KALMER WINS HER DREAM PRIZE

Johannesburg, South Africa - Road-running queen Rene Kalmer (Nedbank Running Club) has won the SPAR Grand Prix for the third time, winning herself her dream prize.
Kalmer’s victories in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Pretoria gave her 110 points and put her in a position where she could not be overtaken on the Grand Prix ladder. Her Grand Prix prize is a new Nissan Micra.

She had hoped to become the first person to make a clean sweep of all five SPAR Women’s Challenge races, but had to withdraw from the Johannesburg race because of an Achilles tendon injury, which put her out of action for at least two weeks. “I was bitterly disappointed that I couldn’t run, but at least I had made sure of my position on the Grand Prix ladder,” said Kalmer. “It has always been my dream to win a car. When I heard that this year’s prize was a car, I made up my mind that I was going to be the one to take that car home."

Her Grand Prix win is the culmination of a year in which Kalmer has dominated women’s road running in South Africa. “I’ve had an awesome 2012,” she said. “Now I’m looking forward to another good year in 2013.  I’m especially looking forward to the world championships in Moscow in August – I’ve never been there, and so that will be a great adventure.”

2010 and 2011 Grand Prix winner, Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank Running Club), won the Joburg Challenge race in 34.34 minutes to clinch second place on the Grand Prix ladder, with 74 points. She receives prize money of R30 000. “I was in fourth position on the ladder, so I’m very excited that I was able to move up into second place,” said Van Zyl after the Joburg race.

Kalmer’s younger sister, Christine (Nedbank Running Club), finished third, with 71 points, Zintle Xiniwe fourth with 68, and Nolene Conrad (Nedbank Running Club) fifth with 60.

Annie Bothma won the junior category with 13 points, Janene Carey pipped Boxer teammate Ronel Thomas at the post with 28 points to 24 in the veterans’ category, and Grace de Oliviera won the masters’ category with 20 points.  The evergreen Sonja Laxton, who has run 76 SPAR Women’s Challenges, won the grandmasters’ prize with 30 points.

With its runners taking the first three places, Nedbank Running Club CGA easily won the club competition, with a total of 292 points. Bidvest CGA were second with 108 and Boxer finished third with 107 points.

Rene Kalmer, winner of the SPAR Grand Prix, at the awards ceremony that took place on Wednesday at Buitengeluk, Broadacres.

Rene Kalmer with her new Nissan Micra; first prize of the SPAR Grand Prix.

Pictures by: Reg Caldecott

More than R20000 in prize money were won during the final event of the 2012 Boland Athletics Road Running League Season that took place during the Dwarsrivier Road Race in Pniel on Saturday 4 November 2012.

Magrietha Smit from Ceres AC won the 10km category of Boland Athletics Road Running League for the 3rd time in a row.

The 2012 Boland Road Running League Category winners for 2012 are:

10 Km Individual Competition

Women                                  
Name Club                             
1 Magrietha Smit Ceres         
2 Liezl du Plooy Ceres           
3 Mari Vermeulen Nedbank      

Men
Name Club
1 Gareth Maarman Swartland
2 William Kaptein Robertson
3 Justin Fritz Ceres

10 Km Team Competition (Men and Women combined)

1 Swartland
2 Ceres
3 Nedbank

21.1 Km Individual Competition

Women Individual                        
Name Club                                 
1 Resia  Swart Stellenbosch     
2 Cailey Bredenkamp Paarl       
3 Styntjie  Prins Paarl                

Men Individual
Name Club
1 Christopher Baadjies Ceres
2 Hilroy  Slingers Nedbank
3 Quinton Lambert Ceres

Team Competition (Men and Women combined)

1 Ceres
2 Paarl
3 Swartland

Team Participation Category (Men and Women combined)

1 Ceres
2 Nedbank
3 Swartland

 Comrades Marathon Recognised at AIMS 30th Anniversary Awards Gala

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has received an international award after being selected for Ultra-Special Recognition at the 2012 AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) Annual Awards and 30th Anniversary Gala on Friday, 9 November 2013 in Athens, Greece.
At the Awards Gala, AIMS chose to highlight the contributions of the world’s oldest marathons from five world regions to the sport of road running.  The Comrades Marathon of course received the award for being the oldest marathon and ultra-marathon on the African continent. CMA Board Member Peter Proctor will travel to Athens to accept the award on behalf of the CMA.

The Comrades Marathon enjoys it’s prestige as the world’s oldest ultra-marathon and of all the marathons run globally, it comes third only to the Boston and Yonkers Marathons – of the USA - in terms of age. Therefore, the Comrades Marathon rightfully claims its place at the main table of the world’s greatest marathons and ultra-distance races.

