1923 the first unofficial female entrant

IN YOUR STRIDE22

Entries were down for the 1923 Comrades Marathon,

with 68 runners lining up for the start at the

Pietermaritzburg City Hall on Thursday, 24 May.

Interest in the race was up, however, especially due

to the fact that a woman, Frances Hayward, also

planned to run from the Natal capital to Durban.

Hayward was an unofficial entrant because

women were not allowed to enter, but she was

accepted by her fellow runners and served as a big

draw for the spectators along the route.

A story in a local newspaper, reported “as seen

from a motor”, echoed some of the prejudices

held towards women at that time: “But what of

the lady, little Miss Hayward, of Durban, an official

competitor? Well, she turned up well before the

time fixed for the start, and aroused intense interest

among the spectators, who had varied opinions as to

her ability to do any distance, and, frankly speaking,

she was the great novelty of the whole proceedings.”

Notes in an official Comrades’ scrapbook, stated:

“[Miss Hayward] was clad in a business-like green

gym costume”.

It was cold, but the runners had been assured

that many of the hotels along the road had offered

to provide them with hot drinks.

On their way, after the Mayor fired a starter’s

pistol, WN Wratten “was cutting out a great pace” and

passed through Umlaas Road at the head of the field.

Meanwhile, Harry Phillips, the runner-up in each of

the previous two Comrades Marathons, had battled

knee issues on both occasions, but this time around

he was unable to finish and pulled out near Cato

Ridge.

Just after Harrison Flats, Arthur Newton assumed

the lead on his way to a dominating defence of the

title he had won the previous year. “His gait was

something of a jog-trot, but he was always running,

and he got over the ground in really remarkable

Francis Hayward was the first woman to finish the Comrades Marathon, although unofficially. It would be 52 years before women were officially admitted to the race

style,” the newspaper reported.

Newton reached halfway in three hours and two

minutes, 11 minutes ahead of his nearest challenger,

who was, in turn, a further eight minutes ahead of a

chasing group of three runners, including the early

leader Wratten, Butcher Purcell and Lukas Nel.

By Hillcrest, he had increased his advantage to

over 30 minutes and it continued to grow. Towards

the end, he welcomed a number of massages, but

was always quickly back onto the road once more.

So incredible was Newton’s pace that race

officials were surprised by his arrival at the Lords

Ground, amid a dusty cloud raised by the cars,

motorbikes and bicycles trailing the race leader.

After all, he was approaching the finish about two

hours faster than Bill Rowan’s winning effort in the

first Comrades Marathon of 1921.

The President of the Natal Amateur Athletic and

Cycling Association, Harry Hotchin, who had stopped

nearby to take in a sports meeting, barely had time

to scramble to the finish. Clambering through a hole

in a fence, he raced to the line and arrived just before

Newton crossed it. His time was 6:56:07, which made

him the first runner to break the seven-hour barrier.

The first unofficial female entrant1923

100 years of the Comrades Marathon 23

It also slashed over two hours off of the

down run record.

A newspaper article the following

day led with a headline that read:

“Newton’s Fifty-Mile ‘Sprint’”. The story

noted: “He was never pressed, but despite

this he put up a wonderful record time.”

Newton, humbly, chose not to accept

the winner’s prize, a clock, saying he was

able to devote far more time to training than

any of the other competitors. Instead, he

donated it to the Town Clerk of Harding.

Runner-up, Lukas Nel, finished in good

spirits, almost an hour behind Newton, in

7:48:24, but well clear of Butcher Purcell, who

secured third in 8:17:03, with the early pace-

setter, WN Wratten, finishing fourth.

Even though the race had been won, the crowd

at the Lords Ground stayed on, awaiting Frances

Hayward. When large numbers greeted her at Toll

Gate, mounted police provided an escort to her

through the throngs. She was, ultimately, the 28th

competitor to finish in 11:35:00.

While the organisers offered her no official

recognition, her fellow runners and the spectators

did; a whip-around raised the considerable sum of

£100 and Hayward was presented with a silver tea

service and a rose bowl. “From a public point of view,”

the newspaperman wrote, “she was undoubtedly the

star turn of the Marathon.”

Having conquered the challenge, Hayward then

said she felt the race was too much for a woman!

There were 30 finishers. The last of them, TL

Warwick, was done in 11:48:09.

Arthur Newton poses with the winner’s trophy. The master of pace who revolutionised ultra-marathon training, he wrote a number of books on the subject that were considered well ahead of their time.

IN YOUR STRIDE24

The Comrades Marathon’s second decade began

without the defending champion, Wally Hayward,

and the defending down run champion, Darryl

Dale, who were both missing due to injuries. Phil

Masterton-Smith, the 1930 runner-up, was back,

however.

In a major change for the 1931 race, the entire

route between Pietermaritzburg and Durban was

tarred.

In 1931, too, the Memorable Order of Tin Hats

(Moths) of the Gunga Din Shellhole, donated a

floating trophy, valued at £70, to be presented to

the first team of four to finish. It featured a steel

The youngest ever winner1931


Left: With half a mile to go, down Alice Street into Old Fort Road, Noel Burree (29) and Phil Masterton-Smith (45) battle for the lead. The 1929 winner Darrell Dale seen in white running is seconding.

Right: After 54 miles on the road Masterton-Smith leads Burree by a few yards in a desperate dash down the final Track Ground straight.

helmet that had been worn in Flanders, which was

electro-plated and mounted on a beautiful piece of

Stinkwood.

On the starting line on Monday, 25 May, there

were 65 starters, plus three walkers, a skater, and a

lady, Geraldine Watson.

The day began chaotically for Noel Burree when

a taxi he had ordered to pick him up in Scottsville

at 05:40 failed to arrive. So, he borrowed a young

boy’s bicycle, quickly repaired a puncture, and, then,

pedalled top-speed to the start, hoping to be able to

set off with the rest of the runners at 06:00. He made

it with three minutes to spare.

Early on, the experienced Albert Marie and

George Steere, the Natal mile champion, set the

pace. Phil Masterton-Smith began conservatively.

Marie and Steere passed Inchanga together,

but the veteran then fell back, with Steere reaching

Drummond in three hours and 12 minutes, but he,

too, was taking strain. Bill Savage was only half-a-

minute behind him.

Soon, at Botha’s Hill, Wessel Strydom took over

the lead. Savage was second and Piet van Rooyen

third. Masterton-Smith had climbed to sixth place.

Then, Van Rooyen claimed first place at Hillcrest.

On Field’s Hill descent, Masterton-Smith hit the

front. Behind him, Van Rooyen and Strydom were

second and third, while Noel Burree had risen to

fourth.

Masterton-Smith looked in command, but

Burree powered his way into second and reduced

the gap to the leader. At Toll Gate, only 40 metres

separated the two men, much to the excitement of

the spectators.

At the finish at the Track ground, the title was

up for grabs. Burree edged past Masterton-Smith

in the final 100 yards, but with 50 yards remaining

they were neck-and-neck. Describing the climax of

the race, Vic Clapham wrote: “Fighting desperately

with his last ounce of energy, Masterton-Smith tore

himself away to win by two yards in an epic and

thrilling finish.”

With that, in a time of 7:16:30, he became the

youngest ever winner of the Comrades Marathon,

a record that stands to this day. Wessel Strydom

snagged third in 7:32:20, with Piet van Rooyen fourth

in just over eight hours.

Durban schoolteacher Geraldine Watson

completed the course in 11:56. She had first thought

of running the Comrades Marathon because every

day, after finishing teaching, she had to run from

Wentworth School to Jacobs Station to catch a train

home.

The Maritzburg United team of Noel Burree,

Nigel Walker, C. van der Molen and A. Smith became

the first recipients of the Gunga Din Trophy, having

ended second, eighth, 12th and 17th respectively.

In total, there were 30 finishers. WR Koch was the

last of them in 10:58:20.

IN YOUR STRIDE26

Hardy Ballington, after his record-breaking exploits

in Britain over 50 and 100 miles, was back for the

1938 Comrades Marathon, aiming for a fourth

title and, possibly, a record for the up run. Johnny

Coleman, though, had established a down run

organiser of the event.

Only 20 men lined up in cool conditions outside

of the Durban City Hall on Tuesday, 24 May, with

the field for the up run, once again, smaller than

that for the down run, which was perceived to be

less demanding. While the weather was mild at the

beginning of the race, it was later to become very

hot and taxing for the time of the year.

From the start, Allen Boyce, who had achieved

an impressive runner-up finish in the opposite

direction in 1937, took up the running, with

Ballington following not far behind. The three-

time champion had set his sights on the record,

however, and it wasn’t long before he took the lead

near Pinetown, with Boyce’s pace not sufficient for

Ballington’s ambitions. Clearly, he meant business.

He was moving at a record-setting pace, but

Botha’s Hill reduced Ballington to a walk as he

suffered through a bad spell. Soon, though, he

worked his way through it and re-established his

rhythm.

