2023 Results Brandberg Backyard Ultra
4 August, 2023. This past weekend saw a very successful second running of the Brandberg Backyard in Uis despite bitterly cold conditions. André Ross (51) from Swakopmund, the 2022 reigning champion, completed 18 laps and 120 km, and was again crowned the last person standing after Milton Kimbini (46) conceded after 17 laps (114 km). Kirsty Brits (43) was the last lady to tap out after she completed 13 laps (87 km).
In a backyard ultra race, athletes need to complete a lap of a 6.706 km course every hour, starting on top of the hour. Should they make it back before the hour is up, they use the remaining time to rest before the next lap starts exactly on top of the following hour. As the backyard ultra rules dictate, runners who fail to complete a lap within an hour are disqualified. The aim of the race is to have only one person remaining to complete a final solo lap. This person is then crowned the winner and the race ends. Since there is no predetermined end distance or time, the winner is technically the only finisher, while the rest who conceded, all receive a DNF (did not finish) on the scoreboard next to their names.
A total of 73 runners took part in the event. Thirty-nine runners competed in the Ultra (unlimited number of laps), which was a big increase from the 23 ultrarunners taking part in 2022. An additional 10 took part in the Challenge category (running between two and six laps), and 24 competitors ran or walked the Fun Run of one lap only.
The race started at 10 am on Saturday from the race village at Brandberg Rest Camp after a welcome pasta dinner the previous night. Contrary to last year’s heat, runners had to battle low temperatures and strong winds throughout the day and night of the race. At some point during the morning, tiny drops of rain even came down in icy cold sheets! Short-sleeved runners in race photos may be deceiving of the prevailing weather, but their smiling, happy faces were a true reflection of the general mood of the event from Friday during registration, right through to Sunday morning when it was time to bid their goodbyes.
Of the 39 ultrarunners, 16 were female and 22 were male. A total number of 117 laps were completed by the ladies to average of 7.3 laps per person (49 km), while the 22 males raked in a total of 245 laps among themselves to average 11 laps (75 km) per person. These statistics alone speak for the caliber of Namibian ultra-trail runners that were present at the Brandberg Backyard Ultra this weekend!
Kirsty Brits, the female course record holder, completed her 13th lap (87 km) as solo lady after Marietjie de Chavonnes Vrugt rung out at the end of her 12th lap (81 km). Kirsty once again walked away as last lady standing and upped the female course record in accordance. Elmarie Adriaanse completed 11 laps (73 km), while Risa Dreyer and Liezl Swanepoel both completed 10 laps of the 6.7 km course (67 km).
Twenty of the 39 runners remained at six pm when the hilly day route was exchanged for a flatter, smoother out-and-back night route. Not that it got any easier since the wind and the cold prevailed, and with the added darkness it made for a real mental battle.
Nevertheless, six runners remained to complete the 15th (100 km) lap that started at midnight, which Johan Bronkhorst, Jacques van der Smith, and PC Visser decided was a good number to tap out at. Les Trollop completed 16 laps (107 km), leaving Milton and Andre as the lone running pair. After his 17th lap, however, Milton conceded and at 3 am Sunday morning, Andre set out on his final solo victory lap.
Event Partners, Event Auction, and the Rewild Cause
Rand Merchant Bank Namibia (RMB), which was the presenting partner of the Brandberg Backyard Ultra in 2022 as well, is acknowledged with much gratitude for again putting their name behind the 2023 event and for their unwavering support for both off-road running as a sport but also of environmental conservation in Namibia. The backyard ultra is a new race concept in Namibia but clearly, one to stay and become even more popular in years to come, thanks to RMB who shares our vision.
Due to the weather, the charity auction that was planned for the Saturday night after/ during the race was postponed to the week after the event and ended today, Friday, 4 August at 2 pm. It was conducted by bidding on the open-to-all WhatsApp auction group. The total amount raised for charity through the auction amounted to N$ 232,420.00! Each generous donation, contribution, and bid is acknowledged with so much thanks, and Mike van der Meer, the developer of the new Moringa Valley Estate in Uis, is thanked for donating an undeveloped plot valued at N$ 125,000.00.
The beneficiaries of the 2023 Brandberg Backyard Ultra event are Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, Ocean Conservation Namibia, Desert Lion Conservation, and The Skeleton Coast Brown Hyena Project. All four causes are Namibian non-profits involved in habitat- and species conservation and restoration, found to align with the event’s Be Wild: Rewild Campaign after suggestions from participants were considered.
To every person who contributed to the event in some way or another, from sponsors to runners, volunteers to supporters, staff at the Brandberg Rest Camp, and the media teams we would like to express a HUGE thank you for making this event a wonderful success. We all will reflect with only warm memories of a cold but fun, successful running weekend as the bar was set high for future events to come.
