GALLERY AND FULL RESULTS: Tuffy Marathon 2018

Bright and breezy on Saturday morning, over 700 runners appeared out of the dense mist to compete in the annual Tuffy four-in-one marathon.

High in the hills of Agatha, the crowds gathered, clad in team colours ready to take on their challenge.

Spirits were certainly not dampened by the mist, drizzle and cold weather.

Perhaps running times were actually better as nobody could admire the views?

The event once again ran smoothly and credit for this goes to the main sponsors, namely; AIDA, ClemenGold and Coach House.

LETABA HERALD were delighted to be part of the day’s festivities and had a fantastic time at the 6 km mark, handing out refreshments and of course, our fair share of encouragement and banter to the passing athletes.

The routes were as ‘tuff’ as ever, especially with the slippery road surfaces.

View another Letaba Herald Tuffy Gallery here: Tzaneen’s Tuffy Marathon in the mist

The steep one kilometre uphill climb between kilometres five and six being the first stretch to take its toll on the athletes.

That, however, was a breeze compared to the uphill stretch of almost nine kilometres that greeted those participating in the 42.2 km event between the Letaba SPCA and HERALD water point.

The HERALD team met some incredible members of the community during the event, with a couple from Nkowankowa making a lasting impression.

Johan Shangani Mathebula and his wife, Sarah Mathebula are both deaf but represented the Letaba Road Runners during the event.

Sarah participated in the 12 km race whilst Johan ran the 21.1 km race and won in his age category (50-59).

Both Sarah and Johan’s smiles told the HERALD a thousand words even if actual words were limited to scribbling messages back and forth on a rain soaked piece of paper.

Their happiness was infectious and certainly added warmth to a chilly morning.

The killer ascents coupled with the altitude made it tough going for the runners but it didn’t stop some incredible times being recorded.

RESULTS

Men’s 12Km Open
1st: Fhatanani Mushiana, Race nr 192, Time 41:40
2nd: Greame Ambraal, Race nr 124, Time 42:45
3rd: Andrew Khosa, MHC, Race nr 145, Time 43:25

Men’s 12 Km Age Category: 40-49
Jabulani Bilankulu, Giyani Gallopers, Race nr 123, Time 52:29

Men’s 12 Km Age Category: 50-59
Freddey Mohale, FM Matosh RC, Race nr 51, Time 1:02:06

Men’s 12 Km Age Category: Junior
1st: Emmanual Mathebula, Ba-Phalaborwa, Race nr 204, Time 45:26
2nd: Nhutshilo Mudau, Vhembe AC, Race nr 102, Time 47:04

Women’s 12Km Open
1st: Thabiso Mabasa, Race nr 117, Time 52:30
2nd: Violet Mulaudzi, Greater Elim Race, nr 130, Time 58:05
3rd: Sinah Malatji, University of Limpopo, Race nr 186, Time 58:11

Women’s 12 Km Age Category: 40-49
Patricia Gerth van Wijk, Durbanville AC, Race nr 66, Time 1:05:31

Women’s 12 Km Age Category: 50-59
Florah Ratshilingana, Greater Elim Race, nr 219, Time 1:14:24

Women’s 12 Km Age Category: Junior
1st: Violet Mulaudzi, Greater Elim Race, nr 130, Time 58:05
2nd: Amufanei Mudonseni, Race nr 183, Time 1:04:13

Men’s 21.1Km Open
1st: Phuti Sthowa, Vultures AC, Race nr 453, Time 1:15:31
2nd: Emmanuel Ramehlale, Pietersburg RR, Race nr 640, Time 1:16:24
3rd: Rufus Photto, KPMG, Race nr 185, Time 1:18:59

Men’s 21.1 Km Age Category: 40-49
1st: Bethuel Metshitenzhe, Pietersburg RR, Race nr 442, Time 1:26:04
2nd: Albert Mufamadi, Greater Elim, Race nr 417, Time 1:38:47
3rd: Elvis Pilusa, Letaba Road Runners, Race nr 396, Time 1:38:56

Men’s 21.1 Km Age Category: 50-59
Johan Shangani Mathebula, Letaba Road Runners, Race nr 458, Time 2:18:45

Men’s 21.1 Km Age Category: 60+
Robert Sacco, Run Walk 4 Life, Race nr 458, Time 1:49:00

Men’s 21.1 Km Age Category: Junior
1st: Musa Mashele, Ba-Phalaborwa, Race nr 631, Time 1:28:33
2nd: Brian Mashwanganyi, Giyani Gallopers, Race nr 340, Time 1:29:50

Women’s 21.1Km Open
1st: Gift Ramabele, Maxed Elite, Race nr 448, Time 1:42:50
2nd: Jennifer Sithole, Race nr 378, Time 1:50:59
3rd: Anna Maponya, University of Limpopo, Race nr 378, Time 1:50:59

Women’s 21.1 Km Age Category: 40-49
1st: Anna Maponya, University of Limpopo, Race nr 378, Time 1:50:59
2nd: Ounooi Breedt, Race nr 379, Time 2:06:08
3rd: Grace Mhlango, Greater Elim, Race nr 394, Time 2:14:28

Women’s 21.1 Km Age Category: 50-59
Jane Mudau Fatanani, Race nr 455, Time 1:54:34

Women’s 21.1 Km Age Category: Junior
1st: Tshepo Ramokgadi, University of Limpopo, Race nr 376, Time 1:50:59
2nd: Manngwe Ntanganedzeni, Race nr 366, Time 2:19:40

Men’s 42.2 Km Open
1st: Lutendo Mapoto, Time 2:36:30, Race nr 569
2nd: Timothy Munzhelele, Pieterburg AC (PAC), Race nr 618, Time 2:45:12
3rd: Ludwick Mamabolo, Nedbank, Race nr 646, Time 2:51:08

Men’s 42.2 Km Age Category: 40-49
1st: Ludwick Mamabolo, Nedbank, Race nr 646, Time 2:51:08
2nd: Edward Mathebula, UL Athletics, Race nr 527, Time 3:20:57
3rd: Emmanual Mathumba, Vhembe AC, Race nr 578, Time 3:24:24

Men’s 42.2 Km Age Category: 50-59
1st: Reckson Mgumukala, Race nr 516, Time 3:16:43
2nd: Thomas Ngobeni, Vhembe AC, Race nr 598, Time 3:19:56

Men’s 42.2 Km Age Category: 60+
David Kubjana, Polokwane RR, Race nr 528, Time 3:42:42

Women’s 42.2 Km Open
1st: Geneva Raphatha, Pietersburg AC (PAC), Race nr 530, Time 3:40:44
2nd: Pearl Hughes, Polokwane RR, Race nr 642, Time 3:49:09
3rd: Tshifulwa Malobola, Central Rand, Race nr 694, Time 3:55:55

Women’s 42.2 Km Age Category 40-49
1st: Livhuwani Mudzielwana, Vhembe AC, Race nr 696, Time 4:15:45
2nd: Julie Pierce, Race nr 571, Time 4:42:26
3rd: Nocawa Nabela, South African Airways AC, Race nr 652, Time 5:00:23

Women’s 42.2 Km Age Category 50-59
Nolene Maree, Race nr 602, Time 4:47:40

GALLERY: