Tish Jones wins Durban SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge

Tish Jones wins Durban SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge

DIMINUTIVE British distance runner, Tish Jones (KPMG), broke through the elite and highly competitive field of South African athletes to win the Durban leg of the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge today (Sunday, June 11) in a personal best time of 32 minutes 58 seconds.

Among the leaders right from the start, Jones shrugged off a trio of Nedbank runners which included Zimbabwean long distance runner, Rutendo Nyahora, together with Nolene Conrad  (KPMG) soon after rounding the halfway mark in the fast, flat Durban beachfront course and finally broke away on her own.

Running strongly in the virtually perfect windless and warm conditions, Jones jumped into the lead and ran solo for the last four kilometres and finished 33 seconds ahead of second-placed Kesa Moletsane (also KPMG) who finished in 33:31 with third-placed Lebogang Phalula (Boxer) crossing the finish line in 33:39.

The top runners averaged 3 min 15 sec per kilometre with six runners crossing the finish line withing a minute of the winner in the shadow of the Growthpoint King’s Park Rugby Stadium.

Described as “the country’s most beautiful road race”, Jones was running for only the second time in this popular series, having first shown her mettle in winning the women’s event in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in 2:36:13 last year.

The British runner, who is based and trains in the Western Cape, came fourth in the last London Marathon, missing the cut for the British team to compete in this year’s World Championships, also in London, with only three runners gaining selection for this event.

Speaking at the press conference after the race she said she had planned to run a sub 33-minute race and having achieved this could be highly satisfied with her previous best times over this distance both set last year with a 33:16 in Leeds in November and a 33:05 in Houilles, France, in December.

“I always try to remain relaxed and to maintain a steady pace,” she said, “but whatever you choose to be good at you have to just make up your mind to go all out for.”

Jones said she would now focus on next year’s Commonwealth Games Marathon and also defend her title in the Cape Town Marathon.

Jones added that she would also seriously consider entering in two of the remaining three races in the SPAR 10km Grandprix Series.

Moletsane said she had been ill for the past two weeks but had entered this race on account of her high status in the SPAR Grand Prix, which is spread over all six races in the series.

Her second place today (June 11) earned her 29 points more to add to the 59 she already has, 29 also for coming second in the Cape Town leg and 30 for winning the Port Elizabeth leg.

-ends

RESULTS

OPEN

1 Tish Jones (KPMG) 00:32:58; 2 Kesa Molostane (KPMG) 00:33:31; 3 Lebogang Phalula (Boxer) 00:33:39; 4 Elisabet Kebede Arsedo (Nedbank) 00:33:48; 5 Ruthendo Nyahora (Nedbank) 00:33:50; 6 Glenrose Xaba 00:33:56; 7 Rudo Mhonderwa (Nedbank) 00:34:03; 8 Nolene Conrad (KPMG) 00:34:07; 9 Bertha Chikanga 00:34:15; 10 Mapaseka Makhanya (Olifantsfontien) 00:34:26.

JUNIOR

1 Nicole Louw (Afs-KPMG) 00:35:26; 2 Nicole Van Me (KPMG) 00:36:11; 3 Chery-Lee Schoeman  (KPMG) 00:39:51; 4 Nomthandazo Memela 00:40:03; 5 Nokukhanya Mtshali 00:41:19

40-49

1 Bulelwa Simoe 00:36:55; 2 Janene Carey (Boxer) 00:38:56; 3 Ronel Thomas (Boxer) 00:39:10

50-59

1 Judy Bird (KPMG) 00:39:09; 2 Grace de Oliveira 00:43:11 (Boxer); 3 Gail Babich (Savages) 00:45:21

Monark to perform at this year’s SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge in Durban

Monark to perform at this year’s SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge in Durban

The finishing area of the Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km will be bouncing to the sounds of top South African pop band Monark who will be performing at the finish on Sunday 11 June at GrowthPoint Kings Park Stadium outer fields.

Monark, who came onto the music scene in 2013 after dominating SA’s airwaves, will be the headline act for the thousands of runners directly after the challenge’s prize giving. The band will be performing popular tracks ‘Hush’, ‘Smiling’, ‘Something’ and their recent release tune ‘Broken’ that is making waves on playlists around the country. They offer listeners something completely fresh and unique in their style and set trends sonically, stirring up tastes in the local music landscape.

The band is slowly changing the face of pop music within our borders, with their craft songs, which they say have “great meaning and soul stirring hooks”. The Monark members who are from Johannesburg and Potchefstroom, comprise of Eugene Coetzer (vocals and percussion), Ewald Jansen van Rensburg (guitar), Deon de Klerk (bass) and Graeme Wuth (drums).

