Big strides for flagship Striders’ event

THE Kowie Striders’ flagship event, the annual 27/10km race held last Saturday, saw a huge turnout of support from all over the province and further afield.

The 27km race started at Bathurst’s Big Pineapple and ended at the Port Alfred Country Club, while the 10km race started and ended at the country club.

There were 241 entrants in the 27km and 102 in the 10km, which Kowie Striders chairman Sticks Stiglingh said was about 30% up on last year.

There was no lack of enthusiasm from the participants or their many supporters.

The music for the morning, supplied by Carlos Cruz and Rolf Kunitz, added to the atmosphere, and the smell of fresh bacon and egg rolls enticed the supporters, many of whom had travelled since the early morning to get to the country club.

Less than 40 minutes after the start of the 10km race, Lonwabo Williams from Tinarha was the first to cross the line averaging just under three-and-a-half minutes per kilometre, in a time of 33 minutes and 13 seconds.

With other runners trickling in, just after 9am the first of the 27km runners arrived to take the honours with 37-year-old George Ntshiliza from Bluewater Bay leading the way in one hour, 30 minutes and 28 seconds. Second place went to 30-year-old Zolani Mabhongo from Ikhamva AC in a time of 1:30:49 and third place went to 38-year-old Anele Maliza from Nedbank RC in a time of 1:33:04.

In the women’s race, first place went to 33-year-old Asanda Solani from Achilles AAA in a time of 1:59:27. Second place went to 52-year-old Christine Claasen, also from Achilles AAA in a time of 2:03:48 and third place to 24-year-old Leah Sloman from Madibaz AC in a time of 2:04:54.

The oldest competitor on the day was 76-year old Godfrey Kariem from Gelvan AC who finished in a time of 2:54:37.

In other results in the 10km race, second place went to 20-year-old Siyabonga Kahla from the Mother Club in a time of 34:31, and third place to 16-year-old Sinethemba Merele, also from Tinarha, in a time of 35:01.

The first woman home and in ninth place overall, was 34-year-old Ntombesintu Mfunzi from the Nedbank Club in a time of 40:55.

Picture: ROB KNOWLES ON THE FAST TRACK: Finishing the Kowie Striders 27km which started at the Big Pineapple in Bathurst and ended at the Port Alfred Country Club on Saturday morning, were Zolani Mabhongo, left, in second place, and winner of the race, George Ntshiliza