JOHANNESBURG – Rockies Road Runners club holds awards for Comrades runners.
Lethu Nxumalo
Vic Boston received a special award for completing his 40th Comrades Marathon during Rockies club post race award ceremony held at the Zoo Lake Sports Club.
Rockies Road Runners club held its annual post-Comrades Marathon awards at the Zoo Lake sports club.
The club once had legendary runners such as Bruce Fordyce as well as Frith van der Merwe as members between the late 70s and early 90s.
The club’s executive member, Matodzi Tshidzumba, said the awards were part of motivating the runners and to reward their performances. Tshidzumba added that the club, which had between 400 to 500 members, had 130 Comrades entries and 94 runners managed to finish the race.
“[This year] has proved to be a successful year for Rockies as we brought back nine silver medals,” said Tshidzumba.
Runner, Reginald Ngobese was one of the top achievers with an overall Comrade’s position of 59 in an impressive time of 06:19:55. “I prepared hard for the race, followed my programme strictly until race day,” said Ngobese.
“My concern was time and I wanted to do my best.”
The club had a special award for Vic Boston (56) who completed his 40th Comrades this year. “I did my first comrades in 1977,” said a proud Boston.
“I’m the fifth man on earth to have done 40 Comrades Marathons. It’s a difficult race but can be done by all South Africans.”
According to Tshidzuma, since the departure of Fordyce, no runner from the club had won the Comrades but there were programmes in place aimed at developing current and upcoming runners. “We introduced an elite runner’s project late 2015 where the club contracted 10 unemployed runners and agreed to offer them financial support,” explained Tshidzuma.
“To date, the programme has resulted in Rockies winning five marathons and 12 half marathons.”
The club is in desperate need of a long-term sponsor to ensure that all projects benefit runners. “What we need is a kit sponsor,” said Tshidzuma.
“We need hats, watches, sunglasses and money to pay stipends to the contracted runners.”We want to produce top athletes who will soon represent the country on a world stage.”
Saul Levin, chairperson of the Rockies club, addresses members during the post Comrades Marathon awards held at the Zoo Lake Sports Club.
Julius Mdluli, a silver medalist who received a certificate from the Rockies club for his excellent run in the Comrades Marathon, during the club’s post comrades awards ceremony at the Zoo Lake Sports Club.
Vic Boston is awarded a special prize for his 40th Comrades Marathon by interim club president Richard Wilkinson during a post comrades marathon award ceremony for the Rockies club members.
Rockies club members gather at the Zoo Lake Sports Club for their annual post Comrades awards.
Reginald Ngobese is Rockies Road Runners club’s top achiever with a time of 06:19:55 in the Comrades.
Isaac Mavundlela is awarded a red lantern award by club secretary Shakir Dudhai for being the club’s last runner to finish the Comrades during a post Comrades award ceremony held by Rockies at the Zoo Lake Sports Club.
Puleng Maeko a silver medalist received a certificate from Rockies executive member Matodzi Tshidzumba at the post Comrades awards ceremony held by the club at the Zoo Lake Sports Club.
Blind runner Richard Monisi who was at the Rockies club post Comrades Marathon awards, ran his 12th Comrades Marathon this year and looks forward to his 13th next year.
Ntombifuthi Mkhize a novice Comrades runner received her first medal and is awarded a certificate by the Rockies Road Runners club’s chairperson, Saul Levin, during a post comrades awards ceremony.
Talia Zulberg was the club’s top achiever in the Comrades women’s section and was awarded a prize by Rockies executive member Matodzi Tshidzumba during a post Comrades award ceremony held at the Zoo Lake Sports Club.
Rockies club members came out in numbers at the Zoo Lake Sports Club for their annual post Comrades awards.
Ryan Perel earned his green number at this year’s Comrades Marathon and was awarded a special prize by his the Rockies Road Runners club during the post comrades awards at the Zoo Lake Sports Club.
