Schools can score in last Spar Women’s race

Schools are the nurseries for the development of sportsmen and women in various disciplines, and running is no exception.

Two of South Africa’s most prominent runners, Olympians René Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl are among the many who started their running careers at school. “I started running when I was at primary school, and I’ve been running ever since,” says René.

She and Irvette also started taking part in the Spar Women’s 10km Challenge races in their early teens, and both were still at school when they won their first Challenge races.

The Johannesburg Spar Challenge race at the Wanderers Club on Sunday 13 October offers schools the opportunity to test their young runners and stand a chance of winning computer equipment worth thousands of rands. The top three schools each will receive a Mecer laptop with Win7 Starter software and school image.

The school with the most entrants will win also a Brother Flatbed Print, Scan, Fax and Copy printer, and the school with the second highest number of entrants will win a Brother Mono Laser Scan, Copy, Print and Fax printer.

Girls participating in the 10km Challenge must be 15 or older, but there is also a 5km fun run, which means the schools competition is open to primary schools as well. Although some girls may want to emulate runners like René and Irvette and try for the top spot, walkers are welcome in both events and many girls may prefer to walk the routes, chatting to their friends and catching up on the latest news.

Many schools use the Challenge to promote school unity and some organise competitions within the schools – house against house or grade against grade.

There is also a role for boys at the school, who can support their female counterparts along the route, or go to the Wanderers Club to cheer them across the line, and share the fun of a superb day’s entertainment.

Entries for the schools competition should be submitted together by Saturday 28 September. Only entries of 20 or more pupils are eligible for the prizes, and at least 20 girls must complete one or the other race.

As an added incentive, the first 15 000 pre-entries will receive a free T-shirt, and the first 15 000 to finish will be given a medal and a goodie bag.