Facelift for Dolphin Coast Striders clubhouse

The Dolphin Coast Striders have a smart new clubhouse and look forward to another 36 years of running in Ballito.

Founded in 1987, the club has grown from a group of around 20 to almost 500 regular runners, and provides a neat mirror for the ever-increasing North Coast community.

While the old clubhouse on Dolphin Crescent served the Striders for decades, it was time for a massive makeover.

“It was a pretty swift process after we got together and decided that yes, change was needed,” said club member Bernie Sampson, who helped to organise the process.

“We put out a call to the club and were blessed by the feedback we received. A renovation like this is simply not possible without community support.”

A number of members jumped in to help with the upgrade, while many companies offered discounted rates.

Outside improvements, including a new deck area, were made possible by Coastal Timber, Poolwise, McTimber Plastics, Nature’s Unique Stones, Monobloc, Karibu Nursery, Salt Rock Wholesale Nursery and Salt Rock Home and Garden Centre.

Sensible Solar also fully sponsored an electricity set-up to keep the lights on and fridges cold during loadshedding.

On the interior, Cool Ideas donated TVs and internet and Greenhaus Furniture undertook cabinetry at cost.

“The club is in a really good place. We’ve got great membership and have refined our running programmes so that every level of runner has support on the road,” she said.

“Watch this space, it’s only going up from here.”

It’s a far cry in terms of membership from the club’s early days, but the same feeling of community remains.

Striders co-founder Joe White was present for the opening of the revamped clubhouse last week and reminisced about the history of the club.

“Once Richard Young and I started and the group grew, the then Dolphin Coast council donated land and we built the clubhouse in 1988 by selling individual bricks. The community quite literally built the club,” he said.

“It’s incredible to see how it has grown since then, while still retaining its ‘family first’ ethos. The upgrades are amazing, they’ve done a great job.”

The clubhouse now boasts a new bar, improved seating area and overall improved design to host larger groups in comfort.

To get a look inside, consider joining the Dolphin Coast Striders – the North Coast’s biggest running club. It is open to everyone from couch potatoes to Comrades regulars.

Find out more at dolphincoaststriders.co.za.

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