Former giants of rugby on the rush of endurance sport and why they’re joining 100km Africa bush charity race

Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll, South Africa’s Jean de Villiers and Hong Kong adventurer Annabelle Bond talk about setting yourself challenges and the sense of achievement to be had from training to reach, and achieving, them

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South African captain Jean de Villiers (left) in a match against Argentina at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria in 2014. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:48am, 10 Apr 2018Updated: 7:36pm, 11 Apr 2018

It’s a balmy evening just ahead of the Hong Kong Sevens and a glamorous crowd is gathered around a pool at a town house on The Peak. Hong Kong socialite and adventurer Annabelle Bond is in her element – not because she’s playing the gracious host and inviting guests into the home she shares with her daughter, Isabella, and partner, Ken Hitchner, but because the evening is focused on something she cares deeply about – endurance challenges.

Bond began doing endurance sports in her mid-20s and says it gave her a huge boost in confidence and self-worth.

Annabelle Bond, a supporter of Challenge Africa 2019 endurance race, co-organised by Just Challenge and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Photo: Roy Issa

“I was a bit of sheep – a follower – and endurance sports really gave me my own sense of security in myself, belief in myself. I was very happy to take my own path. I’m comfortable in my own skin, and I think that’s the most important thing I got from doing endurance sports,” says Bond, 48.

Climber Annabelle Bond

Bond is an ambassador for Just Challenge – which creates endurance races for corporate groups – and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports more than 100 community programmes in 35 countries that use the inspirational power of sport to promote unity and tackle social challenges. The two groups are teaming up to hold an endurance race in May next year, Challenge Africa 2019, which will see 100 people trek 100 kilometres through the African bush, camping in the wild and raising money to support vulnerable children in Africa.

Leading Challenge Africa will be Irish former professional rugby union player Brian O’Driscoll. He admits it will be his first formal endurance race, but says he’s got a good sense of what he’s in for.