30th Train Race brings change
On the 20th of August, the 30th Greatest Train Race put a lot to the test. This year brought a number of changes to the largest charity race in Mpumalanga.
This did not stop the almost 20 000 people taking part, to create an amazing atmosphere from start to finish. 2800 runners took on the 32km and 15km race between Witbank and Middelburg. 16 200 relay and fun runners ran through the streets close to the Kees Taljaard stadium in Middelburg.
Putting together a race of this magnitude is not an easy task and then to bring change after 29 years of doing something a certain way, brings its own challenges, said Chantal Bekker, the Chairperson of the GTR 2016.
The long distance route was changed from a 28km to an official 32km race, the 15km started from a new position, relay run was moved to Middelburg and the finish venue also moved.
“There were a few challenges on the day, but through it all we had an amazing event and this was only made possible through the people taking part in the day and their positive attitude,” Bekker said.
This year was also the first year that the GTR team introduced our very own train float, an element that will be part of the GTR for many years to come.
With the race being an official 32km, the long distance attracted runners from as far as Durban, Gauteng, Nelspruit and our local marathon club runners.
380 underprivileged children, elderly and disabled people from the community were treated to a day of fun and games by Rotary at the Kees Taljaard Stadium.
Collin Khoza grabbed first place in the 32km event in time of 01:41:29 beating the GTR train by five minutes closely followed by Lesenyeho Makhuba with a time of 01:46:40. Thato Tshotetsi finished in third place with a time of 01:48:29. The ladies chased after them and Keneilwe Sising took the winning lady position for the second year in a row with an excellent time of 02:09:53. Frederika Rossouw from Volksrust took second place clocking in at 02:32:53 and third position went to Simonie Borchers at 02:44:06.
The 15km victory was successfully defended by 17 year old Jacques Keulder in a time of 00:53:23 taking 7 minutes off his 2015 time. 2nd place went to James Sithole 00:55:54 and 3rd place Given Morudu 00:58:47:00. Lerentia Strydom took the honour for the ladies with a time of 01:03:20 followed by Estie Lombard in 01:07:50 and Ria Henn in 3rd for the second year with 01:12:11.
The overall Relay Team results were as follows: 1st place went to a Private team, team Kabelo Melamo, 2nd and 3rd place went to Teams from Glencore.
See photos here:
HTS Middelburg took victory in the High School Team category followed by newcomers Eastdene Combined and 3rd place went to W.H. De Klerk.
In the Primary School Team section HTS Middelburg Primary Team took 1st and 3rd place, with Klipfontein taking the 2nd place spot.
The 30th GTR just showed once again, when the community stand together to make a difference in someone else’s life, magic happens. For the last 30 years a number of charities have benefited from the GTR and so it will be for many more years to come, said Chantal.