In addition to the noteworthy recognition at the AIMS Awards Gala, the CMA has revelled in quite a few Firsts for Africa for hosting international running events on our shores in recent years. It was chosen to host the highly successful 2012 AIMS Children’s Series Race in the beautiful City of Durban on 2 June this year and will host the event on behalf of AIMS for a further two years.

The CMA was also recently awarded the hosting rights for the inaugural AIMS Regional Conference which will be held in The City of Choice - Pietermartizburg - in February 2013 as well as the prominent AIMS World Congress which will take place in Durban in May 2014. This congress, the first of its kind to be held on the African continent will see delegates from over 300 AIMS affiliated running events from all over the globe descend on Durban. 

Accepting the award on behalf of the CMA, former CMA Chairman and present Board Member, Peter Proctor dedicated the award to Vic Clapham, the founder of the Comrades Marathon.  Addressing an audience which included Race Directors from 52 AIMS affiliated races worldwide and local political and sports leaders, Proctor highlighted the fact that the Comrades Marathon was started as a remembrance to the soldiers who perished during WWI.

CMA General Manager Gary Boshoff, who is also an Executive Board Member of AIMS, described the Award as "due recognition of the Comrades Marathon, not only as the Oldest Marathon on the African continent but also as the oldest and biggest ultra-marathon in the world; and the third oldest marathon in the world after The Boston and Yonkers Marathons in the USA".

"It was indeed  a proud moment for the CMA to represent the legacy of Vic Clapham and South Africa at this prestigious AIMS International Awards Gala, in Athens, Greece, the birth place of the Marathon 2 502 years ago.  The global family of road running recognised the Comrades Marathon as a pioneer of the running movement and we were privileged to accept the award on behalf of all South Africans", added Boshoff.

CMA Chairman, Dave Dixon articulates the resounding sentiment of the Comrades Marathon team, “Receiving this prestigious acknowledgement from AIMS is a significant achievement in the history of the Comrades Marathon and is further evidence of the exciting times that lie ahead for the CMA and ‘The Ultimate Human Race.’ We are grateful for this accolade and thank everyone who has had a hand in making Comrades the success story that it is today”.

Together with the Comrades Marathon and the continent of Africa, the leading marathons from Europe (Kosice Marathon, Slovakia), Asia (Fukuoka Marathon, Japan) and Oceania (Rotorua Marathon, New Zealand) will also be recognised for their involvement in promoting the sport of running in their respective regions.

In addition, AIMS will also honour those athletes who have achieved the fastest finishes in 2012 for a marathon, a half marathon and a 10km race respectively as well as life-time awards to leading administrators and achievers in the sport of road running.

 Nedbank Running Club athletes enjoyed the Soweto Marathon.

Sunday, 4 November 2012 - Kenya’s Shadrack Kemboi won the men’s title at 20th edition of the Soweto Marathon in 2:16:28. The 26 year-old, along with compatriot Timothy Kibet (Nedbank Running Club), lead most of the race, but Kemboi broke away at the 33km mark.
Kenya’s Kemboi wins 20th Soweto Marathon

Sunday, 4 November 2012 - Kenya’s Shadrack Kemboi won the men’s title at 20th edition of the Soweto Marathon in 2:16:28.  The 26 year-old, along with compatriot Timothy Kibet (Nedbank Running Club), lead most of the race, but Kemboi broke away at the 33km mark.

“South Africa must remember my face.  I will be back again next year,” said Kemboi after the race.  The Kenyan only ran his second marathon of his career after finishing second at the Zurich Marathon on 22 April.  Kemboi plans to invest the R100 000 prize money he won.

South Africa’s Motlokoa Nkhabutlane finished second in 2:17:11 while the third place went to Mabuthile Lebopo from Lesotho.  Another local, Tshidiso Bosiu, finished fourth in 2:18:48 while Kenya’s Timothy Kibet (Nedbank Running Club) finished fifth overall in 2:18:59.

Meanwhile, Lesotho’s Mamorallo Tjoka won her seventh Soweto Marathon title, crossing the line in 2:45:20, more than a minute ahead of her closest competitor. Tjoka won the marathon from 2005-2008 and again in 2010 and 2011.  Isabella Jepchumba (KEN) finished second while Naomy Chebongi was the third athlete to finish, her time 2:47:00.

Elroy Gelant won the men’s 10km race in 29:42 while Kgosi Tsosane and Xolisa Tyali (Nedbank Running Club) finished shortly thereafter, crossing the line in 29:50 and 29:55 respectively.  In the women’s category, Lebo Phalula won the race in 34:36 while the SA 10km Champion, Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank Running Club), crossed the line in 35:04.  Nolene Conrad (Nedbank Running Club) finished third overall in 35:44.

Full results are available on www.finishtime.co.za or www.athleticssa.co.za

The Nedbank running club athletes was treated with food and a well deserved drink after the marathon as the race organizers did not cater for enough drinks for the thirsty athletes as the day heats up.