Though it had turned uncomfortably hot,

Ballington made halfway in three hours and 22

minutes, still ahead of his record pace, “but he was

now his old smiling self again, and none to look at

him could imagine what he had been through on

the long grind up the hill.”

By Camperdown, he was eight minutes ahead

of his time of 1936; his time had been just two

minutes better after his struggle up Botha’s Hill. In

second place, Boyce was 15 minutes adrift, but, in

turn, a vast 23 minutes clear of the third-placed Ray

Sandison.

Done and dusted, it seemed. Not quite!

Ballington, experiencing stomach pains, slowed

down at Umlaas Road. Again, though, he gritted his

Before the days of watering tables, runners had to depend on their seconds and generous spectators for a cool down. John Ballington (Hardy’s brother) finished 6th overall. Seen here being assisted near Inchanga by Bill Cochrane, 1935 winner.

way through the bad patch. By Polly Shorts, he was

running fluently and moved without incident up the

climb. At the top, he had over 10 minutes in hand

over his previous best to that point.

When he burst across the finishing line at The

Duck Pond, he had stopped the clock in 6:32:26,

lopping a whopping 13 minutes and 48 seconds

off of his 1936 record. Having achieved his goal,

Ballington, now 42 years of age, announced that it

had been his last Comrades Marathon.

“I’ve had enough. I’ve got to get on with my

Up run record tumbles as Ballington wins fourth title1938

record in 1937, so an eagerly-anticipated head-to-

head was expected.

Alas, it never came to pass as Coleman elected

to represent South Africa in the marathon at the

Empire Games in Sydney. Given that he went on to

win the gold medal by almost eight minutes in a

Games’ record time, it was hard to fault his choice.

That decision, though, made Ballington a prohibitive

favourite for the Comrades Marathon title.

The 1938 race also brought the curtain down on

race founder Vic Clapham’s invaluable contribution

to its success as a transfer to Ladysmith from

Pietermaritzburg saw him stepping down as the


Hardy Ballington passing through Thornybush on his way to a 4th victory as Vic Clapham, organising race secretary, is seen holding out the winner’s trophy out to him.

champion told Les Cox of The Natal Mercury.

Boyce, meanwhile, was second for a second

successive year in 7:03:05, well clear of Fred

Morrison, who finished third in 7:38:57. As the

leading novice, he became the first winner of the

newly-introduced Hardy Ballington Trophy.

Speaking to a newspaper reporter, Morrison

said: “I had heard that the Comrades course was hilly,

but I did not expect to do a day’s mountaineering.”

John Ballington, Hardy’s younger brother,

finished sixth in his first Comrades Marathon, while

Liege Boulle, who had flown from Lourenco Marques

to participate in the race, was tenth.

The last of the 11 finishers, A. Booth, recorded a time

of 10:37:20.

Led by the winner, Hardy Ballington, the Durban

Athletic Club lifted the Gunga Din Trophy, with

runner-up Allen Boyce, DH Smith (7th) and Liege

Boulle (10th) making up their quartet of finishers.work now, and I can’t manage both. I enjoyed

yesterday’s run tremendously. It was one of the

best I’ve run, and perhaps the fact that I felt it was

my last Comrades’ accounted for this,” the four-time

IN YOUR STRIDE28

A hat-trick of successive Comrades’ wins awaited

Wally Hayward in 1952, but he, instead, opted to

run the marathon at the Olympic Games in Helsinki,

where he did himself and South Africa proud by

finishing in 10th place. Meanwhile, Reg Allison had

retired and that left the 1952 event wide open.

It was cold as 32 runners set off from Durban on

14 July, a date in the middle of winter that proved

to be unpopular. “People muffled in dressing gowns

and overcoats cheered from verandahs and windows

of flats,” a newspaper article read.

Don Spencer, tenth in 1950, reached Westville

first, while Trevor Allen, third in 1951, was two

minutes off the pace, in 12th place. At Field’s Hill,

which was undergoing road works, traffic bottled up,

resulting in a queue of 150 vehicles, as two trucks

ascended barely faster than the runners.

By Hillcrest, Spencer had a lead of five minutes.

Then, around Botha’s Hill, Allen, Gerald Walsh and

Arthur Hampton came together in pursuit of him.

Spencer, though, was the first to Drummond in

a relatively sedate three hours, 30 minutes and

42 seconds, three minutes ahead of his chasers.

However, when he suffered cramps, that gap began

to shrink. By Camperdown, his lead was only half-a-

minute. Then, on the approach to Thornybush, Allen

went clear.

Ultimately, Polly Shorts helped Allen to end

Spencer’s challenge for the title. At the finish at The

Polly Shorts helps Allen to victory1952

Gerald Walsh (left) and Trevor Allen (17) negotiate Fields Hill, under extensive road construction.


Trevor Allen becomes the first Durban man to win the race since 1948.

Duck Pond, Allen missed the seven-hour mark by just

two seconds. Buoyed by his victory, he said: “I know

I said I would not run again after this year, but now I

am not so sure that it will be the last time.”

Spencer, who had run from Durban and

Pietermaritzburg four times in training, held off

Walsh by a minute and six seconds to finish second

in 7:06:17.

Afterwards, Spencer recounted an incident

that had occurred with about a mile to go. He was

extremely fatigued when he was told that Walsh was

closing in on him. He replied that he did not care.

Then, he remembered a cuckoo clock would go

to the third placer. It featured two doors - one for the

cuckoo and the other for a screen villain “Harry Lime”,

whose appearance would be followed by the Harry

Lime theme, played on a xylophone.

“Imagine hearing a cuckoo followed by the Harry

Lime theme twice every hour, every day and night,

for the rest of your life,” Spencer said; he pressed

hard for second place.

Walsh, reflecting on his effort, said: “Polly Shorts

was my downfall. Those last 14 miles to Maritzburg

were the toughest that I have ever had to run.”

Alan Ferguson was fourth, John Woods fifth, and

Allen Boyce sixth. “Thank goodness that’s over,” he

remarked. Seventh in 7:45:03, Jackie Mekler received

the Hardy Ballington Trophy.

The Geraldine Watson Trophy went to Bob Hastie,

the last of 23 finishers, in 10:57:44.

Durban Athletic Club captured the Gunga Din

Trophy in resounding fashion through Allen (1st),

Walsh (3rd), Woods (5th) and Boyce (6th).

IN YOUR STRIDE30

After his brilliant win in 1960, Jackie Mekler was

favoured to land a third Comrades’ title in 1961. The

race, held on Wednesday, 31 May, the newly-named

Republic Day, was a down run, which Mekler had yet

to win.

Trevor Allen and George Claassen were

determined to challenge him, but Gerald Walsh, very

unfortunately, fell ill on the evening before the race

and was forced to withdraw.

After 164 entries were received, a total of 148

starters set off for Durban, including four wearing

green numbers: Liege Boulle, Trevor Allen, Arthur

Reeves and Fred Morrison.

Journalist Mervyn Myburgh reported: “One

leading Comrades official said that it costs the

organisers R400 to handle the event, yet even

if there were no valuable prizes, gold and

silver medals, the race would still attract big

fields year after year.”

Fritz Mädel, the third South African to win

the London to Brighton Marathon in 1959,

enjoyed the early lead, but Mekler, the 1960

London to Brighton winner, overhauled him and

was the first athlete to Umlaas Road. In second was a

novice, Keith Pearce.

Pearce, surprisingly, then caught and passed

the defending champion at Drummond. His time

was a sensational two hours and 47 minutes, which

Headmaster’s lesson: How to win the Comrades1961

Insert: A record 148 competitors line up in Pietermaritzburg.

In a thrilling tussle George Claassen and Frikkie Steyn are neck and neck going down Fields Hill.

bettered Reg Allison’s record to halfway by two

minutes and 23 seconds. Behind them, the group

featuring Claassen, Mädel and Frikkie Steyn passed

Drummond in two hours and 52 minutes.

Then, just beyond Botha’s Hill, there was a

stunning development: Mekler was out of the race!


Battling an Achilles heel injury, which he had picked

up during his London to Brighton win, he couldn’t

continue.

Suddenly, Pearce, was alone in front. He led his

nearest chasers, Claassen and Steyn, by four minutes

at Hillcrest. Wally Hayward owned the down run

record 5:52:30. Would a race newcomer challenge it?

No, it turned out. Pearce’s inexperience was

exposed as he ran into severe difficulties. With

Durban beckoning, he was a victim of cramping

and exhaustion, and finally had to end his brave

challenge. That left Claassen and Steyn to duel it out

for the win.

At the Westridge Park Tennis Stadium, Claassen

made his move. Steyn had no answer and Claassen

pulled away down Berea Road, charging towards the

title. Steyn had to settle for second.

Claassen, the 44-year-old Headmaster of

Middelburg High School, went on to victory at the

Beach Pavilion in 6:07:07. Steyn was the runner-up

in 6:09:05, while, when Trevor Allen finished third in

6:22:49, he became the first athlete to win Comrades’

10 gold medals.

