The Highway Atletics Club

Highway actually started as an afterthought in 1995 when the racing membership of Run Walk for Life dwindled in Pinetown. Franki Whiteford decided to investigate the possibility of establishing a Walking Club for the die-hards who wanted to continue race walking. She contacted the then Natal Athletics Association who told her that she would need to have a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary as well as 25 paid up members.

At first she thought of calling the club ‘HIGHWAY STREET WALKERS” but decided that it didn’t sound too kosher so she changed it to Highway Athletics. On the application form she wrote her name down as Chairman, Jenny Else as Treasurer and Sue Cavannagh as Secretary. Then she started recruiting members. For the next year Highway was Franki’s hobby and she ran the club almost single-handedly.

At a meeting held at her home in 1996 they chose to retain the white and turquoise of Run Walk for Life as their Club colours. At the AGM in May 1997 it was decided that grey Club t-shirts be made with the logo of the Grand Prix which was held earlier that year.

Franki left Durban for the Cape later that year and an interim committee of volunteers ran the club until the AGM on 28 February 1998 when a new, properly constituted, committee was elected:

Our Club Kit has changed over the years from a simple white top and turquoise shorts to two-tone turquoise and navy shorts with a white top.

In 1998 the committee designed our new distinctive turquoise and navy vests with Highway printed on them and, finally in 2003 we opted for plain navy shorts instead of turquoise or two tones.

Tyre Force 2006 Highway was originally a home for walkers and for many years our members dominated the top positions in races both track and road races.

Track athletes who won medals either nationally or internationally include Mavis Hutchison, Franki Whiteford, Pam von Aulock, Joe Rogers, Mike Whitmore, Norman Elliott, Len Diedericks.

In 1999 Highway hosted a benefit Fun/Run walk on the beachfront for Mavis Hutchison. It provided some experience for when we held our first road race, the TyreForce 10 in 2003. We held successful each year until 2006 but will not be hosting the race in 2007.

Sponsors: Thank you to our loyal supporters and sponsors.