South African actress, Vanessa Haywood, is probably best known for her role as the leading lady in the number one box office hit, District 9. Her successful television career also includes appearances as a presenter for Groen (Kyknet), Top Billing (SABC 3), AgriTV (SABC 1), Superdance (ETV), and Wildlife Video Cast (Asia).
Her next big role will be as a rider for Team Absa in the 2012 Absa Cape Epic!
Haywood will be riding on behalf of two charity organisations, The JAG Foundation and DARG, the Domestic Animal Rescue Group which is a pro-life, non-profit organisation that rescues, cares for and re-homes abused, neglected and abandoned cats and dogs. “Both initiatives are close to my heart and I couldn’t choose between them,” she explains.
Haywood is paired with Instrument Engineer for NIC Instruments and Engineering, Clayton Duckworth.
Passionate about anything with two wheels, Duckworth qualified as a provincial motor cross champion at the age of 13. He turned professional soon thereafter and travelled abroad to race in Europe.
Clayton Duckworth
Duckworth has been cycling for 10 years and made the conversion to mountain biking in 2009. He took on the Berg & Bush in 2010 and this will be his first attempt at the Absa Cape Epic. His race strengths include technical skills and high power pedalling, and he advises that one balances the “carbo-loading” with sufficient protein intake.
When asked what he thinks of the 2012 route, he replied “I’ll let you know on the 1st of April!”
Duckworth resides in the South of Johannesburg with his wife and daughter with whom he enjoys spending his free time with. The couple are expecting their second child in May 2012. Other than becoming a Dad for the second time, this driven family man plans to complete his second degree this year and of course, conquer the Absa Cape Epic!
“For me, mental strength is the most important factor to successfully finishing the Absa Cape Epic,” says Duckworth.
He will be riding on behalf of Cotlands, a non-profit South African children’s organisation that cares for neglected, abused, orphaned, and terminally ill children between the ages of 0 – 12 years.
WELL DONE!!!
They achieved a result of 25th place in the Mixed Category and 346th Place Overall
