CHAPTER 1: The first strike

Logo for the Cape Cobra Trail Marathon featuring a large black and yellow cobra with its hood expanded, mountain landscapes in the background, and text indicating the event name, establishment year 2025.

The Cobra awakens

It began as a vision - to create South Africa’s boldest trail marathon.
From the conception of the Cobra to the partners who believed in its strike before the first step was taken, the idea took shape and gathered followers.

Three distances emerged - 42KM of grit, 21KM of fight, 14km of chaos.
Races within the race. Elites chasing glory. First-timers chasing limits.
Then came the pulse - the recces, the tribe the rhythm of runners building something that felt bigger.

The vineyards followed. A reroute through 7 wine farms, twisting through a labyrinth of dust and beauty. The finish line festival. A celebration of effort, endurance and the people who carried the Cobra to life.

And then, the mountain tested us.

A week before race day, a fire tore through the route. We rerouted. With only days to spare, another blaze struck the new section. The choice was brutal - hold the course and risk the race, or move the entire finish line across the mountain.

It wasn’t an easy call, but it was the right one.

Three days of grind. Three days in the organisers’ pain cave - building new routes, testing, marking, cutting lawns for 400 cars, coordinating seven wine farms.

The question remained: Would the Cobras follow?

They did. Every one of them.

What unfolded was chaos, courage and unity - a living, breathing reminder that this race is more than terrain and timing mats. It’s pulse. It’s tribe. It’s the mountain meeting human will.

If you were there, you know - it was unlike anything else.
We set out to create a finish line like no other. And we did.

To every runner who gave it everything, thank you for backing us.
And to the Apex Cobras who came out on top - your names are etched into the first chapter of our story.

the CAPE COBRA hall of fame

Each distance tells its own story — forged from different elements, born from different corners of the wild. Together they represent what the Cape Cobra Trail Marathon stands for: grit, beauty and endurance that outlasts time.

Each winning Cobra holds the trophy for one year. But to keep it, they must return and defend their title. Their initials and times are etched into the legacy - carved into wood, cast into metal plates, sealed in Cobra history.

Each trophy tells a different story, but all lead to one truth: the mountain remembers.
Those who earn these relics become part of the Cobra’s living history - a hall of fame written not in gold, but in wood, resin and rock.

Every year, new names are added, new battles fought and old legends return to defend what they’ve claimed.

A trophy featuring a black and gold cobra snake coiled with its head raised, on a black and gold base. The base has a plaque with the text "CAPE COBRA TRAIL MARATHON FIRST STRIKE 2025."

The Vineyard labyrinth

Born from creation and craft, this trophy captures the energy of the vineyards that twist through the Cobra’s lower trails. Designed by race organiser Jesse, brought to life by the Netflix special effects team, 3D printed in resin and hand-painted to perfection.

This symbol of strength is for the fastest of the 14km Cobras who navigate the labyrinth with speed, precision and style.

Two carved wooden walking sticks with intricate designs and varying wood textures.

The cape cobra half

Handcrafted by Bushmen artisans of the Kalahari, carrying the spirit and blessing of the Cobra. It’s alive with texture and heritage - the initials and times of each champion carved directly into its wood over the years.

It represents the balance between nature and endurance - the heartbeat of the wild that tests every step. Grounded. Timeless. Blessed by the earth.

Close-up of an ancient Egyptian-style sculpture of a cobra with a raised hood, made of bronze or similar material, placed on a stone surface against a haphazardly colorized background.

The cape cobra FULL

Conceived by local artist and trail legend Robbie Rorich, this trophy is forged in fire — melted metal, cast into the form of the Cobra itself and mounted on stone pulled from the mountain.

It’s weighty. Raw. Uncompromising.

The names of the marathon’s fiercest finishers are plated onto its granite base, forever part of the Cobra’s mythology.

Four men standing on grass, holding beer packs and trophies, with a girl standing to the left. There is a large tent or canopy overhead and a backdrop with the text 'School of Rock'. Three women are in the background near a fence, with tables and pink signs nearby.
Three people standing outdoors on a grassy field under a large canopy, holding medals and prizes, during a race or athletic event. One woman has a medal around her neck and is holding a box, the man in the middle is smiling with his arm around the women, and the woman on the right is also holding a prize and a medal. There are other people and event booths in the background.

2025 apex cobras

🔥 No official route time records this year - this wasn’t the official course. But this chapter will always stand as the beginning of something unforgettable.

Men’s 14km Open

  1. Luwellyn Du Toit

  2. Brandon Keeling

  3. Athenkosi Nkonki

Women’s 14km Open

  1. Ridwana Ridz

  2. Fazlin Martin

  3. Clarice Gomes

Group of eight men and one girl standing behind large ceremonial checks on a grassy field, with a green canopy tent and audio speakers in the background. The checks show awards of R5,000, R12,000, and R3,000 from SportPesa and Cape Cobra, with bottles of drinks in front of each. The group appears to be celebrating a sports event or competition.
A group of people standing on a grass field holding large prize checks, with smaller bottles of beer placed in front of them, under a large tent at an outdoor event. The background includes trees and hills.

Men’s 42km Open

  1. JJ Van Der Merwe

  2. Anele Bans

  3. Underson Ncube

Women’s 42km Open

  1. Emily Djock

  2. Landie Greyling

  3. Daisy Myburgh

People standing on grass holding oversized ceremonial checks at an outdoor event. Two large checks are visible, one for R12,000.00 and the other for R3,000.00, labeled '21K The Apex Cobra Award' and '21K The Survivor Award'. There are boxes of mixed drinks on the ground, and a large banner behind them.

Men’s 21km Open

  1. Oli Morris

  2. Siboniso Soldaka

  3. Jacques Du Plessis

Women’s 21km Open

  1. Ebeth Marais

  2. Lanah Nel

  3. Jenna Bowes

Group of eight men standing on grass in front of a stage and large sponsor boards at an outdoor event, with three large prize checks in front.

CHAPTER 2: strike 2

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

A new tale awaits those brave enough.

We are going bigger and better. By building on the success of our inaugural event and all the fan favourites, we plan to exceed expectations once again. No idea is too big. We are leaving no stone unturned. This is Cobra energy and we are ready to rock the trail.

Will you help us write the Cape Cobra story in 2026?

S-s-s-see you soon.

ENTER STRIKE 2