First female Gripen pilot completes Stage 4

2011-03-31

The first female Gripen pilot of the South African Air Force, 31-year-old Catherine Labuschagne, completed stage 4 of this year’s Absa Cape Epic with team mate Ernst Viljoen (team Absalute Mud Movers).
 
Labuschagne, whose code name is ‘Siren’, says it was after Ernst Viljoen approached her to ride with him on behalf of Absa for the JAG Foundation that she agreed to participate in this year’s event. “I gladly accepted, what an amazing opportunity,” she says.

After she completed stage 4, she commented: “Today was definitely easier, and was the perfect day just to get your legs back. Yesterday was really tough on the entire team and incredible sandy, as every day we try to give our best. We had a lot of technical issues on the first day, so today was good in all aspects. As a pilot, I am also a speed freak, so I just loved the downhills.”

Catherine Labuschagne, the first female Gripen pilot of the SA Air Force, completes Stage 4 of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic

In her opinion, Labuschagne feels that she and Viljoen make a great team as he has the patience and experience and she is really keen. Viljoen has completed the Absa Cape Epic twice before and has been Team Manager of Team Absa since 2007.

Adds Viljoen: “Today’s stage could not have come at a better time. It was a good ride, but mentally Team Absa needed this. We lost two members, Jack and Thea-Mari, who did not make the maximum stage time yesterday, so we’re all gutted by that. Today we could all just take stock after the time trial and bond a bit. The easier stage today meant we could just unwind. We visited the local Absa branch and the appreciation we got from staff and all the fans was magnificent.”

Due to her commitment to ride in aid of the JAG Foundation, Labuschagne says that she is particularly motivated to complete the next 3 stages. “The JAG Foundation is a charity organisation that encourages underprivileged children to take part in sporting events and for every stage of the Absa Cape Epic that we complete, Absa will donate money to the JAG Foundation. These kids are our future and there so many talented young sportsmen and women that just need to be given the opportunity to participate.”

Labuschagne was born (1979) and raised in Pretoria, where she matriculated from Willowridge High School in 1997. During her final year, she applied to the South African Air Force and after a series of psychometric tests, a strict medical and numerous interviews she was accepted as a pupil pilot. “I have a very satisfying career and am currently busy with my Gripen Conversion. To date, I have approximately 1900 flying hours of which over 1000 are on military jets,” she says. Labuschagne, who holds the rank of Major, also has a diploma in Exercise Science and is currently studying a BSc through Unisa.

With her keen interest in ultra distance sporting events, Labuschagne has run the Comrades marathon before, completed 3 Full Ironman triathlons and numerous multi-day, multi-stage cycling events. In 2008, she cycled in the Club 100 ladies racing team. On two occasions, she finished first in the SAAF fittest soldier competition. In 2007 and 2008 she received the award for AFB Makhado Sport Woman of the Year.