This was held at 9am on 18th October in the Kloof Lion’s Clubhouse (Scout Hall). 21 Highway members attended and a number of matters were discussed (See Chairman\s Chirp).

Kathy Holland

The 2009 Committee is:

Dave Bennett (Chair)
Lynn Burn (Vice Chair, Treasurer and Road Captain)
Ann Mellor (Membership and Kit)
Heather Schutte (Ladies Time Trial captain)
Sylvia Nilsen (Newsletter and Website)
Kathy Holland (Secretary and Highway Ladies TT)

The call for nomination of additional committee members or offers of help generated no offers of assistance. If you feel like you would like to get involved it is not too late ... please speak to anyone of us. We would welcome one or two members who could be co-opted to help from time to time.

It was decided at the AGM that subs will remain at R80 for under 60’s – and R60 for over 60’s which are due at the end of December. These can be paid from December onwards. Athletics SA (ASA) decides on the cost of the licence and these will be R70.00 in 2009.

REMEMBER TO RENEW BEFORE END OF FEBRUARY 2009, OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOUR NUMBER.

These had not been changed for many years, and it was agreed at the AGM to increase them as a way of rewarding our faithful athletes.   New incentive amounts, payable for the 2008 season will be:

1st Place overall	R70-00
2nd Place overall	R60-00
3rd Place overall	R50-00
Team prize	R40-00 each
Age Category – 1st	R60-00
– 2nd	R50-00
– 3rd	R40-00

Please note: These incentives can only be paid if a member submits his/her duly completed quarterly race results sheets to the committee before the 15th of January of the next year. We need the sheets so that we know WHO qualifies. It is becoming increasingly difficult to access race results from hosting clubs. Most club office bearers offer their services voluntarily and over and above everything else they do. These incentives are handed out at the annual prize giving in February 2009.

The tog bag on view at the AGM (with wet compartment) will cost R145.00 to members. For those who were not present - it is a black bag with some dark blue inserts with "HIGHWAY A.C." in Turquoise on the side.

Is this price acceptable to our members?

Before we order stock, can we have an indication whether this price would be acceptable.

Starts at 05h50 – notices and stretches first and then the walks/runs leave at 6am sharp

Ladies leave from Blue Security on Mondays and from Monika's home in Padfield Park on Wednesdays.

Mondays & Wednesdays at 17.20 from Everfresh in Blue Heights centre, Westville.

Mavis Hutchison celebrates her 84th Birthday on the 25th of this month! Happy birthday Mavis!

Mavis won 4 Gold Medals at the Africa Masters in Mauritius at the end of October (Mavis was the oldest competitor at the champs). She was also given a Special Award for her 46 years in athletics.

Look out for an article on Mavis in the January issue of the Longevity Magazine.

“Sorry it's taken so long to let you know that I finished in a time of 9 hours 13 minutes but our home computer is not working and a more detailed letter is saved on that computer. I will send that letter on to you as soon as repairs are done. Thanks once again to Highway A.C.and its members for the support in raises funds for the Wildlands Trust.”

Kim Morrick and husband Malcolm are re-locating to New Zealand. They did a sterling job with our last Highway race. Kim and Mary Banfield looked after the tables with Malcolm fetching and carrying in his bakkie. Malcolm was offered a managerial position in Rotorua and he started work on 1^st Sept.

Kim will be leaving in the middle of October.

Congratulations to Sylvia and Finn who welcomed their first grandchild – Emily Ann – on the 16th October. Baby, parents and Grandparents are all doing well.

Errol and Gaynor Cocks were out for a couple of weeks – spending a week with their grand-daughter in a game reserve.

CONGRATULATIONS to Helen who was been selected to represent KZN in the SA Cross Country championships. Helen’s children have organised for her to spend Christmas with them in Perth, Australia. She leaves around the 14th December and will be with them for a month. Have a wonderful trip Helen!

Brian Schwulst had an operation on his foot. Dave and Antoinette visited Brian and Clare report that he is recovering slowly.

"Thanks for all the support from the Highway family.  All your prayers and well wishes mean a lot to us. Brian’s op went relatively well, the epidural is really the way to go, he recovered very fast.  We are hopeful that he won’t have to have another op. But he is in high spirits."

Love Clare

Packages are out for next year's race. If you need information, please contact Lynn Burn and the details will be forwarded. Entries close 4th March.

CHANGES - QUALIFYING (ULTRA ONLY):
• from 1 September 2008 onwards
• Comrades is NOT a qualifier for 2009
• the 2008 Two Oceans Marathon is NOT a qualifier for 2009, as was the case in 2008

Date to be announced.

Venue - probably at the Pinetown Girls High which has proved to be a popular venue. We will need to know numbers for catering purposes and for maybe a little surprise as well. If you not on email please contact one of the committee members for details nearer the time.

PheZulu Conservation Trust Challenge 5km or 10km Run/Walk.

Takes you through there Game Park and estate in the majestic Valley of 1000 Hills.

Starts 8am at PheZulu Safari Park. Cut off time 11am. R20 entrance Fee daily at PheZulu 8:30am to 16:00 or on the day from 7am to 7h45.

Westville Athletic Club at 6.00am. It is best to register on the Saturday, as Sunday turns into chaos. Entry forms are available already, ask for yours. I am quite happy to register for club members who give me their money & forms.