Nedbank Running Club Athletes enjoining themselves at the Gazebo after the race

Nedbank Running Club KZN members at the Soweto

Xolisa Tyali

More Results
(Nedbank Running Club Athletes in Green)

42km
Men - Open
1 Shadrack Kipchirchir KEMBOI 02:16:28
2 Motlokoa NKHABUTLANE 02:17:11
3 Mabhutile LEBOPO 02:17:14
4 Tshidiso BOSIU 02:18:48
5 Timothy KIBET 02:18:59
6 Matela MAKHETHA 02:19:19
7 Evans TAIGET 02:19:26
8 Mazibuko PAPI 02:19:45
9 Solomon SOY 02:20:38
10 Moeketsi MOSUHLI 02:21:47

Woman - Open
1 Mamorallo TJOKA 02:45:20
2 Isabella JEPCHUMBA 02:46:35
3 Naomy CHEBONGI 02:47:00
4 Tabitha TSATSA 02:47:30
5 Abeba TOL EDA 02:48:33
 6 Pamela KIPCHOGE 02:48:45
 7 Njeya PAULINA 02:49:04
8 Tshiamo MOTAUNG 02:54:29
9 Peris CHUMBA 03:01:22
10 Mpho MBUZU 03:01:28

Men 40-49
1 Johannes KEKANA 02:27:06
2 Sipho NCUBE 02:27:17
3 Gert THYS 02:30:14

Woman 40-49
1 Tabitha TSATSA 02:47:30
2 Jane MUDAU 03:13:53
3 Mandla BUTHELEZI 03:22:12

Men 50-59
1 Sifiso ZIMU 02:45:19
2 Shaun MEIKLEJOHN 02:51:26
3 Thomas NGOBENI 02:52:43

Men 60-69
1 Stephen SEEMA 03:21:14
2 Bhamule MQADI 03:24:17
3 Daniel HLONGWANE 03:34:43

Men - 70+
1 Patric MAFILIKA 04:01:15
2 Gilas MAEPANE 04:28:51
3 Lerumo LENTSWE 04:39:55

10km
Men - Open
1 Elroy GELANT 29:42
2 Kgosi TSOSANE 29:50
3 Xolisa TYALI 29:55

Woman - Open
1 Lebo PHALULA 34:36
2 Irvette VAN ZYL 35:04
3 Nolene CONRAD 35:44

Woman 50-59
2 Sandra STEENKAMP 44:47
3 Frances VAN BLERK 45:39
4 Linda VAN DER GRYP 50:08

Rudamans Kaapsehoop 10/21/42km 3 November 2012.

42km
Men - Open
3 Ntuthuko Maseko 2:27:32
Women - Open
1 Jennifer Koech 2:46:30

21km
Men - Veterans
2 Peter Lekuba 78:52

10km
Men - Open
1 Flavio Sehohle 31:04
Juniors
3 Renier Lombaard 34:38
Women - Open
1 Nonthoza Dlamini 38:53

COASTLINE 10KM 3 November 2012

Men - Open
1 Lloyd Bosman 29:48

The landmarks 21km 4 November 2012

Men – Open
1 Nkosinathi Madyo 1:07:02
60-69
2 Ivan Makais 1:38:32
Woman – Open
2 Bulelwa Simae 1:26:03
3 Candyce Hall 1:30:48

Spar Bela Bela 10/21/42km 10 November 2012

42km
Men - Open
2 Elias Mabane 2:37:27
40-49
1 Elias Mabane 2:37:27

21km
Men - Open
1 Charels Soza 74:00

10km
Women 50-59
1 Francis v Blerk 48:02

Tuff "10" 10 November 2012

Men - Open
1 Rodney Prins 32.04
2 Melikhaya Frans 32.19
40 - 44
3 Luvuyo Stephen 37.21
70 +
1 Tamsanqa Jusayi 46.33
Women - Open
2 Deliwe Nyanga 43.11

Melikhaya Frans en Rodney Prins

Kenneth Kaunda and Kenneth Mac Athar 42km 

42km
Men - Open
1 Sipho Nqube
2 Shebhas Chirchiri .

21km
Men - Open
2 David Manja 66:28.
3 Stoel Sebuaseng 69:18.
Women 40-49
2 Susna Nel

10km
Men - Open
4 Donald Meleane (1 Junior)
6 Collins Mabu (2 Junior)
Women - Open
1 Luleka Dyonky (1 Junior)
2 Masego Moholo (2 Junior)

Vrybug for powered 4 X4 Relay 

Nedbank Running Club CNW men teams finished in 1st, 2nd & 3rd place, with the women team also taking 1st place. 

HFPA Seaside Village 21km 12 November

Men – Open
2 Sithilo Diko 1:09:53
Women – Open
2 Bulelwa Simae 1:22:39