos (Knysna Sports School). Cheslin Bewee, Jacques Stevens, Ayrton Jonkerman, Lorenzo Goliath, Julian Hartzenbert, Patrick Mosterd and Louise Wilson. (Photo: Elle Photography.)
