Springs Striders receive awards for completing the Comrades Marathon
The Springs Striders held their prize-giving evening on Saturday to award their members for their participation in the Comrades Marathon at the beginning of this month.
Jackie Seddon, chairperson of the Striders, started the evening off welcoming all the members and thanking them for their perseverance and dedication.
She continued with supplying statistics to all the attendees, stating that a total of 17 031 people started the Comrades this year.
“The total amount of finishers was 13 852. That’s an 81.3 percent success rate and I’m proud to announce that the Striders’ success rate was very close to that.”
Thirty-five Striders entered for Comrades, 31 started and 25 finished, which leads to an 80.6 percent success rate.
Of the 31 members who started, 10 women started and eight finished. Twenty-one men started of whom 17 finished.
Winnie Mbukwana was the first female veteran Strider to finish with a time of 10 hours, 20 minutes and 47 seconds. She was awarded the title ‘Queen of the Day’.
Petra Myburgh was the first female grandmaster of the Striders to finish with a time of 11:29:07. It was also Petra’s 21st Comrades Marathon.
Annetjie Nel was the first female master Strider to finish with a time of 10:26:43.
Charmaine Botha also received an award for being the first female novice to cross the finish line in a time of 10:49:15.
After many more awards to the women, it was the men’s turn.
Thabo Thwala was the first male master and was also awarded the title of ‘King of the Day’ with a time of 08:25:51 earning him a Bill Rowan medal.
The first male veteran award was given to Michael Tsholoba, completing the Comrades with a time of 09:40:16.
Ferdinand van Tonder was the first male novice to finish the race with a time of 09:39:27.
After various awards were handed out, Jackie saved the best for last.
Karl Hewig, who was the last man home, received the ‘late-comer’ trophy for finishing with a time of 11:54:24.
The end of the formal award ceremony was the beginning of fun, laughs and funnier gifts as Jackie switched to an enjoyable and unofficial award ceremony which separated the chickens from the quitters and the chatty ones from the loners.
Connect with us:
Do you have an interesting newsworthy story? Contact the newsroom on 011 812 4800 or send an email to Samantha Keogh (editor) samk@caxton.co.za, Izahn Krige (digital journalist) izahnv@caxton.co.za or Anna Robertson (journalist) annar@caxton.co.za
For the latest breaking news in your community, follow us on Twitter @SpringsNews and like our Facebook page.
For news straight to your phone and daily weather updates, invite Springs Advertiser on WhatsApp by sending a message with your name and surname to 079 408 9334.
To see what we get up to in the newsroom and in town, follow us on Instagram at springs_addie