HIGHWAY theme - "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" in corporating Christmas Songs.

Suggestions: Jingle Bells & Silver bells (hat with bells) / We 3 Kings (crown & moustache? ) / While Shepherds watched (shepherd's crook or sheep ears) / Hark the herald angels sing (angel – have we got any?!) Santa Claus is coming to town (Santa-must have goodie bag) / Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (no explanation necessary) / Miseltoe & Wine (wow- easy one)/ When a child is born (dummy & diaper)/ White Christmas (white wig) Or make up your own and use your imagination.

We plan to stick as a group, so don't expect to break any records. Remember to get the marshals to smile – they choose the 'friendliest bus'.

Ah, another thing, remember to bring a plate of goodies to share afterwards.

29th November 2008 at Roses Coffee Shop.

Let Sylvia know if you are coming. We encourage all new members to attend and get to know some of their fellow members. It is a great time to break the ice and we would love to see you there.

Good news first - Pam von Aulock came in 3rd WALKER in 10km and was chuffed with her blue note. On her 34th wedding anniversary too.

Quite a few Highway members did the 21km - runners and walkers - some happy and some not so happy with their performances. The route had changed this year, starting at the Lifestyle shopping centre instead of the Umhlali primary school. This time, no down to the sea and back again but along dusty roads and the usual cane fields. No tea or coffee at the finish - cost R5 - who carries money on them in a race? Wimpy make great variety of coffees!

Annie Izzard: the 10kms of stone (not gravel, not dirt track but stone) road slowed us all down. That road ran right through the middle of the cane fields so there was no air and by 11.00 am it was very hot and not a cloud in the sky.

Pauline: A beautiful sunrise in Balito, it was worth getting up at 3:30 just to see that, The race, well then, a race not for the faint hearted that?s for sure. It was tough particularly the off road sections that seemed to stretch for ever. The tables were well manned and stocked with cold water and at times with bananas, biscuits, energy bars, coke. It was a pity that the organizers didn?t pay a bit more attention to the finish. We given our tee-shirt and a bottle of water and that was that.

Antoinette: it was hot! started well, felt good, just didn't do enough training as I said before the race. At 32km and went back to Umhlali school and continued another half a km or so when we turned off onto a district road - 5 or 6km of horrid dirt road with horrid stones to pummel our poor aching feet. By then also it was very hot and only one water table along this stretch. The last 18km was very unpleasant - Shakas Rock was very busy with lots traffic, didn't feel too safe walking through there and then that nasty dirt road! They said no seconding but the tables didn't have much - mostly only coke and water, and some had bananas cut up and lying in the sun. One table had power bars cut in half - they were nice. In the past they had oranges, potatoes, Chelsea buns and bar ones along the road.

Barbara (our novice): It got really hot especially when we were on the dirt roads in amongst the sugar cane. There was no wind. Horrible course. The dirt roads were very stony so you lost your rhythm dogging rocks and stones. Don't know if I will do the Dolphin again - really horrible route.

Cecily: (doing 21km) No route markers after the 10km turning point, no tea at the finish.

We discovered at the start that we actually had 6 entrants in the 50km race. Flo Currin (ran) and Georgette. Jenny from Bluff told her if she can walk 42 she can walk 50 - so she did. Unfortunately about 3km from the finish she had a nasty fall and injured some ribs. She refused to allow Jenny to take her to the doctor although she did go to the medical tent and lay down for a while. She really is amazing!

By Ted Brien

I did the 21 as a warm-up for South Coast Marathon. Woke very early that morning and thought I wouldn't handle standing around waiting for the start in freezing pouring rain so got back under the duvet. Woke again a little later to hear it had dropped to a drizzle so set out for Kings Park. Light drizzle continued as I joined the crowd at the start. THEN the deluge came down in full force but this developed into a wild surrealistic and beautiful experience (can't think what it must have looked like to a passer-by) : About a thousand people huddled together mostly wearing only vest and shorts, standing in rain that was sheeting down with an air temperature of about 8, jumping up and down to keep warm (and actually generating a splendid general warmth), and then STIRRINGLY and MAGNIFICENTLY singing Shosholoza together. It was really an amazing experience. I may have seen a couple of distant flashes of Highway kit peeping out from under plastic body bags but not too sure. Best of all was that before we'd been going for half an hour the sun started to break through. And there was full sun by the time I finished at 2'13 later.

Dave Bennett: Apparently the Marathon was a mess up again. Well the 10k anyway. They are getting better, last year it was 17km, they managed to get it to 12kms this year!

By Gloria Naidoo

The race started very well with gentle hills. Around 10km the torture started! We had little polly shorts, not very nice. The water tables were good. I would recommend this race to people that are feeling strong and fit to do this race. I personally finished the first 10km in 1h05 which was great until the hills started. I finished at 2h35 which was bad. Will try to better my time next year.

From Heather our TT captain

The walkers have done it again !! We won the trophy for the 11th successive year beating our opponents fair and square! Congratulations to our running team as well - with only a few ladies running, you did very well against some stiff competition.

WELL DONE AND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE LADIES - For your commitment and dedication in attending the TT fixtures. It is this support and wonderful effort from one and all, which makes the difference and you have made HIGHWAY very proud. I hope to see you all back to repeat this great performance again next year!

Thanks too, for the lovely eats which we all enjoyed last night. I look forward to another winning year in 2009.