The Hybrid Games returned to Devonbosch, outside Stellenbosch, with an updated format, pushing athletes to their limit in a thrilling display of strength, agility and endurance on Sunday 25 August.
Over the past three years the event has become a staple of the hybrid athletics community, and this year the organisers strove to raise the bar even higher.
The event travels across Gauteng, the Western Cape and Mpumalanga (and soon the Eastern Cape), featuring 12 meticulously selected disciplines, divided into three sections: strength, agility and endurance, and the dreaded waterlogged sandbag run.
The local event is set against the breathtaking backdrop of Stellenbosch. The course featured a looped run totalling just under 16 km of trail running, 5 km longer than usual.
In the Elite category, Daniella Lagerwey led the female division, followed closely by Hanneke Dannhausser and Mandy-Lee Jacobs. The men’s Elite division saw Jan de Beer, co-owner of Obstacle-Worx, take the top spot, with his business partner Tom Liebenberg securing second place. However, it was wildcard entry Daniel Ochse, who captured the audience’s attention by claiming third place in his debut competition. Ochse has set himself a goal to compete in South Africa’s first Hyrox event later this year.
The Elite Masters’ division saw fierce competition, with Andries Venter taking the top spot for the men and Robyn Phillips narrowly beat Irma Sparks in the women’s division. Team triumphs were celebrated by WillChris, CaveMonsters and Muffin Abductors, who claimed the top three spots respectively.
As the second instalment of the three-part winter series in Cape Town, Sunday’s event enticed athletes for the third event returning to Devonbosch on Sunday 15 September. With the series’ growth and success, organisers are aiming that Hybrid Games will continue to inspire and challenge athletes.
