Brandberg Backyard Ultra (BBU)
Brandberg Backyard Ultra 2024: Race Highlights
The event kicked off at 8 am on a cool, wind-still morning at the Brandberg Rest Camp, which hosted the race village. Runners were thankful for the cooler conditions and a slight breeze that picked up later in the day. A total of 139 runners entered the race: 53 for the full ultra, 53 for the challenge (up to 6 laps), and 32 for the fun run (1 lap). A complete list of results of the ultra race can be found HERE. In true backyard ultra fashion, runners had to complete a 6.7 km lap every hour, starting a new lap at the top of each hour. The last person to keep running without missing a lap would be crowned the winner.
The Men
André Ross once again proved his dominance by being the last person standing with 22 laps (147 km), breaking the previous course record of 20 laps. His incredible stamina and perseverance earned him the top spot for the third consecutive year.
PC Visser pushed hard and completed 21 laps (141 km) before conceding, securing the second place.
Johan Bronkhorst came in third with an impressive 20 laps (134 km).
Erich Goeieman followed with 18 laps (121 km).
Milton Kimbini completed 13 laps (87 km).
BBU 2024
BBU 2023 RESULTS
Brandberg Backyard Ultra: News Release, 29 July 2023
The weekend of 29 July 2023 saw a very successful second running of the Brandberg Backyard in Uis despite bitterly cold conditions. André Ross (51) from Swakopmund, the 2022 reigning champion, completed 18 laps and 120 km, and was again crowned last person standing after Milton Kimbini (46) conceded after 17 laps (114 km). Kirsty Brits (43) was the last lady to tap out after she completed 13 laps (87 km).
The race started at 10 am on Saturday from the race village at Brandberg Rest Camp after a welcome pasta dinner the previous night. Contrary to last year’s heat, runners had to battle low temperatures and strong winds throughout the day and night of the race. At some point during the morning, tiny drops of rain even came down in icy cold sheets!
Of the 39 ultrarunners, 16 were female and 22 were male. A total number of 117 laps were completed by the ladies to average 7.3 laps per person (49 km), while the 22 males raked in a total of 245 laps among themselves to average at 11 laps (75 km) per person. These statisticsalone speak for the caliber of Namibian ultra-trail runners that was present at the Brandberg Backyard Ultra this weekend!
Quite a number of WSRC runners participated in the BBU and did very well in the trying conditions.
More information and photos are available on the Namibia Ultra Trails FB page
Julie
Julie completed the Fun Run (1 Loop) before she commenced with supporting PC
alex
Alex crushed those loops
Marietjie
Finished 2nd in the Woman's category
PC
Ran 100km imitating a T-Rex
Les
Absolutely loved all the rocks
cuba
Asked too many questions
BBU info:
The BBU takes place in Uis, with the start/finish area at Brandberg Rest Camp. It takes the form of the standard Backyard Ultra, where runners have to complete a loop of 6,706 km within every hour for consecutive hours, starting on the top of the hour. Once a runner can’t complete the loop within an hour or misses the start of the next loop, they are disqualified. The last single runner to complete an entire loop in the given hour is the winner, and the race will end. There is no cut-off. As long as there are runners on the course, the race continues.
The loop route starts and ends at Brandberg Rest Camp and heads out into the conservancy on jeep track, so roughly 90% of each loop is on gravel. There will be a day loop during day light hours, and a night route on a different course for the night loops. A headlamp is required with sufficient batteries for the night loops.