Spar Women’s Challenge hands out awards

The SPAR Grand Prix Awards took place at Emperors Palace on October 18 after organisers had calculated the points accumulated by runners at the six SPAR Women's Challenge races in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg.

November 27, 2019

Jemma Buys 1 minute read

SPAR marketing director Mike Prentice with SPAR Grand Prix open category winner Helalia Johannes. Photo: Supplied.

The winner of the open category was Namibian Helalia Johannes (Nedbank), who won all six races in record time and earned R185 000 for her efforts.

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She was followed closely by Tadu Naru (Nedbank) and Kesa Molotsane (Murray and Roberts), making Nedbank running club the winners of the team event.

Mike Prentice (SPAR marketing director) Photo: Supplied.

SPAR marketing director Mike Prentice opened proceedings by congratulating all the runners, adding that the opening of the Grand Prix’s prizes to international runners saw South Africans also up the ante at the 13th annual series.

“This is the only running series in South Africa totally committed to women runners,” said Prentice.

“We gave away R900 000 worth of prize money and saw 150 000 women participate across South Africa.”

SPAR Grand Prix coordinator Ian Laxton. Photo: Supplied.

Series coordinator Ian Laxton highlighted the fact that SPAR had been hosting races for women since 1990 before the SPAR Grand Prix officially came into being.

“From the beginning, the series had been a nursery of running talent in South Africa,” said Laxton.

“It motivates and develops talent and this year foreign runners have changed the complexion of the race too.”

Sonja Laxton receives a lifetime achievement award from SPAR marketing director Mike Prentice. Photo: Supplied.

Laxton’s wife, Sonja (71), ran her 100th SPAR race at the Johannesburg event on October 6, where SPAR also presented her with a R15 000 donation for a charity of her choice (Goldilocks and the Bear Foundation). She also received a lifetime achievement award at the awards ceremony.
The Laxtons have plans to retire in Cape Town, which Sonja says will make attending some races easier, but she still plans to visit for the Johannesburg and Tshwane races.