Brandberg Backyard Ultra: News Release, 13 June 2024

The eagerly anticipated Brandberg Backyard Ultra (BBU) is back for its third annual instalment, set to take place on the weekend of August 3rd with the Brandberg Rest Camp in Uis as start/finish venue. Nestled at the foot of the majestic Brandberg Mountain, Uis offers not only a breathtaking backdrop for this unique race but also the warm hospitality of its friendly residents.

The Brandberg Backyard Ultra has quickly become a key event on the running calendars of top long-distance runners. Its unique format and the stunning location of Uis, coupled with the community’s hospitable spirit, make it an unforgettable experience for both participants and spectators.

What is a Backyard Ultra? A Backyard Ultra is a last-person-standing event where participants must complete a 6.706-kilometer loop every hour until only one runner remains. This format fosters a remarkable spirit of camaraderie and support among the participants, setting it apart from other long-distance races.

Event Partners Rand Merchant Bank Namibia (RMB) returns as main sponsor and presenting partner of the third instalment of the Brandberg Backyard Ultra, for which we are thrilled and very grateful. The event will furthermore enjoy the generous support of our sponsors new and returning, who have donated luxury Namibian accommodation packages for the event auction. Special thanks to Big Sky Lodges, Gondwana Collection Namibia, Natural Selection, Journeys Namibia, Sandfontein and Wilderness for their contributions so far, as well as the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, Bannerman Mining Resources Namibia, OTB Sport, Kosmos Radio, Hit Radio Namibia and Venture media. Their support, along with our other event partners, is instrumental in making the Brandberg Backyard Ultra a memorable experience while raising funds for vital conservation efforts.

Event Highlights:

• Date & Venue: August 3rd, Brandberg Rest Camp, Uis, Damaraland.
• Participation: The event has nearly sold out, with only a few entry spots remaining.
• BE WILD:REWILD Auction: We are proud to continue our tradition of hosting an auction as part of the BBU events under our REWILD campaign to raise money and awareness for Namibian environmental non-profit organisations. Thanks to our incredible sponsors and supporters, the 2023 event auction raised N$ 232 000 in total, shared between Ocean Conservation Namibia, Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, Desert Lion Conservation and The Skeleton Coast Brown Hyena Project. These very worthy causes will again be the beneficiaries of the event, in addition to the newly added Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation.

NEW! Backyard Ultra World Championships 2024 We are excited to announce that Namibia Ultra Trails will also host the Namibian Backyard Ultra World Championships satellite event in Swakopmund on 19 October 2024 where 15 of Namibia’s top long-distance runners will compete as a team against 52 other countries in real time. This prestigious event, a first for Namibia, will be conducted worldwide at simultaneous events, with winners from the top 50 countries earning a spot at the World Championships at the original Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra in the USA in 2025. The top 8 runners from the 2024 Brandberg Backyard Ultra (BBU) will automatically secure their place on the Namibian team for the event on October 19th. The rest of the 15-person team will be composed of other top Namibian ultra runners picked by the race director.

Elite Runners to Watch: The BBU has attracted top-tier long-distance runners, including:

• Andre Ross: BBU overall winner of 2022 and 2023.
• Kirsty Brits: BBU Female winner of 2022 and 2023.
• Milton Kimbini: Runner-up of 2023.
• Martin Kalwenya and Pamela Vurayai: Top male and female Namibian runners who recently completed the 5-day, 250 km self-supported Racing the Planet Namib Race.
• Notable Ultra athletes, Comrades Marathon runners and many of the top 10 BBU finishers from 2022 and 2023 events, as well as Comrades Marathon finishers. Runners who entered include Hannes Smit, Johan Bronkhorst, Tobias & Corne Verwey, Josia Kalwenya, PC Visser, Jaco van den Berg, Harmen Potgieter, Hennie Lacock, Winnie Mukupuki, Achim Herma, Christo Horn, Elmarie Adriaanse and Naude & Katja Dreyer.

Family-Friendly Events: The BBU isn’t just for ultra-distance runners. There’s something for everyone in the family:

• Brandberg Challenge: Runners can choose to complete up to 6 laps of the course.
• Brandberg Fun Run: A single lap (6.706km) fun run.

REWILD Collaboration: We are excited to collaborate with Gondwana Collection Namibia, supporting their existing rewilding project by having our athletes opt to donate towards their planting of indigenous trees. Gondwana Collection Namibia’s “Adopt a Quiver Tree Project” allows individuals to sponsor the planting and care of an endangered quiver tree at Gondwana Canyon Park. In the future, we aim to support a similar project closer to Uis.

Join us in Uis this August for an incredible weekend of running, camaraderie, and support for vital conservation efforts. For more information and to secure one of the remaining entry spots, visit our website or contact our event coordinators.

Contact: Namibia Ultra Trails Email: NamibiaUltraTrails@gmail.com, or visit our website www.NamibiaUltraTrails.com and our social media pages.

About the Brandberg Backyard Ultra: The Brandberg Backyard Ultra is an annual long-distance running event held at the Brandberg Rest Camp in Uis, Damaraland. Known for its unique format and friendly supportive atmosphere, the event also serves as a fundraiser for environmental conservation efforts in Namibia.

The event is hosted by the Scholtz Family, Nico, Riana and their two sons, under their Namibia Ultra Trails brand. The Scholtzes are an active family who loves to run and travel and give back to their community and country where and how they can. They are not affiliated with any of the sponsors or the event venue.