Their debut album Negatives features 18 songs, was released worldwide on 14 July 2014, peaked at no. 1 on the iTunes Album Chart on the day of its release. These crowd pleasers delighted audiences after the Pretoria race last year and are sure to deliver an after-action satisfaction performance to #SHEroes participating in the Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km race.

Monark takes to the stage directly after the top runners receive their awards at 10am. Their performance will be followed by the race lucky draw where female finishers of both the 10km and 5km events, who are present, stand a chance to win over R25,000 in lucky draw prizes.

Online entries are open at www.sparwomensrace.co.za with payment by credit card (until June 4) or EFT (until May 29). Manual entries will only be accepted at the race registration on the three days prior to the event. Entry forms are available from participating SPAR stores in KwaZulu-Natal and at Race Registration. No entries will be taken on race day.

For more info email durban@sparwomensrace.co.za or like the Facebook page KZN SPAR Women’s 10/5km Race for up to the minute postings.

Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge – Sunday, June 11

Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge – Sunday, June 11

Online entries are now open for this year’s Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge, which takes place on Sunday, June 11.

The race, which is now in it’s 28th year, is a firm fixture on the KZN event calendar in KZN and annually draws a field of around 17 500 runners and walkers, along with countless supporters that come to enjoy the camaraderie and fun along the route and at the finish.

The theme for the challenge this year is “SHEroes” celebrating the “Superhero” status of women. “Every woman has a unique story to tell about their own inner beauty, strength and determination. In short, every woman is a Super Hero in their own way,” says Max Oliva, Managing Director of SPAR KZN, “We look forward to welcoming these wonderful “SHEroes” to this year’s race where they can showcase their determination and collective energy in one of the most talked about, and certainly the most beautiful, running and walking events in town.”

Once again participants have an option of taking part in the more competitive 10km distance starting at 8am or can enjoy the shorter, half distance 5km at 9:30am.  The challenge starts in Masabalala Yengwa Avenue outside the finish venue at the Growthpoint Kings Park outer fields, where there will be live music to entertain finishers and supporters.

Entries are limited to the first 17 500 ladies and can be done either online; by using the bulk entry process, or at the race registration venue at the Durban Exhibition Centre three days prior to the event.

Prize money for the first position in the open category is R10 000, second position R7 500 and third R5 000, and there are also various other category prizes across the board.  For the professional athletes participating in the challenge as part of the nationwide SPAR Grand Prix Series, the stakes are much higher as the prize money for the series sits at an impressive R173 000 this year.

For the first time, non-South African athletes are eligible to accumulate Grand Prix points which means that the field now includes those elite non-South African athletes. Currently Louisa Leballo (Nedbank) leads the Grand Prix log having taken the honours in Cape Town on April 2 in a time of 32.58 minutes. The next race takes place in May in Port Elizabeth, followed by Durban in June.

A donation of R2 will be made per entry to this year’s official race charity CANSA Mkhuhla Care Home in Durban, a “home-away-from-home” for cancer patients receiving treatment.

Entrants for the 10km challenge are required to be 14 years or older and for the 5km must be 9 years or older on the day of the competition.

Race Registration takes place at Hall 6 at the Durban Exhibition Centre on:

•   Thursday, 8 June from 10:00 to 17:00,

•   Friday, 9 June from 10:00 to 17:00 and

•   Saturday, 10 June from 10:00 to 15:00.

All female entrants will receive a promo bag at race registration and on race day, all those who complete the race will receive a breakfast pack.

Entry fees are R110 for a 10km non-licensed entrant, which will include a temp licence, R100 for a 10km licensed entrant and R100 for all 5km entrants. 

For all the relevant race information, as well as to enter online go to www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban 

For more information like the SPAR Women’s Race KZN Facebook page.

Lebogang Phalula flies solo through Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km

Lebogang Phalula flies solo through Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km

Sunday 7 August

Lebogang Phalula (Boxer) flew through the finish line in this morning’s (Sunday 7 August) Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km in a respectable time of 34.41 – slicing off 1min 29secs off last year’s winning time.

The visibly relaxed athlete, whose only quest was to win the race, said after her run, “I managed to break away from the seeded runners in the first kilometre of the race, and I was pretty much alone from there on. I asked my friend Cornelia (Joubert) to stick with me for this race but she was unable to.”

“This was my first Maritzburg race, and I was not expecting so many hills, which were pretty tough, but I did enjoy it especially from the 8km mark where it was pretty much a downhill stride for me – it felt like I was floating.”

