The first female Gripen pilot in South Africa, 31-year-old Catherine Labuschagne of AFB Makhado outside Louis Trichardt, completed stage 2 of this year’s Absa Cape Epic on Tuesday with team mate Ernst Viljoen (team Absolute Mud Movers).

Labuschagne, whose code name is ‘Siren’, says it was after Ernst Viljoen approached her to ride with him on behalf of Absa for the JAG Foundation that she agreed to participate in this year’s event.

“I gladly accepted, what an amazing opportunity,” she says.

After Tuesday’s stage, she commented: “Yesterday was extremely tough, but today was really good. The amount of walking made the route easier. I’m a pilot, so I need to use what I learnt there and use it at the Absa Cape Epic. Yes, the disciplines are vastly different, but cycling and being a fighter pilot gives you that amazing adrenalin rush! Both are tough, but extremely enjoyable”

In her opinion, Labuschagne feels that she and Viljoen make a great team as he has the patience and experience and she is really keen. Viljoen has completed the Absa Cape Epic twice before and has been Team Manager of Team Absa since 2007.

Adds Viljoen: “I think today [Tuesday] was much better that yesterday. I think my team will be in agreement. It was a pleasant ride, but it needed careful planning and you needed to be patient. There was lots of walking initially, but as you reached the top, the ride just got better and better.”

Due to her commitment to ride in aid of the JAG Foundation, Labuschagne says that she is particularly motivated to complete the next six stages.

“The JAG Foundation is a charity organisation that encourages underprivileged children to take part in sporting events and for every stage of the Absa Cape Epic that we complete, Absa will donate money to the JAG Foundation. These kids are our future and there so many talented young sportsmen and women that just need to be given the opportunity to participate.”

With her keen interest in ultra distance sporting events, Labuschagne has run the Comrades marathon before, completed three full ironman triathlons and numerous multi-day, multi-stage cycling events. In 2008, she cycled in the Club 100 ladies racing team. On two occasions, she finished first in the SAAF fittest soldier competition. In 2007 and 2008 she received the award for AFB Makhado’s Sport Woman of the Year. (Article: Purple Pine PR)