Mädel and Nick Raubenheimer, completed the

top five, with only two seconds separating them.

Charlie Chase, in sixth, secured the last of the gold

medals, while nine of the top 10 finishers bettered

seven hours.

In 11th place, 18-year-old Tim Blankley clocked

7:21:04 to capture the Hardy Ballington Trophy as the

leading novice, while the oldest runner and winner

of the Founder’s Trophy, 59-year-old near-blind Ian

Jardine, was accompanied by former gold medallist

Mannie McMaster. They placed 42nd in 8:52:59.

A record total of 98 finishers was recorded. Race

veteran Ed Luckin was the last of them, and the

Geraldine Watson Trophy winner, in 10:59:45.

Durban Athletic Club’s Frikkie Steyn, Trevor Allen,

Fritz Mädel, and Nick Raubenheimer – second, third,

fourth and fifth respectively - decisively reclaimed

the Gunga Din Trophy from Germiston Callies

Harriers.

John Mkwanyana, an unofficial entrant, who

was seconded by former champion, Allen Boyce,

finished his first Comrades Marathon in 8:15:00 and

was enthusiastically cheered across the finishing

line by the crowd at The Beach Pavilion. If the South

African Amateur Athletic Association had granted

Mkwanyana official status, he would have placed a

commendable 30th.

The middle-aged George Claassen breasts the line at the Beach Pavilion in Durban to win the 45th Comrades Marathon.

IN YOUR STRIDE32

Serious spice was added to the 1962 Comrades

Marathon when the Road Runners’ Club of England

entered a team regarded as the best quartet in

Britain. In turn, the Marathon Runners Club of South

Africa put together a powerhouse quintet, which

would run in Springbok vests.

The visitors included John Smith, Tom

Buckingham and Don Turner, the top three finishers

in the London to Brighton Marathon of 1961, and

Ron Linstead, the record holder of the Isle of Man

Race, run over the same 37.5-mile course as the

famous TT.

South African team members’ Jackie Mekler and

Fritz Mädel were both former London to Brighton

winners. They were joined by defending champion

George Claassen, 1961’s runner-up Frikkie Steyn, and

Peter Clough.

Interest in the race was at a high and was

reflected in a record number of 156 starters.

Under the spotlight of the English challenge,

Mekler took up the pace at the front from the start

on Wednesday, 30 May. He raced into Pinetown in a

record time, pursued by Mädel, Steyn, Buckingham

and Smith, who were also inside the previous record.

There was a setback for the South African team,

though, when Claassen, who had undergone a

cartilage operation six months earlier, had to call it

quits near Kloof with a leg injury.

Cruising through Hillcrest, Mekler was over eight

minutes faster than he had been when he smashed

Wally Hayward’s up run record. In the words of Ron

Linstead: “Mekler was still really bombing it and went

through in two hours and 13 minutes “.

At Drummond, Mekler bested Mercer Davies’

record to halfway by over five minutes, speeding

through in two hours, 56 minutes and 57 seconds.

But Buckingham and Smith were also close to the

previous best. A newspaper report noted: “A big

dog that had hindered Mekler at Kloof was shooed

away, but was seen running with the leaders at

Drummond.”

Up Inchanga, though, Mekler began to slow. Still,

the South African star was 13 minutes faster through

the Camperdown checkpoint than he had been in

1960.

British runners reign supreme1962

Just passed Umlaas Road, John Smith overtakes Jackie Meckler who can be seen in the background. Smith has the seconding services of Bill Cochran, winner of the 1935 and 46 Comrades.

Linstead wrote: “Mekler was now feeling the

effects of his early pace and John [Smith], followed

by a fleet of cars, was hounding him down. By 40

miles, John was within a couple of hundred yards

of his quarry. Mekler, however, spurred on by fear

of defeat, was fighting hard and it was not until 43

miles were passed that John went by.”

At the start of Polly Shorts, Smith had

engineered a five-minute lead. But how would he

handle the incline? Comfortably, it proved. Now the

question became whether or not he could better six

hours and take down Mekler’s up run record.

In the end, it was a yes and a no. Yes, Smith

eclipsed six hours, but, no, he was unable to break

Mekler’s record. To tumultuous applause, he became

the first overseas winner of the Comrades, finishing

in 5:57:05, only 33 seconds outside of the record.

As the leading novice, he also claimed the Hardy

Ballington Trophy.


A crowd of over 2 000 packed the Collegians Club gave the British runner a standing ovation.

Mekler was second in a superb 6:04:04, but his

ill-advised fast early pace had cost him dearly. Later,

as the first South African finisher, he was presented

with an English Road Runners’ badge from the

overseas visitors.

Turner was third in 6:07:08, with Buckingham

fourth and Linstead fifth, thus giving the English

team an eye-opening 1-3-4-5 result.

Of Polly Shorts, Linstead wrote: “Propriety forbids

me to say what I thought of Polly Shorts, but believe

me it was sheer agony.”

After that, however, the remainder of the

course was, he said, pleasurable: “The crowds at the

roadside over the last stretch were amazing and full

of encouragement. They seemed highly delighted at

our overall success.”

Over 20 minutes after Linstead finished, Charlie

Chase crossed the line in sixth to secure the last gold

of the gold medals.

Near-blind Ian Jardine, now into his sixties and

the oldest finisher, again won the Founder’s Trophy,

while Ron Clokie, who had a finger amputated the

week before the race after a motorcycle accident,

also finished. He would become Jardine’s guide in

1964.

There were a record 109 finishers, including a

runner, surname Westman, who sneaked inside the

cut-off by one second to earn the Geraldine Watson

Trophy.

Durban Athletic Club - Frikkie Steyn (8th), Trevor

Allen (12th), Andy Greening (13th) and Tim Blankley

(14th) - edged out Savages for the Gunga Din Trophy.

IN YOUR STRIDE34

In 1975, the Comrades Marathon celebrated its

Golden Jubilee, with the 50th edition of the great

race being run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg for

a second year in succession so that it would finish in

the city where it had its origins

Special medals celebrated the milestone, but,

more importantly, women and runners of colour

were officially allowed to enter for the first time.

Sadly, due to traffic issues, the field was restricted to

1 500 runners and qualifying was introduced.

Recognising the importance of rookie runners

and slower athletes, and fearing the event would

become one for elite competitors, the highly-

respected Ian Jardine said: “This is the end of the

Comrades Marathon. It will never be the same”.

Liege Boulle also railed against the restrictions,

opining that the event would lose its special

atmosphere and become moribund.

The Sunday Tribune weighed in: “The Marathon

should be open to all who wish to try their powers of

endurance. It is a great event with a great tradition. It

should be preserved as an open race.”

After 1 686 entries were received, these were cut

to 1 501. Predictably, fewer runners arrived to run on

the day, with 1 382 entrants making it to the starting

line, including 14 black and three coloured athletes,

and only Maureen Holland and Mavis Hutchison

as female representatives. The United Nations had

declared 1975 the Year of the Woman, so this

was a disappointment.

Women and runners of colour officially recognised1975

Comrades runners topping Inchanga.

A potential title challenge from three-time

champion Dave Bagshaw, unfortunately, fell apart

when he picked up an injury in May. Still, running

against the advice of doctors, simply with the aim of

finishing, he managed a brave 82nd place.

Derek Preiss, who had reversed his

post-race decision of 1974, was back

to defend his title. He was, along

with Dave Levick, in the eyes of


With still 40 kilometers to go, the eventual winner, Derek Preiss (left) had not yet begun to pull away from novice Alan Robb (center) and Pietermaritzburg’s Gordon Baker, who came in third and fourth respectively.

many, the man to beat.

After the start, and following some early dicing

for positions, Dave Rogers led at Cowie’s Hill, but

Alan Robb passed him on the incline of Field’s Hill.

He led at Drummond in two hours and 56 minutes,

but then was slowed by Inchanga’s demanding

climb. Preiss, after passing John McBrearty, was up to

second, and soon sailed serenely past Robb. By Polly

Shorts, he led second-placed Gordon Shaw by six

minutes. Then, without a false step, Preiss cruised up

the hill and over the top.

The 22-year-old duly swept onto the Collegians’

Club Oval in front of over 4 000 people to capture

the honours in 5:53:50. “A runaway victory”, said the

Sunday Tribune.

“I overtook Alan Robb at Inchanga, but the only

pressure I applied was well after that, when I was

worried that Dave Levick might finish strongly, as he

did in 1973,” Preiss said.

Gordon Shaw took second in 6:01:15, with Koos

Sutherland placing third in 6:06:40. The rest of the

top 10 included John McBrearty, Alan Robb, Dave

Rogers, Dave Levick, Derek van Eeden, Tim Blankley

and Geoff Deeny.

Gordon Baker finished a disappointing 21st.

Just one place ahead of him, Vincent Rakabele

was the highest placed runner of colour. He was

magnanimously treated to loud cheers at the finish.

