PRETORIA – After a grueling selection process that pushed 48 of the country’s toughest competitors to their limits, the final twelve athletes have been named for the South African national finals of the Defender Trophy.
The finalists, selected from an initial pool of over 1 000 global entries, represent the peak of local adventure racing talent. The group consists of three women and nine men who survived the first round of selection held at the end of 2025.
The 12 finalists set to compete in the March finals are: Lance Kime, Gerrit Pieterse, Robert le Brun, Simon Fraser, Bernd Rohrmuller, Mike Hewan, Clinton Mackintosh, Isabel Roux, Nicholaas Louw, Jackie Moore, Anastatia Esterhuizen and Henry Liebenberg.
The Defender Trophy isn’t your standard off-road race. Inspired by the legendary “Trophy” challenges of the past, this modern iteration focuses on a “greater purpose,” blending high-stakes adventure with a passion for conservation.
Janico Dannhauser, Defender Brand Manager at JLR South Africa, noted that the finalists were chosen for more than just physical prowess. “The 12 finalists excelled in various challenges and showed greater determination in pushing themselves both physically and mentally,” Dannhauser said.
Event organiser and veteran adventure racer Mark Collins echoed this sentiment, emphasising that the selection process was “world-class.”
“Brute strength alone is not all that propelled the top competitors into the finals,” Collins explained. To stand out, participants had to excel in several areas, including teamwork, navigation, vehicle handling, and physical resilience,” he said.
The stakes for the upcoming March finals are high. Only two winners will be selected to represent South Africa at the global Defender Trophy event taking place in Africa later this year.
There, they will join elite winners from six other nations for what organizers call a “once-in-a-lifetime” expedition.
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