Close to 100 Roodepoorters finish Comrades
Florida Running Club the most successful of the four clubs.
It was by no means easy but a total of 96 Roodepoorters successfully managed to complete the 2014 Comrades Marathon on 1 June.
According to the official Comrades website a total of 18 000 runners lined up for the event. Some ran for charity, others just to get the world’s toughest and biggest marathon under their belt, while some competed for glory.
As far as Roodepoort is concerned more than 150 of its runners have entered, but only 96 managed to cross the finish line.
Florida Running Club, the drinking club with a running problem mentioned that 66 of their runners participated but only 39 of them finished.
The top five finishers of the club – all of them received Bill Rowan medals – are Gerhard Fouche (8:34 flat) followed by Jonathan Niemann 08:04:14, Adrian Geekie 08:33:56, Dana-Bianca van Zyl 08:38:10 and Debbie Slater 08:38:53. The medals they have earned are named after the first winner of the Comrades Marathon in 1921 and are awarded to those finishing between seven hours 30 minutes (7:30) and sub nine hours.
The club chairperson Tessa Shellard finished in 10:27:29. Derryn Short who finished her first-ever comrades in 11:41:57 deserves a special mention.
The Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) had 12 canoeists/ runners participating and had seven finishes. Top runner for the club is Michael Benci, who completed his second Comrades in 8:56 and also was awarded a Bill Rowan medal. Benci beat club favourite Glenn Staples who was the top finisher in the past.
Twins Garry and Bradley Fleming helped each other across the line in a time of over 10 hours and 40 minutes. It was Garry’s first-ever Comrades while brother Bradley did his third.
Roodepoort Athletic Club indicated that of their 60 entrants, 48 actually participated with 38 finishing.
Samuel Cornelius was the club’s top finisher with a superb time of 7:30:39 – unfortunately missing his silver medal by just 39 seconds. Second to finish was Zacharia Mothlabani in another good time of 07:39:54.
Other athletes finishing in time to be awarded Bill Rowan medals are Mbuyiseni Ndlovu 08:11:06, Bushu Mothlagodi 08:53:45 and Enver Samuel.
Other exciting news for the club is that member Janice Hattingh got engaged to Fanie van der Walt – a member of Randburg Athletic Club.
The club is very proud of its five novices who all managed to complete the race. They are Haley Ryan, Cecile van Niekerk, Shauneeze Joseph, Aldi Writes and Francois Sieberhagen.
Another Roodepoort club to have participated was Golden Reef Road Runners. A total of 18 of their members participated with almost 67 per cent (12) of them crossing the finish line.
Top runners are Bennet Maleyana with a time of 08:55:11 followed by Vanessa Wayland with 09:21:16 – she received her green number. The club’s only novice was Rikus Kranhold who finished in 10:21:15.
