TV/Radio personality Jeannie D and rugby legend John Smit in action
Television and radio personality Jeannie D and former Springbok rugby captain John Smit will form a ‘double header’ in the Imperial Auto Celebrity Challenge at round five of the Donaldson Cross Country Championship, the Force Fuel 450 at Sun City, on August 8 and 9.#
Jeannie D, the popular Top Billing presenter, and Smit, now chief executive officer of the Sharks rugby franchise, will be part of the Regent Racing Nissan Navara team at the popular event. Jeannie D will sit alongside Terence Marsh, the Regent Racing team principal, and Smit will accompany regular driver Mike Whitehouse in the Celebrity shootout.
“Cricket legend Fanie de Villiers was our first celebrity at the Sun City 400 in 2011, and it is fitting that our first ‘double header’ is back at the same venue,” said Marsh. “The Imperial Auto Celebrity Challenge has exceeded all our expectations, and the sports stars and entertainers who have competed have all spread the cross country racing message to a wider audience.
“We now have sports stars and entertainers clamouring to be a part of the series, and I am sure Stefan Terblanche had a word in John’s ear.”
Terblanche, another rugby legend and chief executive of SA Rugby Legends, recently competed in the series for the third time on the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race. In a superb performance Marsh and Terblanche picked up a top 10 finish.
Other celebrities who have competed in the series include cricketer Jonty Rhodes, Paralympics swimming legend Natalie du Toit, former Bafana Bafana soccer captain Neil Tovey, singer Heinz Winckler, surfer and international model Roxy Louw and comedian Barry Hilton. Personalities on the short list for the remaining events this season include actress Hlubi Mboya, musician Craig Hinds and comedian Kevin Perkins aka Michael Naicker.
Top Billing presenter Jeannie D knew from an early age that she was headed for stardom, and auditioned at the National School of Arts (drama) at the age of 12. And after enrolling at Rand Afrikaans University at the age of 18, she graduated with a BA in Communications and also won the Miss RAU competition in 2002.
After moving to Cape Town it was not long before Jeannie D had her own show on Good Hope FM. Her presenter’s role at Top Billing has made her one of the most recognisable faces in the world of South African entertainment.
Smit won 111 caps for South Africa, 64 of them as captain, and led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007. The 50th Springbok captain, Smit also led SA to Tri-Nations triumphs in 2004 and 2009.
Smit’s 111 Springbok caps was a record until recently broken by line-out specialist Victor Matfield. Smit played all his senior rugby for the Sharks and, after retiring in 2011, was inducted into the International Rugby Board (IRB) Hall of Fame.
Race headquarters, the start/finish and the designated service point for the Force Fuel 450 will all be located at the Sun City complex, with free public access to these areas and spectator points along the route.
The qualifying race to determine start positions will start at 11:30 on Friday, August 8 and the main race at 08:30 on Saturday, August 9.