About the Challenge

The Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge started when the first ever competition was staged in 1992 and was at the time called the “PERM Boland 90”.
The original founder of Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Event was the Late Mr Ameen Lagardien (pictured) along with his wife Mrs Lilian Lagardien and his
daughter Shireen who together with other stakeholders grew the event.

Mr Lagardien or as he was fondly known as “Mr L” to all, was a retired Junior school principal, a highly passionate environmental awareness educator,
seasoned hiker whose unbelievable vision for this event and environmental education particularly amongst the youth inspired many who both participated in
the Boland 90 and volunteered their time and expertise thereby creating this world class South African event.

The annual Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge has over the years grown into an event comprising over 160 participants in teams of
4 persons competing over 3 days which includes 2 stages per day to complete 90 km over the 3 days of the event. At its height the
Boland 90 Interclub Hiking Challenge became the premier event in mountaineering in South Africa and in many respects the only event of
its kind with participation from clubs in the Western Cape, from the rest of South Africa and teams from the UK and New Zealand. The event
also secured the sponsorship support of a number of SA and multinational brands over the years of its existence which bears testimony to the calibre of the event.

The event sponsor changed in the very early 2000’s and at the same time the name changed to the “Hi-Tec Boland 90” Interclub Hiking Competition. Thereafter around 2006 with the involvement of Cape Nature, the event was called the “Cape Nature Boland 90” Interclub Hiking Challenge.

The competition is staged in the Nuweberg Mountain region of the Hottentots

Holland Nature reserve of circa 70 000 hectares in size and stretching from Elgin in the south to beyond Villiersdorp in the north, and from the Stellenbosch mountains in the west, eastwards to the Groenland mountains situated in the Hottentots Holland Mountains and part of the Cape Fold Belt in the Western Cape, South Africa.

The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve is a World Heritage site also about 90 minutes from Cape Town as shown in the above map illustration. The reserve has a range of activities, fauna and flora as well as various wild life available in the conservation areas also see a detailed map of the reserve as Annexure A to this document.

Welcome to the Boland 90 Competition!

AIMS & OBJECTIVES OF THE BOLAND 90 INTERCLUB HIKING CHALLENGE

The identified aims and objectives of the Boland 90 are as follows:
 To create a platform for the SA mountaineering community to develop a world
class competitive mountaineering event that contributes to mountaineering skills;
 To further advance training in responsible and safe hiking;
 To contribute to conservation, environmental awareness and education;
 To engender team spirit, leadership and camaraderie;
 To contribute to skills in navigation, safety & emergency measures

Local communities

 youth development programme e.g. Nuweberg Omgewingsklub;
 Opportunities for seasonal employment in the region;
 Opportunities to interact with hikers of culturally diverse groups;
 LED (local economic development) / Social responsibility

Youth

 Mentorship opportunities leading up to and during the event;
 Teams competing and growing their mountaineering skills
 Marshalling teams that further develop themselves and their skills

Environment

 creating biodiversity awareness of fauna and flora
 Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve ecosystem
 water catchments awareness
 trail management
 alien vegetation (and control thereof)

Hiking Fraternity

 developing leadership skills
 maintaining interest in HH Nature Reserve
 holistic hiking etiquette standards (first aid, equipment etc.)
 good marketing mechanism ( through good experiences)

Partnerships

 networking & marketing (locally and internationally)
 map surveying / updating
 collaborative opportunities (training opportunities)
 promotional platform (Wild Card, Reserves & Trails)

Sponsorships

 The Boland 90 event also serves as an opportunity for organizations across the spectrum to come on board to sponsor the whole on parts of the event.
 Included here are some of the past event sponsors which we hereby acknowledge with appreciation and remain exceedingly proud of our association.