May 2009
Usually in the May Newsletter we talk about how well we have done at Two Oceans, and we wish all Comrades entrants well. With Comrades being brought forward this year I can report on an excellent Comrades 2009 for Highway. Firstly, we had no less than 14 qualify to start the race, for which we can all be very proud.
Starting off with the breakfast(s) at Roses: this year we had two to accommodate the group that is unable to attend on Saturdays for religious reasons. Although the turn out was very small, it was nice for the Comrades entrants to share tips and information of help to one another. On Saturday, Andrew Canning, Linda Feher, Flo and Melanie, and Cliff attended. It seemed that Linda, doing her first, and Andrew, doing his second, learned a lot from the more seasoned campaigners. Then on Sunday, Learn, Omega, Mpumzi and Benjamin attended. I can happily say that being Chairman, and watching the race at Westville and on the TV, I was very proud whenever I saw Highway Club colours. On the day, 8 of the 14 finished the race. To the 6 that did not make it, I can only say that I dream of making it to the start and thus you have achieved something others only dream of. Hopefully Andrew, Melanie, Reginald, Benjamin, Thulani and Bongo will be at the start again in 2010, and will have a better day. Mpumzi Kunene finished in position 1228 in a time of 8.18.19, and earned a Bill Rowan medal. Well done. Hopefully next year the silver will not escape you. Bheki Gumbi in position 5373, with a time of 10.28.42, earned a bronze. Sibusiso (Omega) had a bad run but still finished in position 5880, with a time of 10.33.58, also for a bronze. Cliff Hagerman in position 6961, with a time of 10.55.23, also earned a bronze. Learn Bhendane (at last!) finished in position 8614 and was our first Vic Clapham medal winner in a time of 11.38.21. It must have been the ice rub at Westville that did the trick. Learn, all those hours you have put in have finally made it worth it. Flo Currin was our first lady, and finished in position 8617 with a time of 11.38.23, also earning a Vic Clapham (Learn and Flo finished together). Linda Feher, in a time of 11.51.11, was in position 9530. Her son in law was supposed to run with her, but he got ill on the evening of Comrades. Well done on your first - you will have to run again next year to show him how it's done. Saxon Colling was our last finisher in a time of 11.53.01 in position 9658. Well done to you all. You carried the flag for Highway and made us all proud. Remember, entries for Comrades 2010 close at the end of this year, so make sure you enter early. In 2010 it will be on 31 May.
On other matters, we continue to do well at the Ladies Time Trial and are still ahead in the walking and also doing well in the running league. The main thing is that the ladies enjoy it and have a fun evening (as do the guys that sneak in!) Please diarise the events, and try to help Highway to continue doing so well.
We are all proud of Len Diedericks who did very well at the recent SA Champs in Pretoria. He brought back a Silver and a Bronze medal. In the 5km walk he was third in the +60 category - time 32.29.47. In the 20km he managed the Silver in a time of 2.15.47. In other races, Highway has also done well, and worth special mention was the recent Verulam race where the lady walkers for Highway took the first 7 places.
Lastly I would like to encourage members to attend Saturday morning club walks/runs, send in any news to Sylvia for the newsletter, and send in your results sheets to make prize giving more interesting.
Starting off with the breakfast(s) at Roses: this year we had two to accommodate the group that is unable to attend on Saturdays for religious reasons. Although the turn out was very small, it was nice for the Comrades entrants to share tips and information of help to one another. On Saturday, Andrew Canning, Linda Feher, Flo and Melanie, and Cliff attended. It seemed that Linda, doing her first, and Andrew, doing his second, learned a lot from the more seasoned campaigners. Then on Sunday, Learn, Omega, Mpumzi and Benjamin attended. I can happily say that being Chairman, and watching the race at Westville and on the TV, I was very proud whenever I saw Highway Club colours. On the day, 8 of the 14 finished the race. To the 6 that did not make it, I can only say that I dream of making it to the start and thus you have achieved something others only dream of. Hopefully Andrew, Melanie, Reginald, Benjamin, Thulani and Bongo will be at the start again in 2010, and will have a better day. Mpumzi Kunene finished in position 1228 in a time of 8.18.19, and earned a Bill Rowan medal. Well done. Hopefully next year the silver will not escape you. Bheki Gumbi in position 5373, with a time of 10.28.42, earned a bronze. Sibusiso (Omega) had a bad run but still finished in position 5880, with a time of 10.33.58, also for a bronze. Cliff Hagerman in position 6961, with a time of 10.55.23, also earned a bronze. Learn Bhendane (at last!) finished in position 8614 and was our first Vic Clapham medal winner in a time of 11.38.21. It must have been the ice rub at Westville that did the trick. Learn, all those hours you have put in have finally made it worth it. Flo Currin was our first lady, and finished in position 8617 with a time of 11.38.23, also earning a Vic Clapham (Learn and Flo finished together). Linda Feher, in a time of 11.51.11, was in position 9530. Her son in law was supposed to run with her, but he got ill on the evening of Comrades. Well done on your first - you will have to run again next year to show him how it's done. Saxon Colling was our last finisher in a time of 11.53.01 in position 9658. Well done to you all. You carried the flag for Highway and made us all proud. Remember, entries for Comrades 2010 close at the end of this year, so make sure you enter early. In 2010 it will be on 31 May.
On other matters, we continue to do well at the Ladies Time Trial and are still ahead in the walking and also doing well in the running league. The main thing is that the ladies enjoy it and have a fun evening (as do the guys that sneak in!) Please diarise the events, and try to help Highway to continue doing so well.
We are all proud of Len Diedericks who did very well at the recent SA Champs in Pretoria. He brought back a Silver and a Bronze medal. In the 5km walk he was third in the +60 category - time 32.29.47. In the 20km he managed the Silver in a time of 2.15.47. In other races, Highway has also done well, and worth special mention was the recent Verulam race where the lady walkers for Highway took the first 7 places.
Lastly I would like to encourage members to attend Saturday morning club walks/runs, send in any news to Sylvia for the newsletter, and send in your results sheets to make prize giving more interesting.
