OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The fifth Klein Karoo Dust4Glory (D4G) obstacle challenge is done and, well, dusted.
According to the owners of D4G, they are extremely happy with the turnout of the event.
"Five years ago we had this vision to create a family-friendly event and we are starting to see the fruits of our efforts - with not only adults taking part in the event, but also introducing their children to it.
"The overwhelmingly positive feedback that we received from participants motivates us to continue building the event to make it even better. See you all back in 2025," said Juan Botes owner of Chaing Gang Events, who with Pienaar Muller, co-owner of Wilgewandel Holiday Farm and owner of Dust 4 Glory, has built the event into what it is today.
"Together we conquered the dust and embraced the glory - what an incredible weekend at the Klein Karoo D4G challenge. We also want to thank our 2024 sponsors," said Muller.
A total of 315 athletes from across the country, the most since the inception of the event, gathered at Wilgewandel on Saturday 19 October to push their limits.
It was a true showdown of guts, grit and determination as the athletes overcame the various obstacles in their path while their friends and families, who were watching the action live on big screen TVs in the race village at Wilgewandel, were cheering them on. And it was not as easy as it seemed.
D4G 2024 brought mostly smiles to participants' faces, but there was the odd tear - especially when athletes accomplished something they didn't think possible.
"It was a truly amazing experience. I loved every second of it!" said one of the female participants from George, Marie Venter.
Her teammate, Isobel Imbrailo, said it was one of the most exhilarating things she has ever done. "We did the medium challenge, which is a 5km race featuring 10 tough obstacles. Firstly, the setting with the stunning backdrop of Oudtshoorn’s rugged terrain is breathtaking.
However, the challenge is tough and it definitely tests both physical strength and mental endurance. I absolutely loved it, it was an amazing and unforgettable experience and I will definitely do it again next year!" she said.
The challenge consists of four categories for people of all ages and fitness levels, even the little ones were given a chance to show their steel.
The big dogs on the podium in the Pro Challenge were, in first place, Aubrey Makhubo, second Herschelle Jantjies and Tristin Thomson, two athletes are from George and Aubrey Makhubo from Cape Town.
In the women's Pro category, it was three ladies from George who filled the podium. Nancy Cloete took the top spot, Claudine du Plessis came second and Eunice Rohlandt third.
From the left are Nadine Watters, Isobel Imbrailo, Madèl Beukes and Marie Venter from George.
Ponde vir Pote/Pounds for Paws
Five adventurous ladies from George, Chere Viviers, Theresea Pieterse, Marilize Human, Mindré Graham and Melanie Potgieter, tackled D4G to raise funds for Oudtshoorn Dogs in Need (Odin). The team printed QR codes linked to Snapscan on their shirts, enabling supporters to easily donate any amount by scanning the code.
"We are extremely thankful for the money that has been donated towards our initiative. We decided that this would be a continuous effort to raise awareness and funds for animals in need. Consistency is the only thing that can make a difference in their circumstances," said Pieterse.
The group hopes that their efforts will inspire others to take part in similar initiatives, supporting various causes through future events.
On the men's Pro Challenge podium are Aubrey Makhubo (first), Herschelle Jantjies (second) and Tristin Thomson (third). With them are Gielie Marais, the Daisy Business Solutions branch manager in Oudtshoorn, and co-owner of Wilgewandel Holiday Farm and co-founder of D4G, Pienaar Muller. 
As much as OCR is an individual sport, it is also a team sport, and contestants often have to help each other over obstacles.‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
