A BEAUTIFUL MILESTONE
Loynes Jenkerson, at the helm of the SPAR Women’s Challenge since 1993 FROM first helping to organise the race nearly a quarter of a century ago to now, Loynes Jenkerson has seen the SPAR Women’s Challenge grow from small beginnings to a must-do item on the Port Elizabeth calendar.
“We had 287 women in that first year – it was 1993 for Port Elizabeth [1992 for the rest of South Africa] and since then it grew to 13 000.
“When I look back, it was so small and there were very few ladies running. Now we have hundreds of top runners who enter,” said the chairman of the Walmer Athletic Club, which provides the logistics for the race.
2018 will mark the 25th year the club has been co-ordinating “South Africa’s Most Beautiful Road Race” so it – and Loynes – are coming up for a milestone event in 2018. He reckons it is shaping up to be a big field on May 6 and he encourages would-be entrants to get their forms in well ahead of race day.
“PE often likes to leave it to the last minute, but it helps a lot if the entries are in earlier.”
Loynes himself is a familiar sight at Bay race-days. Now 75, his hair is now streaked more white than black and his sinewy runner’s legs are scarred from accidents over the years but he still has a twinkle in his eye.
“I’m a 35 year-old in a 75 year-old body and I’ve never grown up so they won’t get rid of me for another year or so! I’m staying on until next year because that will be my 25th Spar Women’s Challenge and then, if they need, I’ll stay on but the youngsters must take over.”
He is looking forward to developing other athletic events at his “other” home in Kareedouw with his new wife. After being a divorcee for 20 years, he married long-term girlfriend Liz Grundlingh in November.