Lettie van Zyl, after failing to qualify for the

Comrades, was an unofficial entrant. Despite this,

she recorded a best ever women’s up run time of

08:50:00, over an hour-and-a-half clear of Maureen

Holland. Mavis Hutchison failed to finish.

The Hardy Ballington Trophy went to Dewald

Steyn, who finished 16th in 6:26:00. Among the

record of 1 241 finishers, was Frank Hargraves, 63,

who claimed the Founder’s Trophy. ER Wallis, in

10:58:00, was the last official finisher.

With the team competition now being decided

on combined time, Westville Athletic Club - with

Derek Preiss, Dave Rogers, Steve Atkins and Norman

Wessels all inside the top 12 - secured a first Gunga

Din Trophy.

While controversies and challenging issues

surrounded the 1975 Comrades Marathon, viewed in

retrospect, the 50th edition of the race had, in fact,

laid the foundation for it to flourish in the coming

years.

The inclusion of runners of colour and women

also set a precedent for other events in other

sporting codes to follow. It would be a long, slow

path to the integration of all sports in South Africa,

but the first steps had been taken.

IN YOUR STRIDE36

After his win in 1982, Bruce Fordyce had told a Natal

Mercury reporter that he had run his last down run:

“I promised myself that with 10 kilometres to go,”

he said. “It’s not a race. It’s torture.” But, in 1983, also

with a second London to Brighton Marathon crown

in the bag, he was back to tackle the up run after a

record-setting effort in 1981, during which he had

slashed over seven-and-a-half minutes off of the

previous record. The smart money was on the Wits

University student to win again.

There was no shortage of challengers,

however, with the entire top 10 of 1982, excepting

Dave Wright, back to take on the Durban to

Pietermaritzburg route.

The field also included Hoseah Tjale, who

had not run in 1982. Fordyce had tagged him as

Three in a row as Fordyce shatters the up record1983

a top contender. There were, however, questions

surrounding Alan Robb. He had lost two weeks of

training due to blood poisoning. Then, there was

Gordon Shaw, who had finished as the runner-

up in 1975, but that was the last time he had run

the Comrades. What was he capable of? Fordyce

suggested Shaw was a legitimate title contender.

Cheryl Jorgenson had won the down run with

ease in 1982, but a kidney problem had affected her

preparations. Lise Warren and Ralie Smith, second

and third respectively, were back to challenge her

for the women’s honours, while some fancied the

chances of University of Natal student Lindsay

Weight. She had shone in long-distance events prior

to the Comrades and a win by a local student would

be popular in Pietermaritzburg.


Caption left: Hillcrest Villagers, winners of the Gunga Din Trophy for the second consecutive year. Left to right; Ian Edwards, Graeme Fraser, Errol Ackerman and Tony Abbott.Caption below: Colin Goosen’s courageous crawl to cross the finishing and claim 10th position became an iconic image of the Comrades Marathon.

Prior to the race, a get-together for past

Comrades’ champions was hosted in Johannesburg.

Those in attendance included a number of winners

who were flown in from overseas with the support

of South African Airways. They included John

Smith, Bernard Gomersall, Dave Bagshaw, Mick

Orton, and Dave Levick. Five-time champions’ Wally

Hayward and Jackie Mekler were joined by, among

others, four-time winner Alan Robb, and two-time

champions’ Bill Cochrane, Trevor Allen, Gerald Walsh,

Derek Preiss, Johnny Coleman, and Bruce Fordyce.

The official race distance was 87.7-kilometres,

two kilometres less than it had been for the last up

run. On Tuesday, 31 May, 5 862 starters were on the

starting line in Durban. The lure of the Comrades had

truly struck at South African hearts. A massive crowd

of spectators lined the streets to witness the largest

ever field in the history of the event.

From the get-go, a number of small groups

containing the top runners formed, and as the

athletes found their rhythm so some switching up

of places occurred. At the top of Field’s Hill, Graeme

Fraser, Colin Goosen, and Piet Vorster shared the

lead. At Hillcrest, they were joined by Gordon Shaw

and Gary Coetzee.

Through the halfway mark at Drummond, the

front runner was Goosen, in 2:49:15, narrowly in

front of Vorster, Fraser and Shaw. Fordyce and Tjale

followed, with their gap at 300 metres. Alan Robb, it

was clear, was not at his best and he trailed the pace-

setters by a kilometre.

Then, Gordon Shaw, hit the front, with Graeme

Fraser in pursuit. Only 100 metres off of the leader,

though, were Bruce Fordyce and Hoseah Tjale, who

had been joined by Piet Vorster. The 1979 champion

was soon dropped, however. At Radnor, Fordyce and

Tjale overhauled Fraser. Soon, Shaw and Fordyce

were duelling for the lead.

When the archaeological student increased

the tempo, Shaw was unable to match him and the

unmistakable blonde-haired runner in the yellow

vest and blue shorts went clear at the front.

It had become crystal-clear that Fordyce was on

his way to matching Arthur Newton, Dave Bagshaw

and Alan Robb, with three victories in succession.

Nothing would stop him, it appeared. Although…

what of Polly Shorts? Looking relaxed, Fordyce

rhythmically pounded the road to the top of the

incline. From the summit, it was all downhill to the

finish. Another up run record was on the cards.

More than 10 minutes after Fordyce, Fraser

became the second man over the top of Polly Shorts.

Unlike Fordyce, he was in agony. Shaw was making

better progress up the hill. Tjale was in fourth, but,

IN YOUR STRIDE38

Fantastic Fordyce flies to sixth victory 1986

After five successive wins, Bruce Fordyce was the

odds-on favourite to win in 1986. Some, though,

talked up Bob de la Motte. But Professor Tim Noakes

said for Fordyce not to win, he’d have to drop dead.

Helen Lucre, after her comfortable 1985 victory, was

favoured for the women’s title.

On Saturday, 31 May, in Pietermaritzburg, the

number of starters reached into five figures, at 10

552.

De la Motte and Deon Holtzhausen led the

contenders early, before De la Motte went clear

down Botha’s Hill, two minutes ahead of Fordyce,

Hoseah Tjale and Danny Biggs. Well-organised

seconds kept Fordyce informed of the race situation.

Then, when De la Motte struggled on Cowie’s

Hill, Fordyce and Tjale reduced his lead to about 40

metres. Near Westville, Fordyce

dropped Tjale. Then,

he caught up to De la Motte. To loud cheers, they

ran together, with neither giving an inch. But on an

incline, the champion edged ahead.

At Kingsmead, Fordyce carved three minutes

and 11 seconds off of his record, finishing in 5:24:07.

De la Motte, second in 5:26:12, also bettered the

previous mark, with Tjale third in 5:29:02. Twenty

runners bettered six hours.

Fordyce commented: “I was much more relaxed

than I was last year and thought to myself ‘if you lose,

you lose’ and that worked.”

De la Motte declared: “This guy is an absolute

genius. He is not even sweating.”

In the women’s race, Lindsay Weight blew near

halfway and dropped way down the field. Helen

Lucre, unchallenged, claimed victory, 337th overall,

in six hours, 55 minutes and one second.

“I am a lucky girl to have won, but Lindsay was a

Rand Athletic Club team-mates and friends, Bruce Fordyce and Bob del Motte celebrate a stunning one-two after a spectacular duel.

bit silly to have pushed so hard in the early stages,”

she said.

Ralie Smit was second in 7:40:40, with Lettie

Greeff third. The entire top 10 won silver medals for

bettering seven-and-a-half hours.

There were 9 653 finishers. The biggest cheer of

the day went to the last finisher, Hugh Cottrell, The

Natal Mercury reported.

Rand Athletic Club - Bruce Fordyce (5:24:07), Bob

de la Motte (5:26:12), Tony Dearling (5:55:36) and

Trevor Metcalfe (6:02:42) - won the Gunga Din in a

record 22:48:37.

Stephen Seema, 13th in 5:54:34, won the Hardy

Ballington Trophy, and Doug Horton, aged 71,

received the Founder’s Trophy.


Gift Kelehe had won the Comrades Marathon in

2015, while Bongmusa Mthembu was defending the

up run title in 2016. Ludwick Mamabolo, the 2012

champion, had his eye on a second down run win

and Claude Moshiywa, the 2013 winner, hoped for a

down run title to go with his up run victory.

Caroline Wöstmann, whose win in 2015 had

been the first by a South African woman since 1998,

was chasing back-to-back titles, but the field was

missing a host of top Russian runners after the IAAF

banned the Russian Athletics Federation from all

international competition as a result of a doping

scandal. This meant that, among others, Elena and

Olesya Nurgalieva were ruled out of the race.

A total of 21 569 entries were received, but in the

end just 16 807 of them started in Pietermaritzburg

on Sunday, 29 May.

The position swapping up front was frantic

The fastest ever Comrades Marathon run2016

throughout the first half of the event as the leaders

chopped and changed frequently. At Drummond,

however, the halfway lead belonged to Bernard

Dandadzi.

