Grondvöel edges it against the Fireman
It started with stern looks and ended in big smiles.
SUNDAY’S weather was perfect for what turned out to be a very tense and serious race.
Trevor ‘Fireman’ Burger and Freek ‘Grondvöel’ Stander went head-to-head in a battle over 15km, but it was no ordinary race.
Almost R2000 was raised for this event but the pressure to win went way deeper.
Both these athletes have young families and their children had put pocket money on the raffle supporting their respective fathers.
Trevor’s young daughter Emma had put her collected tooth money in the kitty.
So, as expected both fathers battled to break into any form of smile before the start of the race. This was a case of capital C for serious!
A total of 30 walkers and runners lined up behind them on the Margate beachfront and were sent on their way at 6am sharp.
The race wound around the beautiful setting of the beachfront all the way through Ramsgate to Pistols Saloon and back.
By halfway the ‘Grondvöel’ (Road Runner) had started to open up a small gap but the race was still very much on as the ‘Fireman’ appeared very determined.
The Grondvöel was made to dig really deep and managed to increase his lead and take the accolades by finishing in a time of 1:18 minutes. The ‘Fireman’ finished just behind him in 1:22.
On asking Collette Stander, Grondvöel’s wife, what she thought about being married to a champion, she proudly belted out, ‘my man kan!’
The walker’s championship turned out to be really impressive with outstanding times set by all.
Hannes Streuderst blitzed the 15km course in 1:48 while Moira King strode home to take the women’s race in 1:51 minutes.
Times
Runners: Michael Mzobe 50:26, Innocent Cele 55:45, Eric Ndovela 56:05, Albert Nyembezi 57:40, Wiseman Gqele 59:00, Delani Dlezi 1:00:00, Blessing Mbele 1:02:02, Emmanuel Ngcongo 1:03:30, Goodman Nqadi 1:03:40, Nkazimumo Zondi 1:06:00, Eric Mqadi 1:09:07, Cyril Mqadi 1:12:51, Martin Venter 1:12:51, Graham Christianson 1:13:10, Eddie Ramaloo 1:13:24, Isac Ludick 13:25, Zandile Dunywa 1:13:43, Freek Stander 1:18:22, Trevor Burger 1:22:52, Farouk Naroth 1:37:40, Kerry Farren 1:44:53, Jayne Munro 1:47:16.
Walkers: Hannes Streuderst 1:48:29, Moira King 1:51:40, Ellene Barbadimos 1:55:23, Ian Millar 1:57:25, Deonie Dreyer 2:00:35, Marcelle Ripley 2:02:55, Ronel Viljoen 2:06:11, Margaret Duffield 2:07:50.
Join the Striders for the weekly time trials at the clubhouse in Edward Avenue, Uvongo, every Wednesday at 5.30pm. For running queries contact Isak Ludick at 076 4668570.
Walkers do a 4km time trial starting at the Uvongo fishing pier at 5.15pm.
Boerewors rolls and chicken burgers will be sold on club nights. Come and enjoy the fun.
Fit and fast walkers will meet at Southbroom main beach for a 15km walk on Sunday, October 11.
For more details, contact Ronel at 039 331 8996 or Moira at 039 6950099.
