Theunissen Wraps Up HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor with 4th Victory

Hermanus provided the perfect backdrop for a weekend of runs, rides and swims. Photo by Matt Ashwell.

Bridget Theunissen wrapped up the women’s Big 6 title with a fourth race victory at the 2023 HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor, on Monday, 1 May. The young triathlete from Kwa-Zulu Natal put an exclamation point on her weekend by dominating her favourite discipline and winning the Sprint Distance Triathlon ahead of Tracey Campbell and Jana van den Berg. David Sher won the men’s race, while Rudolf Naude secured the Big 6 victory by finishing fourth in the final event of the multisport festival.

Over the course of the HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor Theunissen notched up victories in the LedLenser Twilight Run, the Short Distance Mountain Bike race, the 2.5 kilometre Open Ocean Swim and the triathlon. She only conceded points on the Trail Run and the scrapping of the See en Sand swim run jump, which was stopped due to dangerous ocean conditions, would have further aided her charge to the crown.

The Sprint Distance Triathlon suited her skills perfectly, despite taking on the course on a road rather than a time trial bike. Theunissen exited the water in fifth position overall, just behind the quartet setting the pace in the men’s race and then built a handy lead on the bike. The confusion of riders who had turned short entering transition two ahead of her did not put Theunissen off her pace and she ran home strong to win the race in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 9 seconds. Campbell was the second woman across the line, 7 minutes and 14 seconds later, to seal second in the Big 6 too. Jana van den Berg completed the podium places in the triathlon, while Liza Kingston joined Theunissen and Campbell on the Big 6 podium.

In the men’s race Sher concluded the HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor the way he had started it, atop the podium. Like Theunissen, Sher had won the LedLenser Twilight Run on Friday evening; but he had then skipped Big 6 events and slipped down the general classification leader board. Completing the festival with a victory capped a stellar weekend for the 24-year-old triathlete.

“It was a lot of fun. Amazing actually!” Sher smiled on the finish line. “I felt good and went way faster than I’d thought I would. I got caught by Bruce [Campbell] on the bike, he overtook me, and I couldn’t keep up with him. But I knew my transition would help me make up some time and then I caught him on the beginning of the run. And once I was in the lead, I felt really good.”

Sher’s winning time was 1 hour, 6 minutes and 43 seconds. He was joined on the race podium by James Gerber and Colin Fleming. Naude finished just off the podium, but did enough with a series of second, first, nineth, second and fourth to accrue 5.39 more points than Fleming. Wynand Hofmeyer was 38 points further back, in third.

Sprint Distance Triathlon

Men’s Results:

  1. David Sher (1:06:43)
  2. James Gerber (1:08:26 | +1:43)
  3. Colin Fleming (1:09:08 | +2:25)

 

Women’s Results:

  1. Bridget Theunissen (1:15:09)
  2. Tracey Campbell (1:22:23 | +7:14)
  3. Jana van den Berg (1:23:10 | +8:01)

 

Junior Triathlon

Boys Results:

  1. Sven Tjallingii (24:15)
  2. Thomas Pienaar (25:54 | +1:39)
  3. Finn Lalor (30:05 | +5:50)

 

Girls Results:

  1. Nina Tjallingii (25:38)
  2. Miya Lalor (26:49 | +1:11)
  3. N/A

 

Big 6 Final Standings

Men’s Results:

  1. Rudolf Naude (488.86 Points)
  2. Colin Fleming (483.47 Points)
  3. Wynand Hofmeyer (450.54 Points)

 

Women’s Results:

  1. Bridget Theunissen (493.39 Points)
  2. Tracey Campbell (453.86 Points)
  3. Liza Kingston (437.81 Points)