Meanwhile, David Gatebe, the 2013 Two Oceans’

IN YOUR STRIDE40

After a tremendous chase, Charné Bosman overhauled defending champion Caroline Wöstmann with the finish at Kingsmead in sight to capture the 2016 Comrades Marathon title

champion, who had never previously placed inside

the top 20 at the Comrades Marathon, was rapidly

picking off runners ahead of him. He was outside

of the top 50 before the climb up Inchanga, but at

Drummond he had rocketed up into seventh place.

Only a couple of kilometres later, he sped into the

lead.

Later, he said, he knew he had the victory in

the bag with 31 kilometres still to run. It was an

incredible claim given the past history of the race,

but Gatebe encountered no problems. In fact, he

was possibly on pace for a record.

Later, in a television interview, he said: “With 10

kilometres to go, my coach told me to pick up the

pace [by blowing twice on his whistle]. When I could

smell the ocean, I knew it was the time to win the

Comrades.

“I saw my split was going 3:30 [per kilometre], so

I just needed to maintain it for the last 10 kilometres.”

Gatebe did just that and when he crossed the

finishing line it was in 5:18:19, convincingly inside

of Leonid Shvetsov’s down run record of 5:24:49.

Ludwick Mamabolo, second in 5:24:05, also bettered

the old mark. When Bongmusa Mthembu placed

third in 5:26:39, it marked the first time that three

runners had bettered five-and-a-half hours. Eight of

the top 10 finishers were South African.

The absence of the Russian athletes did not

detract from a gripping women’s race, which was

decided only within the last two kilometres. At one

stage, Caroline Wöstmann looked as if she would

claim an easy win, but her bid for victory was

derailed by cramp.

She had led at Drummond in 3:07:54, over

four minutes clear of Charné Bosman and that gap

continued to grow, reaching 11 minutes. Utilising

Gunga Din in 22:52:03. Their team featured Ludwick

Mamabolo (5:24:05), Claude Moshiywa (5:36:25),

Renier Grobler (5:49:53) and Ruben Setumu (6:01:40).

Andrew Chimbidzikai was the leading novice

in 5:42:49, while the oldest finisher, at 74, was Mike

Evered-Hall in 11:31:51. Johan Jacobs claimed the

Geraldine Watson Trophy.

similar tactics to those she employed during her win

a year earlier, Wöstmann chose to walk some of the

bigger hills as she neared Durban.

During her third stop, her race was almost ended

when she was clipped by a motorbike and knocked

to the ground. Fortunately, she was uninjured. But,

even earlier, Wöstmann’s running style had showed

she was struggling with cramp.

Eventually, Bosman came past her with the finish

in sight. Wöstmann was unable to muster a response

and walked the rest of the way. In the end, it was a

resounding win by Bosman in 6:25:55. Wöstmann

took second in 6:30:44 in the first one-two finish for

South African women since 1993.

The Swede, Kajsa Berg, ended third in 6:39:04,

ahead of the USA’s Sarah Bard. Another American,

former South African Olympian, Colleen de Reuck,

aged 52, was seventh in her Comrades debut.

The Nedbank Running Club captured the


In 2019, Bongmusa Mthembu was chasing a third

successive win and a fourth Comrades title, which

would take him level with Alan Robb. Previously,

only Arthur Newton, Dave Bagshaw, Robb, Bruce

Fordyce and Stephen Muzhingi had won three

Comrades’ in succession.

His most interesting challenger was, arguably,

novice runner Nao Kazami of Japan. In 2018, he had

set a world record of 6:09:14 for the 100 kilometres.

When he learnt about the Comrades Marathon from

the South African contingent at the IAU 100km

World Championships, he chose to enter, aiming for

sixth place and its R40 000 prize money. That would

cover his travel expenses.

Ann Ashworth was back to defend her women’s

title. She had run a personal best in the Valencia

Marathon in December. Gerda Steyn, second in 2018,

had designs on a Comrades’ title and had won the

Two Oceans Marathon in the build-up to the race.

Seldom have athletes managed the double of South

Africa’s two most prestigious ultra-marathon titles in

one year, so it remained to be seen whether or not

that victory would come back to haunt her.

Entries were capped at 25 000 runners,

which was achieved with ease, with 80 countries

represented. Race Director Rowyn James

commented: “The Comrades Marathon brand is

obviously in an incredibly good space and it is credit

Men duel to the end, Steyn rewrites women’s record2019

Over 19 000 comrades competitors pack the streets of Durban as they set off on one of the world’s greatest ultra-running adventures for the city of Pietermaritzburg.

IN YOUR STRIDE42

to the team who efficiently and effectively go about

putting Runners First on a daily basis; as well as all of

our sponsors, stakeholders and athletes, who are so

vested in The Ultimate Human Race”.

Two new medals were introduced: the Isavel

Roche-Kelly Medal was an equivalent of the Wally

Hayward Medal, but was aimed specifically at female

runners who finished outside of the gold medals

positions, but inside of seven-and-a-half hours. Like

the Wally Hayward, they were half silver and half

gold.

The titanium Robert Mtshali medal was

introduced for runners finishing between nine and

10 hours. It honoured Mtshali’s achievement in

1935, when, as an unofficial runner, he finished

the Comrades in nine-and-a-half hours.

There were, ultimately, 19 103 starters on race

day, with 16 439 of them going on to finish. The

oldest finisher and winner of the Founder’s Trophy

would prove to be Johannes Mosehla in 10:21:48.

In the early going, the lead belonged to

Canisious Nyamutsita of Zimbabwe, while, behind

him, a number of potential winners bided their time.

At Drummond, however, the halfway leader was

TK Moshwetsi in 2:43:25, but he was passed soon

afterwards as the climb of Inchanga beckoned.

It was tight up front, with Kenya’s 2018 Two

Oceans champion Justin Kemboi Chesire reaching

Cato Ridge slightly ahead of David Gatebe and

Joseph Manyedi. Not far behind them were

defending champ Mthembu, Kazami and Edward

Mothibi, who had finished an impressive fourth in

his first Comrades a year earlier.

Mthembu and Mothibi then made a move to the

front and reached Polly Shorts together. Would the

arduous incline, as it had done so often in the past,

decide the outcome of the race?

Mthembu made the first move, but Mothibi

was up for the challenge and countered the three-

time winner’s burst. At the top of the climb, he had

opened a 20-second lead over Mthembu. Running

freely, he raced on to victory in 5:31:33. Mthembu,

chasing hard, claimed second only 25 seconds later.

Kazami captured the Hardy Ballington Trophy after

finishing third in 5:39:16.

Chesire, in sixth, became the first Kenyan to


win a Comrades Marathon gold medal, while

Finland’s Henri Ansio placed seventh. At 48,

Zimbabwean Mark Mambo, ended eighth.

A delighted Mothibi said: “Last year was my

first race and this win is a bonus for me, and I really

appreciate that. I wanted to secure back-to-back

gold. All I wanted was to finish in the top 10, and if I

got gold then I’ve achieved what I’ve set out to do.”

Further down the field, Barry Holland and Louis

Massyn improved their shared record for the most

Comrades Marathon finishes to 47.

Maxed Elite KZN - Nkosikhona Mhlakwana

(5:53:22), Mncedisi Mkhize (5:58:24), Charles

Tjiane (6:08:14), and Sanele Sibisi (6:13:59) - won the

Gunga Din Trophy.

While the men’s race produced a thrilling duel

for the honours, the women’s race produced one

of the greatest runs in the history of the event from

Gerda Steyn, who became the first woman to break

the seven-hour barrier for the up run.

Her victory was reminiscent of Frith van der

Merwe’s mind-boggling down run victory in 1989.

That year, Van der Merwe finished 15th overall.

Steyn, in 2019, was 17th overall. Her time of 5:58:52

destroyed the record of 6:09:24, which had belonged

to Russian great, Elena Nurgalieva. Steyn also won

by 18:47, the biggest margin of victory since Van der

Merwe’s win three decades earlier.

Early on, Ann Ashworth, the defending

champion, set the pace, with Camille Heron, the

defending up run champion, keeping her within her

sights. Steyn, though, was not far behind the two

overseas runners. Soon, she annexed the lead.

Running comfortably, Steyn reached Drummond

in 3:02:03. Ashworth, in second, was almost two

IN YOUR STRIDE44

minutes behind her, while the Russian, Alexandra

Morozova, had risen to third place.

The day after the race, Steyn shared her

experience to Drummond with 702’s Ray White: “I

tried to take it in and acknowledge the crowds and

talk with the runners next to me. When we got to the

halfway point, I realised that I was on record pace.

That’s when I decided it was my chance. I had never

been that close to it. I would have to take a chance

and hope it worked out for me.”

Confidently, Steyn continued to pad her lead.

Not even Polly Shorts put a dent into her ambition

of a record and by the time she crested the feared

climb she had established an unassailable lead

over Morozova. When she broke the tape in

Pietermaritzburg, her time was 10 minutes and 31

seconds faster than Nurgalieva’s record.

