Uniondale is more than just a Little Karoo agricultural “dorpie” and the CCPP Group Lions Karoo to Coast is more than just another cycle race. There must be a reason that it is consistently one of the most well supported point-to-point events of its type in Africa? Perhaps it is partially due to the old school charm of the Uniondale experience.
President of the Uniondale Lions, Ian Du Plessis, chuckles as he explains how the “Shotgun Start” came in to being at the first K2C in 1999. The idea began late at night in the quaint pub at the Uniondale Showgrounds before the first K2C took place. James Johnston and Laurens du Preez were the last two men standing at the bar and Laurens talked James into waking up the next morning to throw an apple in to the air while James took a shot at it. Uniondale farmers are known for growing world-class apples and pears and TruCape has been a long-standing partner to the event. Jannie Du Plessis, William and James Johnston and Nicky Groenewald have also pulled the trigger over the past 21 years.
Another quirk of the K2C experience is the accommodation at the start venue. Anyone who has ever stayed at the “The Stables” will never forget their experience. Fresh straw is placed in the stables for the occasion and the week after the K2C, the Saddlebred and Agricultural show takes place; the horses then occupy “The Stables”. The camping experience adds to the overall race weekend and in 2021, the event falls on Sunday 26th September, which is a long weekend.
And then there is the Karoo food! The women of Uniondale never disappoint when they serve over 1600 meals each year to the riders. The price of the large dinner is included in the entry fee and the quality of the meal has been consistently delicious over the years. The hall is filled with people who sit down to eat together on the night
before the event and this adds to the charm of the K2C experience.
The Uniondale experience sets the tone for the beautiful route that traverses the Prince Alfred’s Pass and takes riders through the indigenous Knysna forests, before finishing alongside the beautiful Knysna Lagoon.
Over 85% of riders migrated their entries to 2021 from 2020 and for this reason the event is way up on entries. Riders are encouraged to enter sooner rather than later.[/vc_column_text]
President of the Uniondale Lions, Ian Du Plessis, chuckles as he explains how the “Shotgun Start” came in to being at the first K2C in 1999. The idea began late at night in the quaint pub at the Uniondale Showgrounds before the first K2C took place. James Johnston and Laurens du Preez were the last two men standing at the bar and Laurens talked James into waking up the next morning to throw an apple in to the air while James took a shot at it. Uniondale farmers are known for growing world-class apples and pears and TruCape has been a long-standing partner to the event. Jannie Du Plessis, William and James Johnston and Nicky Groenewald have also pulled the trigger over the past 21 years.
Another quirk of the K2C experience is the accommodation at the start venue. Anyone who has ever stayed at the “The Stables” will never forget their experience. Fresh straw is placed in the stables for the occasion and the week after the K2C, the Saddlebred and Agricultural show takes place; the horses then occupy “The Stables”. The camping experience adds to the overall race weekend and in 2021, the event falls on Sunday 26th September, which is a long weekend.
And then there is the Karoo food! The women of Uniondale never disappoint when they serve over 1600 meals each year to the riders. The price of the large dinner is included in the entry fee and the quality of the meal has been consistently delicious over the years. The hall is filled with people who sit down to eat together on the night
before the event and this adds to the charm of the K2C experience.
The Uniondale experience sets the tone for the beautiful route that traverses the Prince Alfred’s Pass and takes riders through the indigenous Knysna forests, before finishing alongside the beautiful Knysna Lagoon.
Over 85% of riders migrated their entries to 2021 from 2020 and for this reason the event is way up on entries. Riders are encouraged to enter sooner rather than later.