Fairview Estate’s Roaming Goat Toby, strutted his good luck and charm around the sports field of Jan van Riebeeck school, overlooked by Lion’s Head in Cape Town, which hosted the annual iconic Crazy Store Table Mountain Challenge (fondly known as TMC) on Saturday 10 September 2016. An institution on the trail running event calendar, TMC takes trail runners clockwise around Table Mountain, the majestic reserve that is one of the ‘New7Wonders of Nature’. The event offers solo and team race options to take on the challenging 44-km route, which is predominantly single track and includes passing through indigenous forest, crossing mountain streams, scrambling, slopes adorned with fynbos and many spectacular views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. This year, to cater for the whole family, the race organisers included a kiddies dash and a TMC 7km High School Challenge.
Hundreds of runners took part in the 12th TMC, which unfolded under sunny blue skies. Participants were festively rewarded for their travails on the trails, after crossing the final hurdle of a jumping castle just before the finish line. Welcomed with an icy cool drink, it was shoes off and a jump into either a hot or cold water tub, a free massage, beer and food available, and a bountiful prize giving presented by the master of entertainment, race organiser Trevor Ball, accompanied by Toby the goat. The array of giveaways included two Nutribullets (won by contenders who did the longest handstand), an inflatable kayak, backpacks, oodles of beer and piles of giant gold disks of Fairview camembert.
Every participant received a Fairview yoghurt or cheese and an indigenous plant at the finish. This was the third year that Fairview has been involved with TMC. The colourful event resonates with Fairview’s philosophy, which is all about loving nature and being involved with people, promoting a healthy lifestyle and celebrating quality of life. Fairview passionately maintains the highest standards of environmental practice, animal welfare and broader social responsibility. For more information visit the website www.fairview.co.za. Toby, who was adopted as a kid and grew up at the estate under the wing of Fairview’s ‘goat father’ Donald Mouton, lives like he owns Fairview estate, happily greeting and associating with visitors.
Trail runners can look forward to Fairview’s very own trail running event on 15 October 2016, the annual La Capra goat run, which offers 5km, 8km, 15km and 28km routes traversing the slopes and upper areas of Paarl Mountain. Enter online at https://www.entryninja.com/events/event/4081-la-capra-goat-run. Fairview is also a longstanding sponsor of the premier mountain bike and trail running events organised by Dryland event management. Fairview is the title sponsor of the upcoming Dryland Traverse trail run stage race in the Klein Karoo, 3-6 November 2016, which includes a prologue run through the Cango caves. How can you resist? Info at www.dryland.co.za.