It was a big pay day for Steyn. She bagged

R500 000 for winning, another R500 000 for setting

a new record, and a further R200 000 for being

the first South African to finish. Her Two Oceans’

victory hadn’t cost her. In fact, Steyn revealed, her

goal in 2019 had always been the Comrades’ title

and winning it was a dream come true: “From the

beginning of the year, I focussed on Comrades. I ran

Two Oceans as well, but my training was all targeted

on the Comrades. Everything this year went into the

race.”

Morozova was second in 6:17:40, with Catriona

Jennings taking third in 6:24:12. Defending

champion Ashworth placed fourth. Also in the top

10, in eighth, was the 2016 winner Charné Bosman.

When Gerda Steyn won the 2016 Comrades Marathon she became the first woman to better six hours for the up run. She was also the second woman, after Frith van der Merwe, to finish in the top 20 overall

Comrades’ runners raised nearly R4.4-

million for the official race charities: Durban and

Pietermaritzburg Community Chests, Childhood

Cancer Foundation (CHOC), Hillcrest Aids Centre

Trust, Hospice Palliative Care Association, Wildlands

Conservation Trust and World Vision SA.

Dean Wight was the top Race4Charity fundraiser,

bringing in R352 060 for the Hillcrest Aids Centre

Trust, while Barry Holland was among the top 10

charity fundraisers.

Later in the year, when entries opened for the

2020 Comrades Marathon, the entire cap for South

Africans was reached in only a day-and-a-half. It

had taken six days the previous year and signalled

that the Comrades was in rude

health. The field was capped at

27 500 runners.


The concept of Green Numbers was first introduced in 1972, but it was applied retrospectively so that the names listed herein

do in fact constitute a complete list of individuals who have met the criteria.

The names recorded in this roll are of runners who have earned their Comrades Marathon number in perpetuity, becoming

members of an exclusive band of individuals who have experienced a special relationship with this great race. The criteria for

inclusion in the Comrades Marathon Green Number Club Roll of Honour is to have achieved 3 wins or 5 golds or 10 plus medals.

COMRADES GREEN NUMBERS ROLL OF HONOUR

47 MEDALS916 Barry Holland403 Louis Massyn45 MEDALS183 Dave Rogers43 MEDALS3111 Vic Boston42 MEDALS7296 Mike Cowling4192 Wietsche vd Westhuizen1704 Alan Robb1702 Dave Lowe1180 Zwelitsha Gono1 Clive Crawley41 MEDALS1689 Tommy Neitski1550 David Williams40 MEDALS4286 Shaun Wood2516 Boysie van Staden1691 Johann van Eeden1221 Riel Hugo145 Kenny Craig39 MEDALS144 Colin Goosen141 Liege Boulle38 MEDALS6779 Hercu Hofmeyr2751 Billy Patel1264 Caspar Greeff477 Rob Collins37 MEDALS8412 Kovalan Moodley3077 Clive Durston395 Michael Wilmot110 Leon van Wyk36 MEDALS11101 Maurice Rosen5058 Eric Wright4296 Ian Benson2033 Allan Tribe1808 Lionel De Haas1580 Jeremy Garden1445 Ken Holm5 Allan Ferguson35 MEDALS9369 Kenny Williams4697 Wayne Scott2182 Komalan Moodley1204 Guillaume Nel900 Calie Beneke91 Henry Greyling34 MEDALS7919 Kleintjie van Schalkwyk6630 Zirk Lourens6604 Christopher Mortimer6126 Msize Madlala4859 Barry Reed

1961 Derrick Oliver1747 Gareth Griffiths1063 Chris Fisher412 Pat Lynch148 Grant Arbuthnot132 Basil Davis33 MEDALS16748 Jan van Vreden15784 Barlan Govender11201 Thami Mdluli10595 Pieter Nel10047 Andre Van Rooyen7909 Basil Kok7251 John Stark5137 Manuel Alves3295 Kobus vd Walt3219 Philip Parvus1910 Klaus Dirr1754 Sipho Mthimkhulu1570 Ricky Knoesen845 Rob Steer126 Len Bernon72 Mike Gierke47 Timothy Blankley44 Fritz Madel32 MEDALS19352 Johan Grant17678 Daniel Jordaan15295 Martin Jacobs14156 Neels Pretorius11523 Keith Reynolds6971 Theo Rafiri6319 Phillip van Niekerk5702 Kevin Duddy4587 Andries Venter4361 Werner Weidemann3745 Jack Mortassagne3534 Charles Panaino1817 Derek Pawley508 Greg Michell496 Attie Nortje272 Jim Harwood31 MEDALS22027 Werner Kriel21441 Jacob Karelse19973 Moferefere Mochatsi17266 Selwyn Losper15728 Gert Snygans15118 Christo Brink13626 Johan Burger10790 Walter Sonnendecker9277 Terry Petersen9022 Deon Rossouw7306 Richard Wulfsohn5829 Naresh Nana5147 Johan Kriel2846 Francois Kellerman1628 Peter Hurry1011 Patricia Fisher

815 Anthony Spence30 MEDALS22751 Isaac Mabula22525 Naresh Devnund20776 Edmund Mngadi20003 Oosie Oosthuizen19446 Mpho Motaung19039 Koos Coetzee18527 Dirk Brink18084 Fred Macdougall16560 Jan Coetzee16160 Alpheos Jobe15949 Leon van Moerkerken15753 Nick Sissing15103 Richard Hammill14741 Bradley Oakley-Brown14147 Video Murray13851 Vitalis Poli11354 Magavishnu Nair9814 Zwelakhe Nxumalo9453 Roger Buck8743 Floors Welthagen7502 John Grobbelaar7486 Richard Butcher6883 Pat Freeman6845 Shaun Meiklejohn6563 Ephraim Mokoena6357 Moses Mapaila5938 Kim Pain5743 Paul Mokwena5701 Tilda Tearle4883 Robert Edouard-Betsy4846 Alf Gloy4773 Graham Carroll4506 Mike Nel4321 Jan Kooyman3112 Hilton Galleid3093 Charl Bredell2472 Shane Hinchliffe2403 Bruce Fordyce2096 Ronald Dribbin2037 Melvin Waldeck1955 Frank Clarke1946 Elias Mahlaba1765 Roger Swanevelder1746 Jannie van Deventer1657 Budjie Petzer1278 Tups Tupper1102 Ronald Tanner1052 Amiel vd Berg828 Robin Stamper632 Stanley Brooks528 Ken Hundermark385 Chris Holder166 Lawrence Mallen29 MEDALS27500 Themba Dube27489 Simon Chiliza26784 Danie Jacobs

26090 Nkeke Ranamane24763 Johnny vd Walt24070 Phuti Tlabela23400 James Reid19420 Gerhard van Wyk19088 Garry Mann18787 Dale Rynhoud10927 Jabulani Nkosi10454 Willy Castle9136 Bruce Deeley-Smith8676 Solly Miller8247 Issy Margolin7912 Coenie Berowsky6040 Rufan Palm5974 Toni Hesp5040 Fred Wright4746 Albert Fayard4493 David Jacobs4226 Faizel Shaikjee3317 Zakiel Masha2815 Johan van Staden2265 Thomas Chauke2225 Vernon Anley2125 Brandon Jackson1734 Francois Joubert703 Themba Ntshingila661 Richard Coleman28 MEDALS29711 Christiaan Steyn29471 Moloi Masango28499 Mbusiseni Mpaugazitha28270 Marinda Ludick27821 Willie Zwane27749 Phillemon Zulu27318 Paseka Hlalele26802 Sean Le Grange24323 Sharon Eldridge24032 Hein Potgieter22465 Ricky Pillay21529 Kenneth Melodi19892 Pieter Hanekom18456 Cosmos Langa17365 Jason Jafta15633 Ananthan Marie14866 David Duffy14100 Dickie-Boy Stubbs13523 Dirk Lourens13226 Butiki Ngubane10359 Roger Bailey9373 Jan Jordaan8831 Johan van Dyk7642 Rich Russell7224 John Morrison6445 Riana Rousseau6389 Patrick Msibi4840 Andy Mckissock4832 Ashokumar Singh4172 Mike Forshaw4071 Gert van Niekerk

3682 Frikkie Botha3443 Dean Wight2748 Ian McDonald2450 Bala Subramanian1664 Dave Norval616 Barry Varty84 Charlie Chase27 MEDALS35340 Krishna Naidoo33880 Lucas Buthelezi30236 Greg Mackett29200 Phillip Ngubane28137 Josiah Makoro26858 Jerry Maseko25236 Kosie van Vuuren22950 Braam Norval22497 Andries Oelofse22306 Arge Nienhuser22276 Hennie Espach22194 Albert Devenish22147 Mark Hoffman19583 Gerhard Nortje19384 Samuel Louw19024 Petrus Molefe18390 Allister Gibbons16355 Anita Botha15686 Pieter van Heerden15643 Malie vd Walt15632 Val Watson14469 Sagadevan Moonsamy14138 Coenie Herbst14123 David Jv Vuuren13832 Julian Karp13431 Jimmy Harding13088 Rudi Rabe12079 Vivian Augustine11754 Jose Araujo11029 Christie Bouwer10190 Nhlanhla Madlala10174 Mahmood Moosa10070 Helen Mann9955 Nicholas King9931 Derrick Mazibuko8612 John Sneddon8246 Ann Margolin7818 David Baker6771 Louis Harmse5986 Frank Da Ascencao5931 Henry Mudge5792 Nat Padayachee5744 Iain Toomey5625 Johan Vorster5596 Eddie Miles5255 Craig Dennill5144 Eloi De Oliveira5120 Dennis Sondlana4338 Gerard Visser3955 Johan Breydenbach3891 Timothy Mahlaba

