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The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Runner guns for sub-9 after hiatus
AGE is nothing but a number for this Comrades runner who, following a drawn-out hiatus from the marathon, is aiming for a time of under nine hours. The Westville local, a firefighter (Gillitts fire station commander) by day and a dog rescuer in his free time, Rhys Kitching will be running his 14th Comrades this year, with one of his goals being to raise funds for his free time endeavour. Running this Comrades to raise funds for the dog rescuers of Blue Bundu Brigade, this member of the Chiltern Athletic Club said he always admired runners and was inspired by them from a tender age when his father was part of the Hash House Harriers – an international group of social running clubs. A life-complicating operation shoved him into a long break, which resulted in his brother-in-law overtaking the number of runs he has partaken in the Comrades. 'And now I'm feeling bad,' he said with a chuckle as he counted that his brother-in-law has now run the Comrades over 20 times. The Blue Bundu Brigade rescues abandoned dogs and sniffs out new homes for them, and needs funds for pet food, vet bills, deworming, vaccines, toys for the dogs and other related costs. 'If no one can support, they can refer us to people who can,' said Kitching, who referred potential donors to the Blue Bundu Brigade Facebook page: The Blue Bundu Brigade Animal Rescue & Rehoming NPC Reg No 2019/317472/08. Time trials, he said, were a great help for his preparation in terms of speed as he seeks to make the finish line in under nine hours. His best time when he was younger was just over eight hours. Also read: Sarah runs for another brown dog 'I just want to show that age is not a factor,' said the 52-year-old on the time he has set his sights on. His tactic will involve holding back when running to conserve his energy by avoiding running too fast. Despite the long break, it was the first time that Kitching qualified this early for the Comrades, which he did in November. He cited his first Comrades as his memorable and important one, 'to achieve crossing the finish line', with the support that runners receive throughout the race a critical occurrence that he appreciates. 'But it is not just one specific one, it is the whole experience, it is different and it cannot be compared to other marathons,' said Kitching. Kitching said he is motivated by the challenge of it all, the preparation to stretch human capabilities and the resulting mental boost. 'Mentally for Comrades, you need to be strong and with every run you get stronger,' said Kitching, who is also mentoring a colleague, Ashley Diedericks. His advice to first-time runners is that they should get ample rest ahead of the race to reduce the risk of sustaining injuries and fatigue. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Paws and reflecting at Blue Bundu Brigade's puppy yoga
PAIRING wellness with animal welfare, Blue Bundu Brigade brought a fresh twist to The Bluff Eco Park with their revitalising puppy yoga class. Around 30 individuals took part in a relaxing yoga lesson recently, made all the more pleasant by lively puppy companions. Also read: Relax at puppy yoga fundraiser to help animal rescue operations The class, hosted by the local animal rescue and rehabilitation organisation, was held as part of their ongoing fundraising and awareness efforts. One of the Blue Bundu Brigade directors Karen Janisch explained that puppy yoga is a new wellness trend which combines traditional yoga methods with the therapeutic drawcard of puppies freely interacting with participants. 'It aims to reduce stress, socialise the young dogs, and be an enjoyable experience for everybody involved,' said Janisch. She added that the event surpassed expectations. 'It was a lovely morning of movement, mindfulness, and puppy cuddles. Not only did it provide an opportunity for our pups to socialise with new people, but it also raised awareness and support for our cause,' said Janisch. Attendees were encouraged to donate dog food, treats or contribute financially, with all proceeds going toward feeding the animals in the organisation's care. 'Support like this keeps us going,' said Janisch. 'We're incredibly grateful for the community's generosity and excited to host more events like this in the future.' For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- The Citizen
Animal lovers call for action after tied-up dog dies in Chatsworth
Residents of Chatsworth, Durban, have called for the arrest of a Moorton man after his dog was tied to a gate, allegedly by him, leading to its horrific death. Rising Sun reports that, according to the senior director and founder of the Blue Bundu Brigade, Karen Janisch, the dog stood outside for over 11 hours, exposed to the weather, without food or water, and unable to lie down. 'It is alleged that the dog was out on the road. The owner beat him for this, and in the dog's defence, he bit his owner. He tied the dog to the security gate on a short rope with no food, no water, and no shelter. He was exposed to the cold during the night, exposed to full sun during the day. He was exhausted. Many people let this boy down, from his owner, the owner's family, the neighbours, and all those who saw and turned a blind eye, simply because they do not want to get involved. 'This was also a case where the SPCA was phoned numerous times, people knew the circumstances, and nobody helped. Why did someone not climb into the property and assist? If this were a child, would the result be the same? This behaviour is unacceptable and should not be entertained. The death of this dog could have been avoided and should not be accepted or tolerated. From what I have heard, this is a family man who was part of a political party. This individual has violated a number of animal cruelty laws, and he needs to be punished for his crimes,' Janisch alleged. Local animal activist Pat Naidoo spoke about the high number of animal cruelty cases in the area. 'There are countless cases of cruelty, neglect, and abandonment we are facing daily due to owners taking on dogs for guarding purposes or as a companion for children, but are not prepared for the commitment towards that animal. There are countless deceased, unclaimed animals on the Higginson Highway. Animals are dumped late at night in isolated areas. Animals are chained for guarding purposes with no shelter – they are even fed scraps. There is no socialisation, which is the biggest contributor to vicious dogs. 'Many sick and injured animals are suffering in pain with no vet care, and that is cruelty. The community is urged to report incidents of animal cruelty to the SPCA through a phone call or email. Please do not ignore animal suffering. Residents wanting to contribute to the welfare of animals in the Chatsworth area can enlist on our working committee and volunteers list, as Chatsworth is a vast area and cases are countless. We can voice for the voiceless, but it's not much without action,' Naidoo said. The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took the dog away after its death and is investigating the case. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
