Prizes worth R850,000 on offer at 21.1km event

With a racing prize purse and lucky draw prizes worth R850,000, the annual Nelson Mandela Bay Athletics South African 21.1km Championships are again set to attract big names this year.

The race, which incorporates the CAA Southern Region Championships, will take place at Pollok Beach, Summerstrand, on Saturday July 28.

There has been a generous increase in prize money, with the overall winner taking home R80,000.

ASA have also introduced a bonus incentive of R25,000, should a South African athlete finish first, boosting the winning purse to R105,000.

Eastern Province Athletics president Selby Thabethe said his committee was proud to host this prestigious event.

“With the support of our title sponsors, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and our mother body Athletics SA, we aim to continue to grow road running and to honour Nelson Mandela’s [centenary] with our event,” Thabethe said.

With R700,000 for the elite field to compete for, Eastern Province Athletics sponsorship liaison officer Mike Mbambani said South Africa’s top athletes had already confirmed their participation.

He welcomed race partner the Eastern Cape Motor Group, who have again sponsored a brand-new Datsun Go vehicle prize, valued at R127 000, a lucky draw incentive open to all participants in both the half-marathon and 5km run.

“The NMB ASA 21.1km Championships allow locals the opportunity to race against the best in the country,” Mbambani said.

Adidas will be sponsoring a R2,000 gift voucher for the four consolation prize winners.

Race director Alan Taylor said the NMB ASA 21.1km Championship event also offered stationery worth R22,500 for the five schools with the most bulk entries.

All finishers of both the 21.1km and the 5km fun run will receive medals and the first 800 entries in the 21.1km and the first 500 entries in the 5km will receive T-shirts.