There is much excitement in the Phalula household as her sister, Lebo will be representing South Africa at the Rio Olympics in the Marathon this coming Sunday. For Lebogang, her focus is on the Totalsports 10km Race taking place in Johannesburg on Women’s Day.

Finishing 75 seconds behind Phalulua, Jenet Dlamini, (Umzimkhulu) crossed the line in a time of 35.56 followed by Cornelia Joubert (Boxer) 45 seconds later in 36.41.

Dlamini from Umzimkhulu stated that overall she was happy with her race, “It was a tough run for me having run the Hammarsdale 10km race last week so my legs were a bit tired.”

It was also Joubert’s first experience at the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s race, and although she was unfamiliar with the route, she was aiming for a top five position. “I was pleased with my result and my time even after having rested quite a bit this week as I had pushed myself in the 21.1km SA Champs in PE, where I finished tenth last weekend.”

There were a record number of entries this year of 4039 that competed in ideal running conditions. The capital of KwaZulu-Natal was slightly overcast with a bit of a nip in the air. The youngest runner clocked in at 9 years old and the oldest runner was 73 year old Beryl Trussler who finished in a time of 53.29.

Alexandra High athlete, Thembekile Mthimunye (17) took the honours in the 5km race breezing through in a time of 25.47.

“Well done to everyone who came out to brave the slight chill in the air. It was particularly festive this year, perhaps young and old alike have been inspired by the spirit of the Olympic Games in Rio? Whatever the reason, it was a joy to see so many people coming out in force to participate and have so much fun,” said MD for SPAR KZN, Rob Philipson.

The official race charity CHOC, will receive R8000 donation from the race entries.

Results

10km Open

1 Lebogang Phalula (Boxer) 34.41, 2 Jenet Dlamini (Umzimkhulu) 35.56, 3 Cornelia Houbert (Boxer) 36.41, 4 Jen Challenor (KPMG) 37.01, 5 Makhosi Mhlongo (Savages) 38.08, 6 Anet Coetzee 38.27, 7 Sizisandele Mkhize 39.14, 8 Janene Carey (Boxer) 39.48, 9 Suzette Botha (Eskom) 39.50, 10 Abigail Solms 41.31

15 – 19 years

1 Nosihle Phungula 47.45, 2 Fezeka Hadebe 50.55, 3  Kirsten Ahrens 1.05.18

35 – 39 years

1 Jen Challenor 37.01, 2 Nonsikelelo Mbambo 43.26, 3 Sindiswe Jali 49.39

40 – 49 years

1 Janene Carey 39.48, 2 Suzette Botha 39.50, 3 Xolisile Mwelase 47.04

50 – 59 years

1 Elana Pessenbacher 50.41, 2 Robyn Mellett 53.55, 3 Ntombifikile Mtungwa 57.27

60+ years

1 Sandra Fismer 47.53, 2 Jenny Tauloe 53.06, 3 Barbara Wright 1.10.01

-ends

Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10 / 5km Pietermaritzburg: Sunday 7 August

Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10 / 5km Pietermaritzburg: Sunday 7 August

The running of the Maritzburg leg of South Africa’s Most Beautiful Race will be taking to the roads of the KZN capital on Sunday 7 August for the annual SPAR Women’s 10/5km. 

Settling back into its usual winter date, the race will have a field of green flowing along the roads in and around The Oval where an expected 4,000 athletes will be taking the challenge of the two distances. The event is the biggest women’s athletic event and second biggest annual road running event to take place in the city aside from the Comrades Marathon. 

Both the routes will remain unchanged, with the start line set adjacent to Maritzburg College’s main rugby field, Goldstones, and the finish line in The Oval cricket stadium. 

Both races will start at 8.00am after the playing of the National Anthem. The 10km and 5km participants will set off together with the first half of the race looping around the outskirt of the CBD, with the 5km race turning into The Oval and the 10km athletes doing another loop around the schools’ precinct, before returning back to The Oval. 

A strong field of local runners is expected to compete this year with the defending champ, Tebogo Masehla rumoured to be back. The big names in this year’s SPAR Grand Prix will be flying the South African flag at the Rio Olympics which leaves a win and the R8,000 winner’s purse open to the remaining local contenders. 

Entries are open, with two options to enter. The first is online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za where you can either pay by Credit Card or by EFT. The second option is a Manual Entry at Race Registration on Friday 5 August and Saturday 6 August at The Oval cricket stadium in Alexandra Park. Companies, running clubs and groups of 10 or more can enter through the Bulk Entries option, simply email bulk@sparwomensrace.co.za for more information. 

