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The Swartkop Challenge Extreme event with no compromise Can you accept the Challenge? |
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Campaign Trails offers holidays and excursions using the theme of military expeditions of 18th and 19th centuries. |
Event will be at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal and will be known as the Ladysmith Swartkop Challenge and form a part of the attractions of the Ladysmith Siege Weekend. Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th April 2009 The Ladysmith Swartkop Challenge is an extreme sport event for teams of 20 + 2 leaders to draw a gun weighing some 1300kg up a hill of up to 1:1 over a course of some 130m. It is inspired by feats of arms in the South African War of 1899-1902 when heavy guns were repeatedly mounted on the top of kopjes and manpower was the only resource once the incline became too steep for draught animals. The Challenge duplicates Swartkop where 14 guns were mounted for the Battle of Vaalkraz – one of the several attempts to lift the Siege of Ladysmith which kept the British Empire on edge for 118 days . The origins of the Naval Gun Run Competition are based on the feats of the Naval Brigades during the defence and relief of Ladysmith for which 16 VC's were awarded. Prize Money of at least R20,000 will be competed for in timed runs and the fastest team will receive the Perpetual Trophy of a working model of the long-range 12pdr mounted on its wooden trail. The event is organised by Campaign Trails who specialise in battlefield and historic tours to South Africa – Tourism KwaZulu-Natal’s Tour Operator of the Year 2006
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