BURRA runners are ubiquitous. Their distinctive blue and white club colours feature in all major running events in South Africa.
The club, which calls the Queensburgh Sports Club home, is getting ready to celebrate its 40th birthday and planning events in September to commemorate the inauguration of the club in 1979.
According to Alen Hattingh and Trevor Gandy, founder members whose names both appear on the minutes of the inaugural meeting held at the Escombe Sports Club at 7.30pm on 20 September 1979, much has changed over the years since the club’s inception.
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“The 1979 original club vest cost only R4,” laughed Gandy adding that he still has his somewhere.
Hattingh said the plan is to get as many of the members of the club over the years back together to celebrate the event. “We will be celebrating in the form of at traditional South African braai, at the Queensburgh Sports Club on Bowker Road, on Saturday 14 September, starting at noon,” said Hattingh.
The organising committee, which met over the weekend to begin planning the events leading up to the commemoration, said they are hoping to hear from many of the older members who have since left the area.
“Please ask all to contact Alen on 083 440 3135, or Trevor on 082 653 5651,” said Hattingh.
Mineshaft 15km
In the meantime, the next big event on the club’s calendar is the annual 15km Queensburgh Harriers Mineshaft walk and run.
“We ran our first Mineshaft the year after opening the club, so next year will be the 40th running of that event,” said Hattingh.
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The Mineshaft attracts runners and walkers from all over KZN, and is a popular event for club runners who can win cash prizes and even prizes for their club.
To find out more about the Mineshaft event, contact Lucas Esterhuyse on 083 309 3847, or Deon Scheepers on 082 775 4000.
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