Parkrunners bring in the New Year at Bronkies
The first parkrun for 2025 took place on January 1. Altogether 35 people took part in this run at 08:00 on the Wednesday.

Neither a festive Christmas mood nor the dawn of the new year could stop ardent parkrunners from taking on the 5km parkrun route in Bronkhorstspruit over the festive season.
Some volunteers and participants dressed in Christmas attire on December 21 for a pre-Christmas run in which 37 people took part.
Altogether 65 people showed up for another parkrun on December 28 and 35 participants were again up bright and early on January 1 for the first parkrun of 2025.
Because this was on a Wednesday, the usual Saturday event continued three days later on January 4 with 76 participants. Dewald Bekker was the first runner home on December 21 in a time of 21:36, setting a new personal best time.
He was followed by junior Almay Cornelissen (29:15), Timothy Kumanga (30:16), Larissa Cornelissen (30:45), Martin Breytenbach (32:21) and Leonie van den Berg (32:44).

The volunteers who made the event possible, were André de Lange, Moonilal Dunmun, Gonasagree Govender, Erhard Krüger, Amisha Rampersadh, Bhavna Rampersadh, Despina Rockas, Filia Rockas, Rina Roos and Casper Strydom.
The last parkrun for 2024 on December 28 was led by Simangaliso Nxumalo, a junior runner who finished in a time of 21:12.
He was followed by Mmeselane Ramoshu (21:28), Dewald Bekker (22:17), Anotidaishe Sireu (24:54), Willie Mynhardt (27:04) and veteran Brian Duthie (29:43).
Zelne Nel improved her personal best time to 30:11, Mieke de Beer set a new time of 39:33, Kyle van der Merwe’s new best time is 40:12 and Nica Ludwig clocked a new time of 44:53.
The volunteers who made this event possible, were Andre de Lange, Lelani de Lange, Matteo de Lange, Mikhail de Lange, Gonasagree Govender, Drienie Opperman, Amisha Rampersadh, Bhavna Rampersadh, Despina Rockas, Filia Rockas, Casper Strydom and Leon Strydom.
The first parkrun for 2025 took place on January 1. Altogether 35 people took part in this run at 08:00 on the Wednesday.
The participants who set new personal best times were Martin de Beyer (31:00), Mieke de Beer (36:47), Sarah de Beyer (40:31) and Anna-Marie de Beer (53:41).
Dewald Bekker (22:09) was first to clock in on this day, followed by Mikhail de Lange (25:42), Regardt Swanepoel (26:56) and Richard Wicht (27:55).
The volunteers who made this event possible, were Diwan Algera, André de Lange, Lelani de Lange, Matteo de Lange, Mikhail de Lange, Gonasagree Govender, Erhard Krüger, Amisha Rampersadh, Bhavna Rampersadh, Despina Rockas, Filia Rockas and Casper Strydom.
Anna-Marie de Beer improved her personal best time to 51:50 on January 4, while 10 people run the 5km route in Bronkhorstspruit for the first time.

Veteran Dewald Bekker finished the course in a time of 23:09 with Jamy Kenneth du Plessis two minutes later at 25:29.
Karl Beckmann completed the 5km in a time of 26:03, followed by Khahliso Mokoena (27:36), Francois Viljoen (28:31), Cornelia Geyser (28:54), Anne-Marie Coetzee (31:19), Thusi Raseroka (32:33) and Carmyn Gast (33:23).
The volunteers who made this event happen, were Dewald Bekker, André de Lange, Gonasagree Govender, Erhard Krüger, Drienie Opperman, Amisha Rampersadh, Bhavna Rampersadh, Despina Rockas, Filia Rockas and Casper Strydom.
Volunteers are the backbone of parkrun; without them, there will be no event. The run directors thanked those who selflessly volunteered their time over the holidays.
If you want to volunteer at the Standerton parkrun, email to bronkhorstspruit@parkrun.com.