News
Kargo Pro MTB paves the way for SA MTB internationally
Durban – As the South African cross country and downhill mountain biking fraternity gear up for this weekend’s African Continental Champs in Cape Town, news of Kargo Pro MTB team being accepted as a UCI MTB team by cycling’s international federation – a first for the South African cycling scene – has cyclists nationwide abuzz with excitement.
Phase one of team manager Shaun Peschl’s dream was realized on Tuesday when he received official confirmation from the UCI that his “team will be registered as a 2014 UCI MTB Team”, paving the way for the outfit to start their international journey and, hopefully, follow a similar pathway of success to that of South African road cycling phenomenon Team MTN Qhubeka, presented by Samsung.
“We are thrilled by the news that we can now officially call ourselves a UCI mountain bike team for 2014,” said an ecstatic Peschl. “The timing could not have been better with African Champs less than twenty-four hours away and I’m sure all our guys will now be even more motivated to do well in Cape Town than ever before.
“Looking at how far Doug Ryder has gone with his MTN Qhubeka team on the road – he has truly been an inspiration for us and we hope to have the same impact on the South African MTB scene,” he added.
The UCI’s acceptance of the Kargo setup will see the ‘Proudly South African’ outfit now turn their full attention towards their short term goals whilst always bearing in mind their ultimate motivator – the Olympics.
“We really are very proud of the fact that almost all of our setup is South African. All our riders are from SA, our title sponsor – Kargo – is a South African company and even the bikes we ride – Momsen Bikes – are from here!” explained Peschl.
“We had a really good pre-season and our season began nicely a couple of weeks ago. Now it’s all about fighting for every UCI point available.
“Short term goals for us are to be as consistent as possible locally, to achieve good results at the UCI World Cups and the 2014 Commonwealth Games and to have at least five of our riders compete at the 2014 World Champs whilst our long term dream is definitely all about the Olympics,” he added.
For team ace Rourke Croeser, the news represents a major step in the right direction not only for the Kargo Pro MTB team but for the sport of mountain biking throughout South Africa as a whole.
“It really is just great for cycling, and particularly mountain biking, in South Africa,” said Croeser. “Hopefully this also starts a trend here in SA and that other teams start taking competing internationally seriously as well.
“The more UCI teams we have in SA can only be good for MTB in the country!”
With a positive result in Cape Town heightening his Commonwealth Games prospects, Croeser will be hoping he can give it his all this weekend whilst the likes of under-23 Travis Walker and the rest of the team will too be looking for solid performances.
“Trav (Walker) and I got here on Wednesday and the bikes arrived all safe and sound, so that was a relief,” said Croeser.
“We managed to do a few laps of the course yesterday and the organisers really have done a superb job given the limited space they have available to them.
“It’s quite a tight, snappy course with lots of sudden, fast acceleration followed by sections that force you back down to zero – it’s a very stop/start type of course with just one longish climb but overall I think it’s a good one.”
With uncertainty over what weather to expect over the next few days, Croeser isn’t fazed by the possibility of rain and is looking forward to the different challenge a wet track poses.
“There is talk of rain on Friday which would obviously make things pretty interesting on Saturday’s race day. I don’t mind at all though, the worse the conditions the more it probably suits me actually because I enjoy a muddy, technical track.”
All the cross country events of the 2014 African Continental Mountain Bike Championships take place at Willowbridge Shopping Centre on Saturday 25 January with the downhill action unfolding at Contermanskloof on Sunday 26 January.
More event info can be found at www.cyclingsa.com and Kargo Pro MTB team info can be found atwww.peschlracing.co.za
Photos by: Darren Goddard/Gameplan Media
Author: Tee
Attractions
Splashy Fen 2025: An Inspiring Long Weekend of Music, Magic, and Memories in the Drakensberg
Splashy Fen Music Festival has officially wrapped, and by all accounts, the 2025 edition was the most magical one yet. From the moment the gates opened on Thursday, 17 April to the last note played on Sunday night, 8,000 festival-goers soaked up four glorious days of sunshine, music, and connection in the heart of the Southern Drakensberg.
After a few days of pre-festival rain, the weather turned just in time to welcome fans to South Africa’s friendliest music festival. The sunshine held strong throughout the weekend, setting the tone for what would become an unforgettable Easter celebration filled with laughter, dancing, and community.
A SOLD-OUT FESTIVAL FROM DAY ONE
By Thursday evening, over 5,500 happy campers had already made their way into the scenic Splashy Fen farm, with the festival officially reaching full capacity the day before the gates even opened. The 2025 edition was officially opened by Cllr. T.N. Jojozi, Deputy Mayor of the Harry Gwala District Municipality, who welcomed guests on behalf of the Harry Gwala Development Agency.
Thursday night kicked off with the first wave of live performances and set the tone for the weekend.
From there, the lineup only got hotter.
DAYS OF MUSIC AND MAGIC
Friday and Saturday were packed with showstopping performances across the multiple stages. Local heroes like Ard Matthews, Hot Water, Veranda Panda, and Prime Circle brought the heat, while the Main Stage turned electric with international artists including the UK’s Youngr, a surprise performance from Casey Lowery, Ireland’s Darren Kiely, and Canada’s Neon Dreams.
Mafikizolo delivered a legendary Saturday night set that brought thousands to their feet, and GoodLuck closed out the evening with a high-energy performance that had the whole crowd bouncing.
Away from the stages, festival-goers enjoyed the full Splashy experience: sunrise yoga, trail runs, live art, craft workshops, and plenty of family-friendly fun. The popular Kids Zone was buzzing with activity, and the Saturday afternoon Splashy Parade was a visual feast of stilt-walkers, dragons, fire breathers, and whimsical characters.
