MOSSEL BAY NEWS - At the Athletics SWD Incentives Awards celebration on Saturday, 21 November, Southern Cape athletes, in particular, were challenged to compete in greater numbers in next year's PetroSA Marathon. At stake is an increased purse from PetroSA, but the extra money will only become available if at least 50% of athletes from local clubs join the race in 2016.
This was the challenge issued by regional corporate affairs manager at PetroSA, Mr Russel Mamabolo when he handed out financial incentives to the various winners of the 2015 PetroSA Marathon that took place as part of the Mossel Bay Sports Festival over 42.2km, 21.1km and 10km on Saturday, 26 September. Prize money was also increased earlier in 2015 from R494 000 to R510 200.
In 2015, the PetroSA Marathon was named one of South Africa’s qualifying races for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
This followed the accreditation in 2014 from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Association for International Marathon Standards (AIMS) which meant that athletes could use the PetroSA Marathon to qualify for international race meetings.
When he announced the challenge, President of Athletics SWD Mr Moses Gericke said only 27% of registered SWD club athletes participated in the past marathon. If 50% were to compete, it would raise race numbers by at least 400 on 24 September 2016.
The President of Athletics South Africa Mr Aleck Skhosana on Saturday also reiterated the ASA Board's decision that the SWD will again host the 2016 Cross Country Championships. This, he said, was a result of the excellent manner in which the SWD had managed the past championship. He lauded the ASWD management who was responsible for the "most successful Cross Country Championships, the biggest in the history of ASA".
The incentive awards were attended by ASWD athletes who have excelled in events the past year to receive due recognition for their achievements.
Roadrunning athletes from the Plettenberg Bay AC, Military Sports Club, Sedgefield Striders, Mossel Bay Harriers, Knysna Marathon Club, Outeniqua Harriers, Hartenbos Drawwers, Nedbank, and PetroSA were awarded.
Track and field, race walking and cross country athletes from the respective clubs were also awarded for their feats in the past year.
Awards:
Gershwill Jacobs, Andre Niemand, Melissa van Rensburg, Lana Theunissen, Marie Wolmarans, Bianca la Grange, Susan la Grange, Cecelia Nel, Ettiene Plaatjies, Godwin Heyns, Helga Mathee, Sanet Brits, Toekie Steenkamp, Anton Chevalier, Anel van Wyk, Annatjie Botes, Lindile Tokota, Elfonzo Pieterse, Julius Korkee, Hermanus Jonkerman, Lampies Lamprecht, Rene Moll, Lloyd Bosman, Sydney Landsberg, Manie Steenkamp, Bradley Carelse, Mariette de Haan (all Nedbank SWD athletes). Rea Oosthuizen, Lelane van der Merwe, Jan du Toit, Elize Kloppers, Esther Oosthuizen, Ben Bouwer, Rina Wray, Elsa de Villiers, Delmarie Henning, Helen Brink, Kleintjie van Schalkwyk (all Hartenbos Drawwers athletes). Mauritz Jansen van Rensburg, Patrick Rawlins, Elwich van Wyk, Mxolise Fana, Keith Clark, Peter Jaehane, Mzwandile Stulo, Nancy Cloete (all Grasshopper Outeniqua Harriers athletes). Macnita Samuels, Aubrey Brinkhuis, Leslie Stuart, Mariet Horn, Archie Boome, Lisl Grobler (all from Knysna Marathon club). Selwyn Losper, Allentino Kleynhans, Marrida Leen, Clarisha Pieterse (all representing Mosselbaai Harriers). Cornelius Bewee, Trevor van Rensburg (both Sedgefield Striders). Ishmael Molahleli van SA Weermag. Claire Badenbhorst van Plettenbergbaai Atletiekklub. Analie Heyns of Langeberg Atletiekklub. Janson Darries van Beaufort West.
Club in excess of 150 members - Hartenbos Drawwers
Club less than 150 members - Petro SA
Elwich van Wyk (Outeniqua Harriers), Louis Plaatjies, David Morgan-Smith, Ita Stiglingh, Dorris Nayler, Jean Merrills (Sedgefield Striders). Susan la Grange, Sinead Hattingh, Johan Niemand, Geraldine Loftie-Eaton (Nedank SWD).
Karin Otto, Johan Swart (both Hartenbos Drawwers). Norma Soule ( Knysna Marathon club). Nolene van Rensburg (Outeniqua High School). Mone Geldenhuys (York High). Louw-Anne Lourens (Heidedal Primary). Shane Webb, Durando Aweries.
Rosa-Linda Kock, George Kock, Sarie Exton, Desmond Prins, Jonathan Hardnick, Moses Gericke and Overton November.
Jo-Ané van Dyk, Meike Strydom (both Outeniqua High School), Moné Geldenhuys (York High), Elwich van Wyk (Outeniqua Harriers), Sherno Pick (Punt High School), Barry Botha, Donovan Jantjies (both Outeniqua Harriers), Ruben Dlepu (Hartenbos Drawwers), Guillaume Odendaal, Moesha Owies, Wessel van Brakel, Lardus Potgieter (Coastline Athletics Club), Jade Heyns, Frans Kalp (both SWD Masters).
Jarco Ruiters, Shafieka du Preez, Hendry Isaac, Sharonique Noordman, Xavierea Tekane, Louw-Ann Lourens, Ashton Grootboom, Umalien Kleinhans, Christo Moolman (all Heidedal Primary), Dinaysha Paulsen, Chante Erasmus (both Nedbank Waboomskraal), Ruben Dlepu (Langenhoven High School Riversdale), Jandri Snyers, Henro Kuhn (both Hartenbos Primary). Lorenzo Wiltshire (Conville Primary), Luther Blaauw (Delville Park Primary), Leonard Adams (Panorama Primary).
Athletics SWD President Moses Gericke and PetroSA Regional Manager for Corporate Affairs, Russel Mamabolo.
Annatjie Botes, left, receives an incentive from Shireen Noble (Vice-President ASWD, second from left. With them are Helen Brink and Kleintjie van Schalkwyk who were also incentivised for their sterling performances during the past year.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER - JOURNALIST
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