Hog Charge action is here
Edwin Otieno
A team navigates a water obstacle during last year's Hog Charge event held at Peponi School, Northlands Ranch in Ruiru. PD/ ALEX NJUE
A bumper entry of 165 teams will be on parade as this year's Hog Charge challenge gets underway at Peponi School, Northlands Ranch in Ruiru on Sunday.
Yesterday, the race venue was a beehive of activity as organisers pulled out all the stops ahead of the mountain biking event, which will be enjoying its 24th edition this year.
The event, which is sponsored by milk processor Brookside Dairy and hosts Peponi School, is a race on mountain bikes, for teams of four, that sees groups of riders navigate around a course of checkpoints in the shortest time possible.
"This year's event promises more excitement, given the high number of entries. The competition will be fever-pitch as the riders tackle obstacles along the race course to the finishing line," Ngina Pratt-Mburu, Peponi School's head of marketing and event coordinator, said.
The teams will be entered in either the under-12, under-14 or open classes. There will also be a family fun race involving parents.
The Hog Charge is also a charity race whose proceeds go towards supporting the Rhino Ark, which is involved in a conservation project that focuses on the Mt Kenya water towers. Since inception, over Sh 60 million has been raised from the Hog Charge for the conservation cause, with last year's race chalking up a total over Sh 5 million in participation proceeds.
Ngina predicted dry and dusty conditions at the Northlands Ranch on race day, which is expected to offer a befitting challenge and excitement to both riders and spectators. However, should the skies open up on race day, a muddy cycling circuit will heighten the thrills and spills for the participating teams and onlookers.
Nairobi's The Banda School, last year's victors in the girls' under-14 race will be seeking to retain the trophy, but will have to contend with stiff challenge from hosts Peponi School, and St Andrew's Turi.
Hosts Peponi School and the International School of Kenya triumphed will face off in the under 14 category, after both registered a photo finish in last year's event, but will have to contend with stiff challenge from Nairobi Academy who clinched the runners up position last year.
'We never had a say in Jubilee gov't' – Raila