Impi Challenge hits Namibia

The first Namibian Impi Challenge will take place at Heja Lodge outside Windhoek on 15 and 16 November 2014.

The Impi Challenge, which has taken South Africa by storm, combines trail running with an adventure style obstacle course and is open to all, from beginners to elite athletes.

The Impi Challenge is an adrenaline-charged experience and an opportunity for all to participate in, with family, friends, colleagues and Elite athletes all competing in different categories.

Namibia’s first Impi Challenge was launched at Namibia Breweries on Tuesday and will be sponsored by Windhoek Draught.

The organiser of the event, James van der Westhuizen said Namibia’s first Impi Challenge will take place on 15 and 16 November at Heja Lodge outside Windhoek.

“We are busy designing a 5km course around the dam at Heja Lodge, while contestants can participate in different categories, ranging from 5km to 10km and 15km. Anyone can enter the Impi Challenge, from children, family and friends and work colleagues to Elite athletes. There will also be prize money to the value of N$40 000, which has been sponsored by FNB Namibia, for the Elite athletes,” he said.

South Africa’s top Impi Challenge Elite athlete Claude Ecksteen, who is also a former triathlon champion and regularly competes on the ITU World Triathlon series has been invited to compete in Namibia’s inaugural event.

Windhoek Draught’s brand manager Carmen Rae Bridgens said the Impi Challenge offered participants a chance to be bold and challenge their family, friends or colleagues to the ultimate obstacle race, while having great fun at the same time.

“It will take ambition and determination to be crowned an Impi challenge winner.

“It is clear that the Impi Challenge is a fantastic event for Windhoek Draught, as it supports our strap line ‘For Real’ and provides an occasion for our Namibian bros to be bros – allowing them to share experiences and make memories,” she said.

The Windhoek Draught Impi Challenge Namibia will be set over 5km and 10km with 20 fun obstacles while the Impi Elite Race will cover a 15km course with 25 obstacles.

Prospective participants can compete in the Elite category over 15km, the Corporate or Challenge categories over 10km, the Dash category over 5km and the Mini category over 1km for children between 6 and 10 years of age.

The Impi Elite race will start at 07h30 on Saturday 15 November, to be followed by the Impi Challenge and other categories at 08h15.

The action continues on Sunday, 17 November when the Impi Challenge once again takes place at 08h15.

Participants can enter individually or as part of a team, with teams varying in size from two to ten people. In the team events, team members all start together although they don’t have to finish together.

There will also be numerous prizes up for grabs in the social categories, including for the best dressed individuals and teams as well as for the Impi Warriors who have the best original war cry.

Entries can be made online via the ImpiNamibia Facebook page.