Not even cold weather could stop the GTR 2018 race

The annual Greatest Race is done and dusted. Saturday, August 18 saw the running of the 32nd annual Rotary GTR race sponsored by Glencore.

With all the planning boxes ticked, the race was set, however Mother Nature had other plans.

Solly Mglala from Eskom won the 15km race in a time of 58:19.

Estie Biela enjoys the race.

“The good weather on Friday afternoon gave the organising team time to set up for the event, but when Saturday morning arrived, the weather took a turn for the worst. The wind was blowing and it was extremely cold,” said Chantal Bekker (GTR 2018 chairman)

Nevertheless, the runners arrived by their thousands full of enthusiasm and enjoyed the icy cold day together. Along with the participants, the sponsors and volunteers braved the cold windy conditions with a positive attitude.

FULL GALLERY

This was the first year that the race ran from Middelburg to eMalahleni which ended at the Witbank Dam. As with any major changes to an event, there will be factors that only become apparent once you held the event at a new venue for the first time.

One of these factors was the traffic congestion which the road control team tried to manage as best as possible with limited resources. 15 000 athletes took part in the event along with spectators that also came to be part of the event. With any large event anywhere, the traffic is always a problem.

Louis Mare is all concentration.

Ilse Botha from Midack won the 15km women’s category in a time of 1:19:14.

The committee has already identified possible solutions which could be implemented next time.

“We would like to thank the public that were affected by this for their patience. With anything new there will be teething problems and these issues will be dealt with as our team are already brainstorming for the 33rd GTR event that will take place on August 24 next year,” said Bekker.

Mandla Nkabinde from Anglo won the 32km race in the men’s division in a time of 1:55:07. Anishia Fryer from Middelburg won the ladies 32km in a time of 2:20:23.

Mandla Nkabinde from Anglo won the 32km race in the men’s division in a time of 1:55:07.

Anishia Fryer from Middelburg won the ladies 32km in a time of 2:20:23. Her father, Leon Fryer welcomed her at the finish line.

The first man in the 15km was Solly Mglala from Eskom in a time of 58:19 and the first lady over the finish line in the 15km was Ilse Botha from Midack in a time of 1:19:14.

WH de Klerk’s teams took second and third place in the high school category. Dust-a-side came in second and third in the open team category.