3179 Theo Swart3003 Harry Sukhdeo2409 Graham Ferguson2317 Sam Mellet1524 John Morgan1321 Glen May1298 Derek Ferguson1174 Boet Scholtz491 David Gardner159 Tex Cullen26 MEDALS32023 Rajen Sewlal32021 Johannes Neswiswi31877 Curtis Rajoo31797 Collin Palmer28141 Sipho Phakathi27849 Rozanne Long27507 Madinga Dube26621 Amos Nkosi25639 Hendrik Kotze24835 Joseph Dumakude23880 Edmund Luiz22457 Calvin Khoza21811 Thembelani Figlan21770 Kennith Erasmus21190 Stephan Bothma20993 Power Mudzunga20354 Balpersadh Mothilal19781 Clifford Blake19656 Dries Erasmus18521 Minki Adoonis18404 Mduduzi Nyalunga18018 Peter Mantu17898 Anton Nkabini16596 Elvis Niekerk16525 John Nukeri16086 Hein Niedinger15985 Gina Hinchliffe15181 Vernon Ball14826 Chelela Mbuyane13759 Deon Stumke12309 Alan Coulter11636 Mark Lazarus11348 Fano Zungu9405 Graham Handley8632 Kim Henderson8477 Premjith Ramsurrup8272 Klaus Neumann7270 Johan Visagie6877 Louis van Rooyen6788 Gideon Joubert6617 Johan Hibbert6410 Charles Pillay6068 Colin Willson5498 Aubrey Roberts5458 Phumlani Sibisi5061 Peter Johnstone4265 Marius Bosman4047 Themba Shabangu

3773 Mike Brown3754 Don Ross-Watt3554 Colin Sydney3340 Robert Button3136 Graham Buck2897 Roshen Anandlal2820 Jan Kemp2623 Hendrik van Eeden2611 Gerald Kroukamp2418 Andre Muller2209 Otto Ueckermann1818 Gary Rich1782 Brian Keeling1698 John Bush1640 Rod Jarvis1515 Pieter Botes1466 At Schoeman1416 Terry Smith655 James Delport525 Ron Edwards437 Tyrrell Oosterbroek431 Hennie van Dyk256 Lars Nayler192 Wally Carey25 MEDALS38752 Wynand Strydom33732 Andre Du Toit33345 Lindeque Mokhachane32942 Roy Govender32387 Jabulani Magudulela31835 Moses Lengweng31602 Sipho Radebe31420 Annie Harmsworth31229 Eddie Mouton30217 Piet Vilakazi29177 Benfield Zulu28073 Welcome Mteto27285 Titus Dlalda26131 Paul Tampane23682 Ncani Shabalala22216 Edwin Boucher21480 Ian Botha21052 Thembinkosi Khaba20816 Sidney Cleophas20781 Maxwell Mngwengwe20617 George Boshoff20575 Dan Mathebula20288 Marius Carstens19758 Patrick Sehotsane19646 George Ntsoereng19110 Brett Florens18791 Andre Kleinsmith18608 Mike Edgcumbe18454 Norman Milne18201 Michael Langa17499 Simon Dhlamini17413 Vincent Ngcobo17375 Ngwako Pilusa17259 Muthusamy Chetti

IN YOUR STRIDE46

17181 Gareth Griffiths16429 Freek Swanepoel16045 Gary Smith15473 Clive Mingay15472 Patson Maluleka15319 Louis Gerber14729 David Dire14215 Dirk Jansen13973 Mbhekiseni Mchunu13615 Lynda Bell13016 Drix Pretorius12710 Philip Tozer12169 Nico Dicks11763 Niekie Pretorius10837 Aneshkumar Owthar10116 Christopher Noel9954 Joggie van Staden9246 Vino Pillay9060 Mickey Smith9000 John Jv Rensburg8740 Desmond Oliver8616 Siphiwe Zwane8574 Bennie Crous8178 Terry O'Connor7782 Vaughan Joubert7774 John Cooper7118 Penny Visser7116 Andries Swarts7046 Abram Mahlangu7031 Izak Steyn6672 Joseph Mambabada6518 Forrester Schoeman6409 Sydney Eckley6367 Dirk Breedt5977 Llewelyn Curlewis5913 Shelagh Smith5761 Anne Kouvarellis5689 Gunter Stapel5597 Willie Du Preez5435 Jan Vreken5390 Motlogelwa Khoele5238 Peter Capsopoulos5170 Roger Naidoo4698 Andre Spies4121 Barry Dingle4054 Benjaman Ramnarin3412 John Knobel3224 John Shillington3223 Theresa Lillis3199 Peter Daniel3078 Russell Dyer2838 John Barnard2643 Martin Wood2587 Derek Reyneke2500 Craig Clemence2338 Hylton James1869 Joseph De Jager1767 Tony Venton1543 Lindsay Lane1516 Cliff Wallace1512 Manie Saayman1469 Rooie Robbertse1168 Pieter van Immerzeel1104 Roy Greenberg1013 Erwin Muller1003 Brian Falconer891 Max Botha873 Reynaert De Vos867 Barry Phillips866 Jorrie Jordaan835 John Broome653 Dave Larkan465 Eddie Ward384 John Ball316 Dave Park

260 Alec Wainwright202 Peru Moodley165 Edward Craig88 Gavin Breetzke86 Colin Fourie24 MEDALS51357 Mahlomola Moloi36047 Johannes Ramaphakela35554 Pienas Magashule35490 David Langa34905 Elsabe De Klerk33860 Johan Stemmet33850 Robert Ngema33832 Elize Uys32998 Sibusiso Ntuli32976 Daniel Moeti32930 Nkosana Mpolweni31975 Eric Makhaya31876 Khathutshelo Mabila31820 Maqaleni Shabalala31600 Mahlathini Mosiea30919 Vusi Nhlapo28883 Johan Makhanya28851 Stephan Bruwer28163 Edward Magidimisa26827 Joseph Morowane25355 Alex Sibisi25253 Stuart Gemmill24687 Satish Ramsavak24570 Justice Kawa24301 Brendan van Wyk23947 Mongezi Novokoza22222 Joseph Tutubala21457 Gerrie Jv Rensburg21375 Joseph Mageko21364 White Modisenyane21000 Shaun Carr20689 Sid Reddy19102 Kim Jackson19085 Dion Singh18317 Mariemuthu Raju18066 Vlam Pieterse17724 Andre Niemand17251 Ewan Cochran17076 Ernest Madimabe16647 Reuben Sebela16561 Bobby Chetty15567 Jaco vd Berg15477 Veerabatheran Moodley14844 Johannes Nkabinde14292 Collin Pillay14126 Jopie Jordan13930 Jean Malan13915 Charlie Clarke13676 Carel Kleynhans13618 Belenkie Mabele13312 Jethro Moses13050 Bongani Mazibuko13042 Phil Robinson12898 Elijah Magagula12265 Ravin Singh12191 Ngaka Selepe11726 Steve Hardy11699 Deon Cronje10574 Peter Miller10320 Percy James9584 Sean Eriksen9221 Gabriel Colyn8804 Craig Daniel8720 Karin Smith6732 Gert Coetzee6533 Petrus Siphuma5946 Hazel Aggett5698 Fiona Dawson5198 Biscuit Mc Evoy

5172 Hanspeter Stebler5046 Christian Goosen5032 Neels Theron4334 Allen Collen4323 Petrus Botha4130 Harry Harley4026 Poobie Naidoo3602 Jacques Rossouw3591 Geoff Preston3409 Gerald Groll3193 Audrey Steyn3091 Anthony Evered-Hall3087 Rob Rudman2764 Ben Bouwer2526 Martin Cohen2029 Johan vd Werff1991 David Hawkins1838 Mick Grewar1770 James Mallett1751 Charles Hawthorne1666 Paul Selby1398 Niel Burger1315 Paul Ackermann1112 Brian Sanders804 Nicholas Caknis654 Gerald Delport511 Glen Connell499 Colin Bonthuys464 Raymond Bezuidenhout67 Allen Boyce28 Wally Atkinson23 MEDALS38636 Dumisani Mpanza38101 Stefan Ulland36863 Mark Van Deventer36405 Estelle Kroukamp36377 Machupe Mphahlele36226 Dieter Stapel35209 Darryl Jooste34822 Cyril Mkhwanazi34647 Derek Wright34249 Chris Klansie34176 Samuel Sifiso Mfayela33825 Andries Sebothoma32716 Joseph Faber32066 Deon Smit31324 Sivalingum Thambu31215 Michelle Coskey31040 Gert Veldman29649 Jerry Ngcobo28757 Elize Fick28201 Charlie Tholo26954 Harold Mkhonto26883 Warwick Richter25356 Tony Singarum25013 Dan Muniaha23065 Russell Pratt22752 Meshack Mtsweni22387 Mavangeli Mahlangu22142 Iponeng Modise22022 James Kwena21976 Sazi Shabalala20908 Michael Kheswa20840 Hanlie Willson20581 John Zungu20576 Alfred Khoza19803 Buti Ngwenya19373 Israel Perumal18931 Petra Myburgh18619 Danie De Jager18501 Maketlela Moeletsane18291 Hubert Nteyi18206 Innocent Ndlovu18130 More Magasha18074 Dave Pons