At the Corona River Stage, guests kicked back in the sun to chilled tunes by the water, while a bustling craft market and food court offered up everything from gourmet bites to handmade treasures.
A SUNDAY TO REMEMBER
Easter Sunday was pure joy. The day began with a peaceful morning service hosted by Red Frogs SA at the tranquil Treehouse Stage, followed by a fun-filled Easter egg hunt for the little ones—complete with games, giggles, and surprise eggs from the Easter Bunny herself.
Music lovers made their way to the Acoustic Stage for the much-loved Legends of the Fen showcase. Featuring iconic acts like Cinema, Perez, and more, the session reminded everyone why Splashy Fen holds such a special place in South Africa’s music history.
As the sun dipped behind the Drakensberg mountains, the Main Stage roared to life for one final night of performances, closing out the weekend with soaring vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and thunderous applause.
“Our legs are sore, our voices are gone, but our hearts? FULL,” read a Monday morning post from Splashy Fen’s official social media page. “Shoutout to every artist who brought the fire at Main Stage last night, and every fan who screamed every word. What a way to end #Splashy2025!”
THE BEST ONE YET
With four full days of world-class music, family-friendly fun, and community connection in one of the most beautiful festival locations in the world, Splashy Fen 2025 has earned its title as the best one yet.
For more information and to stay up to date on 2026 tickets and artist announcements, visit www.splashyfen.co.za or follow @splashyfenfest on Instagram and Facebook.
Author: Shelley
Get ready for the ultimate family outing! South Africa’s legendary musical icons, Mango Groove will, light up the stage at Chris Saunders Park, on Friday 2 May, kicking off at 4pm.
This isn’t just a concert; it’s a fantastic opportunity to create lasting family memories filled with incredible music, delicious food, and exciting activities for everyone.
Join Mango Groove as they bring you the iconic hits that have been the soundtrack to South African life since the 80s. From the moment the first note drops, you’ll be swept away by their smash hits “Special Star,” “Dance Some More,” and all the timeless classics that have defined generations. This is your chance to experience the magic of Mango Groove in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.
What’s in store for the kids?
We’ve got so much lined up:
- Blaster Wars Arena – Ready, aim, and battle it out in a safe and exciting space.
- Jumping Castles – Let them bounce the day away.
- Lego Area – Creativity unleashed with endless building fun.
- Target Shooting – Perfect for little sharpshooters.
- Treasure Hunts & Fun Games – Adventure awaits.
- Dedicated Toddler Zone – Safe and fun play for the tiniest festival-goers.
Tickets to this unmissable family event are a steal, priced between R100 and R250. With convenient, fully stocked bars for the adults and a delicious array of food stalls offering something for everyone, your taste buds will be as happy as your ears!
Date: Friday 2 May
Time: 4-10pm
Venue: Chris Saunders Park
Book your tickets now and get ready for an unforgettable day of music and fun!
Tickets are available for purchase online at WebTickets.
Follow In The Park here for more upcoming music events. You do not want to miss out on the rest of the events they have planned for you!
Author: Shelley
It’s fresh, bright and chockfull of surprises! It’s the 2025 East Coast Radio House & Garden Show, and we’re talking fresh spaces. bright living! A giant breath of fresh air will sweep through the Durban Exhibition Centre when the Show rolls out from Friday 28 June to Sunday 6 July.
fresh spaces. bright living is all about how to tweak or transform your home into one which brings you joy, and allows you to be you! Whether it’s little touches of stylish decor or large sweeps of bold colour and pattern, you’ll leave the Show bursting with new skills from the experts, bright ideas from different brands… and loads of goodies and parcels. Jump on board, the 2025 East Coast Radio House + Garden Show promises to fill your head with creativity to create your own fresh spaces. bright living.
Calling all cooks and homemakers!
This year’s Test Kitchen is the kitchen of the future! Hirsch is at the helm and The Kitchen Studio is creating a space that’ll knock your socks off. Top celebrity chefs (surprises up our sleeve), fabulous personalities (guess who?), crazy cooks (laughter is the best medicine)… the line-up is as long as it is sensational! If cooking’s your happy place, the Hirsch kitchen is the only place to be.
The 2025 East Coast Radio House + Garden Show is going to be child’s play!
This is Durban’s true family show, and we’ve got you well covered for the first week of the school holidays! From littlelies to larger, this year’s kids zone has mushroomed into its own dedicated hall, and has way, way more of what they love! And parents, this one’s for you. Drop and shop – there’s now a super-safe, well supervised drop-off zone, so you can do your thing, while they do theirs. A dedicated Kids Zone in the Coast of Dreams, with a whacky wonderland of activities. Packed with fun, yet competitive, activities and challenges, teens can put their skills to the test! From the incredible Monster Manor to fairytale characters to face-painting, wrestling and bowling, the kids just won’t want to go home.
The East Coast Radio House + Garden Show is always full of winners…
And why shouldn’t it be you? With competitions big and small, you could carry home anything from the coolest kitchen appliance to the hottest sound system, a tantalising voucher to something or somewhere sensational or bags full of your favourite products.
This season, the Show is shining a full spotlight on fresh spaces, bright living, both outdoors and in! Plants, landscaping and new tricks and tools for garden lovers; boys’ toys and bits and bobs for outdoor lovers; and goodies and gadgets for those who live to braai! Renovating, restoring or dreaming of adventure, the Show will take you where you want to go.
We can’t wait to see you there!
www.housegardenshow.co.za
Author: Shelley
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