Alen’s dedication to athletics celebrated
Through his steadfast passion, Alen Hattingh has spent a large portion of his life ensuring the continued growth of athletics.
THE Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) expressed its gratitude to its outgoing board member and CSI committee convener, Alen Hattingh, recently.
CMA chairman, Cheryl Winn, highlighted Alen Hattingh’s deep loyalty and support of The Ultimate Human Race.
“His love affair with athletics and the Comrades Marathon began 45 years ago as a teenager with the Ladysmith Athletics Club.”
On 17 March in 1973 tragedy struck. He was on his way to participate in the Bluff Marathon in preparation for what would have been his first Comrades Marathon. The vehicle he was in was struck in a hit and run accident on Field’s Hill.
His brother-in-law was killed instantly and Alen was thrown out of the vehicle severing his spine. “He was not yet 21 years old,” said Cheryl.
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After spending many months in hospital, he made his way back to the Ladysmith Athletics Club’s weekly time trial and soon became the official timekeeper of the time trials, later the club secretary and eventually a life member and honorary vice president of Ladysmith AC.
“In about 1980 Alen moved to Pinetown and met Charlene, a nurse who has remained steadfast at his side. One of the first things he did when he arrived in Pinetown was become instrumental in the launch of a new athletics club, the Queensburgh Harriers. He then spent another 10 years in various capacities, in recognition of which he was later also rewarded life membership.”
In 1990 Alen moved to the Westville Athletics Club, where he is still an active member to this day and has served as a road captain, cross-country captain and vice chairman.
“Alen has been time-keeping and officiating at road-running and cross-country events week-in, week-out for decades in KZN, with his friendly face and his wheelchair a familiar sight on the finish line of hundreds of KZN events over the years,” said Cheryl.
He has served on the CMA board in two separate periods for a total of six years. His first foray with the club was from 2005 to 2006 and in 2007 he joined the CMA race organising committee.
He joined the CMA board from 2014 to 2017, during which time he also chaired the CMA CSI committee and the official charities committee.
“Alen has been a source of inspiration, motivation and great humility to us all at Comrades. Through the courage, indomitable spirit, unstinting loyalty, cheerfulness, resilience and generosity of spirit with which he has set a shining example to us all,” said Cheryl.
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