On the 31st of December, 2016 Lans Pepler (Owner of Onsite Events) walked up to the Italian Cross in the Miaspoort Hiking Trail with some friends. The history of the cross intrigued him so much that he started planning a run to the cross.
After almost 2 years and lots of planning and meetings with all the relevant role players the inaugural Vino De Montana Mountain Run took place on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of September 2019.
With Covid 19 I had to re-think our 2020 event as I did not just want to postpone it to 2021. With a short time to plan and execute the event, I came up with the idea of just hosting a two-day stage event at the Hawequa Scout Farm near Wellington as originally planned in 2019. With camping facilities at Hawequa, you will now be able to bring your own tent to camp in or you can book the tented accommodation from us. We will have a braai on both evenings for your own account. Bring en Braai. You are also welcome to have dinner in town at one of the beautiful venues. We will provide breakfast. In the afternoon we will make boerewors rolls and burgers that you can buy.
Stage 1 will take runners all along the beautiful trails on offer at Hawequa and the surrounding mountains. The long route ( 32km ) will take you all along some amazing trails and views towards Buffet Olives where you will make a pit stop before you come back towards Wellington. With a total elevation of 1500m, the long route runners can be ready for a tough day out on the trails. The short route ( 10km ) will also be a nice route with a 520m elevation.
Day Two of the Vino is called The Black Ball Challenge. Runners will run a figure 8 with some nice challenges on the newly build a single track at the Scout Farm. You will challenge yourself twice up a technical section to the top at the Hut where you will be timed every time you come past the Hut. A refreshment station will also be waiting for you at the hut if you would like to make a pit stop… A Black Ball King and Queen will be crowned with the fastest combined times to the top. Although day two is only 8.6km long with an elevation of 612m, I am sure that day 1 will have challenged those legs to be a bit tired on day two.
Runners will also be able to enter the two days as individual races. Separate prizes will be available.
The idea with the shortened “Vino” is for you to have a great weekend out in beautiful surroundings while you still challenge yourself on the trails.
Long Run Two Day Stage – 40km
Run Entry including breakfast – R450 p/p
Run, breakfast plus luxury 3x3m tent with stretcher and mattress (Only 30 tents available) – R1 350 p/p
R300 extra should you want an extra bed intent.
R100p/p per night for camping with your own tent. Pay for camping at merchandise.
Short Run – 18km
Run Entry Two Day Stage including breakfast – R300 p/p
Run, all meals plus luxury 3x3m tent with stretcher and mattress (Only 100 tents available) – R1 200 p/p
R300 extra should you want an extra bed in the tent.
R100p/p per night for camping with your own tent. Pay for camping at merchandise.
Trail Run – Saturday
32km – R350 (incl R50 Hawequa Trail Fee)
10km – R180 (incl R50 Hawequa Trail Fee)
Black Ball Trail Run – Sunday
R180 (incl R50 Trail Fee)
We hope to be back with the normal Vino De Montana in 2021.
Please join us in November for a fun relaxing weekend at the Hawequa Scout Farm.