Entries to the 10km distance are open from age 14 and to the 5km from age 9, the age restrictions being applicable on the day of the competition. Entry fees are R90 for the 10km licensed athletes and for the 5km runners. The entry fee for the Non-licensed athletes is R100; the extra R10 includes a temporary licence for the day. 

Once again the official race charity is CHOC (The Childhood Cancer Foundation) and R2 from every entry will be donated to them.

For more info contact the race organisers on maritzburg@sparwomensrace.co.za or visit the official race on www.sparwomensrace.co.za or like the Facebook page.

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KALMER WINS PIETERMARITZBURG SPAR WOMEN’S 10KM

KALMER WINS PIETERMARITZBURG SPAR WOMEN’S 10KM

It was pretty much a solo run for Rene Kalmer as she took top honours in the Pietermaritzburg SPAR Women’s 10km today in a time of 34.13 on an icey winter’s morning in KZN’s Capital.

The field of 3800 participants braved the cold as the temperature plummeted to 2 degrees earlier this morning but had risen to about 5 degrees at the start of the race.

“This is the first time I have run this race in Pietermaritzburg, and I was happy with my performance. I felt very strong. The weather didn’t bother me – we are used to these temperatures in Johannesburg.” said Kalmer who sliced off 1 minute 11 seconds from last year’s winner Jenna Challenor’s time of 35.24.

Second and third place were owned by Nolene Conrad and Sithulisiwe Zhou both also running their debut Pietermaritzburg races.

Capetonian Nolene Conrad, who has been concentrating on her marathon running, sailed into the finish in second place in a time of 35.37. “I had a good race , but it was a bit of a difficult run with all the hills. My legs were really cold and only in the last three kilometres did I feel like I warmed up.” 

Zimbabwean Sithulisiwe Zhou was over the moon with her third position in a time of 36.16. “It was fantastic.” she enthused, “I am training for the Mandela Marathon, so I am really pleased to have been able to run with such elite runners like Rene and Nolene .”

Going through the halfway mark, Kalmer looked at complete ease as she took the palm-lined avenue up the hill through Alexandra Park a good 20 seconds ahead of Conrad.

KZN’s Tanith Maxwell, running in and winning in her category (35-39), came in fourth.

“Once again there was a great spirit amongst the participants at this year’s race.” said Rob Philipson, MD SPAR KZN. “Despite the bitter cold, the mood was festive and fun-filled, clearly dispelling all myths about this being Sleepy Hollow.”

“We are encouraged that this race is growing in stature and we are attracting elite runners such as Rene, Nolene, Tanith and Sithulisiwe.” Philipson continued.

A sum of R10 200 raised from a percentage of the entry fees was donated to the race charity CHOC.

The next SPAR Women’s 10/5km in KZN will take place on Sunday August 24 in Durban and is part of the SPAR Grand Prix.

Results

10KM

Open

1 Rene Kalmer (Modern Athlete) 34.13, 2 Nolene Conrad (Boxer AC) 35.37, 3 Sithulisiwe Zhou (Phantane) 36.16, 4 Tanith Maxwell (Boxer AC) 36.43, Keneilwe Sesing (Nedbank) 37.13

9-11

1 Thabelo Tshishonga 1.25.47, 2 Tasmiyah Essack 1.33.11, 3 Kendra Visagie 1.48.04

12-14

1 Kaydie Gouws 1.46.49, 2 Kate-Lyn Gouws 1.47.52, 3 Milan Comley 1.50.06

15 – 19

1 Nontlantla Gcinia 40.34, 2 Mbali Mtshali 40.37, 3 Nomusa Xaba 42.41

35 – 39

1 Tanith Maxwell (Boxer AC) 36.43, 2 Nonsikelelo Mbambo (Natal Carbineers) 41.37, 3 Michelle Ellis 44.05

40-49

1 Suzette Botha (Eskom) 38.36, 2 Janene Carey (Boxer AC) 39.21, 3 Marilise Vermaak 43.52

50 -59

1 Janine Engels (Westville Athletics) 44.23, 2 Jenny Taylor 54.27, 3 Trish Botton (Natal Carbineers) 1.00.09

60+

1 Judith Grove (Hilton Harriers) 49.53, 2 Jane Dickson 50.24, 3 Sandra Fismer (Hilton Harriers) 50.36

5KM

1 Londeka Mweli 20.20, 2 Nombuso Ndamane 20.21, 3 Sinenhlanhla Zondi 20.33, 4 Fezeka Mchunu 20.47, 5 Sthandile Dladla 21.16

-ENDS