17263 Margaret Labuschagne16448 Johan van Wyk15904 Braam Hugo15871 William Motane15690 Jasper vd Walt15566 Christopher Zondi15551 Edward Myburgh15457 Peet Fourie14812 Abraham Tshabalala14634 Sifiso Mazibuko14398 Dieter Gloeck14313 Praveen Singh14303 Johann Reinhardt14051 Richard Shikundu13268 Ravi Padayachee13192 John Ngubeni13053 Andre Bester12867 Sarie Coetzee12711 Arnold Hyde12340 Denise Reynecke11997 Abdulla Ally11927 Graeme Rennie11777 Thami Ngubane11713 John Cronje11313 Sesamotho Tlhoolebe11269 Mboyi Moagi11110 Sham Singh10461 Sipho Mtshali10382 Babi Seriteng9309 Pete Naidoo9165 Pierre Van Brakel8773 Hannes Van Eeden8129 Mackson Makamu7987 Ashley Cook7452 Leon vd Merwe7210 Ravendhra Juglal7148 Belinda Skinner7039 Job Mahlangu6944 Charles Smith6866 Johan Potgieter6754 Karen Eslick6635 Basil Kisten5920 Hazel Quilliam5852 Shaun Finn5379 Sathie Pillay5069 Peter Erasmus5043 Pete West4500 Trevor Parry4221 Gary Ristow4131 Trevor Mingard4008 Anver-Haffie Mahomed3840 Kas Naidoo3245 Jannie Badenhorst2843 Dave Cloke2518 Denis Kennedy2424 Glen Lazarus2402 Brian Jordan2205 Tremaine Wesson2153 Ross Wood1898 Bernard Lahoud1883 Jogee Allu1874 Ben Truter1835 Grenville Mills1566 Derek Parker1514 Mike Evered-Hall1166 Peter Niksch1064 Bruce Clark794 Sarge Ball717 Smooch Hodgskiss566 Bossie Boshoff510 Arthur Connell478 Frans Snyman356 Eddie Pritchard297 Jack Welch240 Koos Sutherland

189 Sarel Snyman129 Dennis Mcinerney42 Martin Williams22 MEDALS39030 Andre Kok38429 Thabo Modirapula37543 Ash Bhadersein37378 Bonolo Mofokeng37012 Ramakwale Boshielo37011 Stephen Marais36672 Wiseman Radebe36339 Russell Sclanders35875 Idris Abrahams35518 Jabulani Ngobeni35454 Michael Lawrence35071 Pieter De Bruin34817 Gielie Loots34020 Johnny Young33867 Shaheed Russon33743 Nduduzo Buthelezi33553 Morabadi Sefora33509 Sipho Mhlongo33238 Arnold Bezuidenhout33032 Leo Prinsloo32670 Ncedane Vumendlini32312 Samuel Matsoso31717 Andrew Mathebula30615 Tony Saunderson30262 Bethuel Nqati29330 Prem Ramraj28966 Danie Cornelissen28822 Solomon Khumalo28159 Livhuwani Lukoto26698 Philemon Sibanyoni24697 Ian Ross24677 Maylah Pieterse24048 James Parkin23852 Kuban Naidoo23794 Aaron Sithole23761 Valerie Annandale23080 Colin Bosch22917 Bennie Buys21571 Silver Sebati21527 Barrie Botha21470 Eugene Havenga21381 Jabulani Mhlanga21139 Luuk Hepkema20656 John Fortuin20400 Piet Geyer20261 Johan Klue19771 Peter Boer18692 Sipho Mbatha18595 Nikki Campbell18512 Titus Vala18441 Ephraim Sekotlong18365 Frances van Blerk18143 Zacharia Visagie18043 Karrim Osman17865 John Bakker17684 Manuel Tshosane17651 Ramprakash Ramjiwan17374 Martin Pienaar16786 Henry Scott16438 Johan van Wyk16015 Kay Cottrell15852 Thinus Volschenk15678 Gerhard Swart15475 Martin Venter15328 Andre Cannell15242 Neels Celliers14863 Stanley Munsamy14421 Terry Ndzumeni14312 Mandla Sibisi14301 Jennifer Blake14254 Jabu Khambule

13802 Tania Shawe13580 Anton Schoeman13577 Hans van Eeden13519 Johan Scheepers13450 Steven Beetge13350 Lucas Matlala12390 Hennie Smith12248 Leslie Wright12084 Delport Onvlee12062 Jan Swanepoel12048 Lucky Adams11959 James Parsons11947 Harris Vauadh11773 Moosa Mahomed11711 Leon Du Preez11645 Mark Tannian11531 Colin Thomas11497 Mzamani Maluleke10985 Vulindlele Zweni10409 Logan Pillai9974 Etienne De Villiers9663 Beaumont Cooper9561 Raymond Cutts9319 Wayne Spencer9006 William Buenk8216 Ric Marini8200 Sibusiso Luthuli7958 Wilhelm Coetzee7881 Ron Harris7487 Christo Human7432 Jan Scholtz7404 Mzikabani Nxumalo7365 Moses Kunene6810 Raymond Gaze6490 Alpheus Thema6476 Dirk Els6236 Robert Sehlabela5547 Dennie Taljaardt5408 Fiona Scholtz4879 Michael vd Merwe4456 Alex Weed4306 Gordon Bateman3519 John Cardus3453 Leonard Foley3315 Ajith Deena3176 Madumetja Mogashane2938 Roy Nattrass2819 Ellis Coll2682 Jan Griesel2631 Adam Dawood2621 Mike Tyldesley2273 Deon Lourens2219 Robin Wilson2056 Lolly Thomson1984 Andrew Moxley1968 Warwick Taylor1947 Guru Wessels1860 Jack Ansell1846 Geoff Mills1738 Tony Sherrard1268 Siggy Lauterbach1251 Derek Kay1106 Dave Kinsey1018 John Brink1012 Dieter Muller685 Rod Pearson684 John Mc Shane637 Gary Kimber617 Danny Oosthuizen609 Ken Wilkinson539 Andre Vianello517 Eddie Matthews490 Hein Koch421 Frik Du Preez399 Les Holmes

331 Mike Clark248 Trevor Hosking204 Clive Siepman191 John Cohen158 Rod Hastie4 Nick Raubenheimer21 MEDALS49078 Herbert Mazongole45599 Jeff Ramokoka39275 Peter Sebola39124 Charmaine vd Merwe39060 Moloto Chipa39026 Donnovan Mulder38652 Thanda Mbatha38292 Bonita Posthumus38268 Kagisano Mokwena37356 Bonginkhosi Ngubane37163 Patrick Mathonzi37102 Reuben Gema37066 Craig Anderson36901 Johannes Zuma35786 Lazarus Mogoane35611 Gregg Palm35364 Sydwell Matsha35229 Samson Sondlane34003 Nkosinathi Mbonambi33838 Barnabas Mathebula33578 Mashibanyana Themba33206 John Magagane33200 Dietmar Dedekind33193 Mbuso Gumede32618 Malose Lebelo32542 Deenathayalan

Govender32361 Chris Koch32234 Teko Ziqubu31911 Mandi Dudula31813 Steve Jackson31763 Allen Simpson31273 Mervyn Naidoo30786 Marina Coetzee30565 Rowena Melrose30158 Craig West29920 Victor Phetoe29369 Christian Nicholls28866 Marius Rossouw28404 Lawrence Mkhize28099 Gary Brown28041 Johannes Vermeulen27886 Sekwena Madume27403 Selvan Naidoo26136 Jimmy Thaver25893 Jaime Da Silva25290 Johan Le Roux25058 Kitty Chutergon25008 Gustav Mehl24658 Lennox Ntanjana24571 Mike Kellett24091 Maxwell Mpiti24076 Dipchand Moodley24031 Phakama Shezi23589 Tsheko Dlamini23527 Robert Ngalwa22857 Cyril Molefe22822 Adam Suliman22757 Joshua Motshelanoka

1923 the first unofficial female entrant

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