Road warriors follow in footsteps of Buffs greats

THE history that oozes out of documented pages dedicated to the Hemingways Buffalo Marathon should inspire runners preparing for the 44th running of the race at the weekend, writes Bob Norris.

From the outset of the Buffs Marathon on March 2 1974 the legendary race attracted the highest calibre of athletes.

Gordon Shaw, whose name appears as a common thread through many aspects of the history of Border roadrunning and athletics in general, won the first Buffs in 2:26:08.

He would go on to win the next two and again in 1978 at the fifth running of the race in a new record time of 2:20:50. It was the year that 100 entries were attracted for the first time.

By 1979 the race was attracting the attention of runners from across South Africa. Shaw had left to work internationally, but his absence was overshadowed by the presence of Willy Farrell of Diggers, who won in a very impressive 2:14:51, smashing the record by almost five minutes.

In the same year Germiston Callies, spearheaded by a young Alan Robb, won the team competition.

That race, as opposed to course, record would remain intact until 1985, when local man Willie Mankayi ran a 2:14:15. The course that year ran down from Berlin as roadworks were being undertaken on the traditional route.

Mankayi was awarded SARRA colours following the race and he went on to run a 2:16 at the SA championships.

In between Comrades winner Alan Robb won, followed by his Callies teammates Joe Claase in 1981 and Barry Beadon a year later.

Shaw returned from his travels at the end of 1982 and he was back to his winning ways with a 2:16:44 and a victory over Bruce Fordyce.

Germiston Callies had won the team competition three times in four years, with only East London Athletic Club having spoilt the streak with a win in 1980 through the efforts of Ernest Alvin, Temba Boso, Rob Joiner and Elliot Valtyn.

The new Shaw victory year ushered in a new winning team too when RAC took the trophy. Callies would bounce back again the following year.

In 1987 the SA Marathon champion, Kevin Flanegan of Bloemfontein Achilles, won Buffs and, a year later, his clubmate Kantoor Nkaone followed suit.

Three years of local winners followed through the efforts of Mlamli Nkonkobe, Mzwandile Shube and Tembinkosi Bishop, although Macleantown the latter was on the mines at the time.

Three more Comrades Marathon winners would win the race in the following years. Sam Tshabalala, the first black man to win Comrades being one, and Cheryl Jorgenson (Winn) and Frith van der Merwe being the others.

Last year Buffs was not Buffs as it is known as it was swallowed up by a SA championship flirtation which could not last. As a result runners have not known what to expect this year and the Peninsula Marathon that was run last Sunday as well as the Maritzburg Marathon being run on the same weekend as Buffs are winners in attracting top marathoners.

Even local marathoner Luthando Hejana of Real Gijimas ran in Cape Town, where he finished second, running into the full force of the howling “Cape Doctor”. His time of 2:28:39 was 1:03 off the pace of eventual winner Lutendo Mapoto, who runs for Pietersberg AC and is coached by Washie record holder Johan van der Merwe.

The good news for locals and any up-and-coming visitors is that they could well make a name for themselves on a Buffs course that in the right conditions will realise personal bests.

For Saturday current predictions suggest 22ºC with a light north-westerly breeze and sunshine.