Border royalty to grace Ocean View

The Inaugural Ocean View 10 being run on Sunday in Gonubie has attracted a special guest entry in the form of Liesbet Ntozini, who can aptly be described as a member of Border road running’s royalty.

Ntozini was the first black woman to win races in the region. She certainly made a habit of finishing on the podium of events from 10km to the marathon. She became the Border champion at 10, 15, 21.1 and 42.2km in the mid 1980s in the colours of Real Gijimas.

She is now the joint leader, with Charles Vilikazi, of Bayoyo Athletic Club in Reedville, which is between KwaThema and Springs in Gauteng.

Ntozini, now 57 years old, contacted one of the organisers who she knows well from her heyday and made known her wish to attend. She further contacted the doyen of male athletes, Makaya Masumpa, to arrange her entry.

Ntozini’s presence will stimulate discussion on women’s running in every community.

Easy Equities Born2Run had also invited a woman who dominated the running scene in Ntozini’s wake.

Lizanne Farrell (better known to all as Holmes) was confirmed as an entrant, but sadly has succumbed to injury and will not travel up from the Garden Route where she now lives.

She has, however, sent a message for the athletes, that will be shared on the morning of the race.

While the organisers are furiously marketing the race to current day athletes and social runners, they have also issued a statement inviting all athletes from the heyday of athletic performance in the province to join in the festivities of a new race being billed as “Fast, Accurate and Recognised”.

Diane Sandford, nee Massyn, has also been invited, as has Buzelwa Mnyanda, who held the Buffs Marathon race record for seven years.

Also invited are two of the three first black men in South Africa to have represented their province – Edwin Lwana and Sindile Tshaka.

Entries are still open on www.born2runac.co.za and will be taken manually on Thursday between 5pm to 6pm at SA Home Loans, Vincent, on Friday and Saturday at race registration, Buco Astro Turf in Bunkers Hill between 5pm to 6.30pm, and 2pm and 4:30pm respectively.

On Sunday morning registration is from 5.15am to 6.15am, at Thistlewoods in Gonubie.