Latest news with #ComradesMarathonAssociation
IOL News
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Over R6 million raised for charities at the Comrades Marathon
The CHOC Cows were looking udderly amoozing at their water point in Hillcrest. Image: Supplied Over R6 million has been raised under the Comrades Marathon Association's Amabeadibeadi Charity Drive. These are the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC), SANParks Honorary Rangers, Community Chest, Rise Against Hunger, Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) and Childline KwaZulu-Natal. CHOC Cows manager Jayde McCarthy said: 'We did super well with our cows being absolutely amoozing!!!!' On Monday morning, McCarthy said they had raised R2,5m. 'Our highest fundraiser is Ida van de Wetering, who has raised R165k to date.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The CHOC Cows at their water point in Hillcrest during the Comrades Marathon. Image: Supplied McCarthy expressed gratitude to Van de Wetering and said they were proud of her. McCarthy mentioned that they had approximately 300 runners, but she had not yet checked their performance. McCarthy said it is incredibly motivating to remember they were doing this for children battling cancer. On Sunday, the CHOC Cows had a water point in Hillcrest, with an 'amoozing' vibe with fun, dancing, mooing and cow bells. 'It was amoozing! There was cow print everywhere, the supporters were phenomenal, handing out high fives, hugs, nutrition, hydration and mootivation! Our sponsor, Balwin, made that spot possible, and we are so grateful!' McCarthy exclaimed. The SANParks Honorary Rangers team at their watering hole in Camperdown. Image: SANParks Honorary Rangers/ Facebook Ahead of the marathon, SANParks Honorary Rangers' Peter Zietsman said the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon was their second opportunity to be of assistance and participate and become beneficiaries. SANParks Honorary Rangers had a watering hole in Camperdown with two huge blow-up elephants. Zietsman said that due to fiscal limitations, SANParks has certain capital expenditure requirements that cannot be fulfilled within the current fiscal period. 'So what we do is we launch projects like this and we collect funds that we are able to fill those gaps of needs for SANParks, so they can reach their objectives in terms of community responsibilities and things like that,' Zietsman said. 'So it's financial, it's boots on the ground, it's activities providing assets for SANParks to function correctly.' The Community Chest team at their refreshment station. Image: Community Chest/ Facebook Community Chest executive director Gordon McDonald said: 'That money will be spent on early childhood development (ECD) because there's a critical problem with children not getting enough early education, and they're not finishing school, and they're not going to university and entering into the cycle of poverty. 'Good early childhood development, nutritious food, and good school stimulation programs are absolutely vital if you want to give a child a chance in life, and every child in every community deserves that chance.' McDonald said they work with children in vulnerable communities and currently support about 7,800 children every day around Pietermaritzburg and Durban. 'We have focused our Comrades money on ECD for about 18 years now, and it is making a difference, and it's nice to see.' Community Chest had a refreshment station outside Kingsmead Toyota, 1.5km from the finish line.
The South African
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Comrades Marathon 2025 saw thrilling elite races
South African stars Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn further strengthened their status as two of the world's best ultra-distance runners as they emerged triumphant once again in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday. Dijane, the winner in 2022 and 2023, crossed the line first in 5:25:28, while Steyn added a fourth win to her already impressive record as she took another convincing win in 5:51:19. This makes her only the second woman (after eight-time winner Elena Nurgalieva) to win the race more than three times. This was the 98th edition of the iconic ultra between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, run in alternating directions each year, and this was the 49th edition of the Down Run. The official distance of this year's race was 89.98km, and as the event builds up to its much-anticipated 100th edition in 2027, the 2025 race attracted a record field for the Down Run of 22 677 qualifying entrants. This prompted the Comrades Marathon Association's decision to introduce the first ever split start in the event's history, for safety reasons and to allow all runners in the field the opportunity to get over the start line quicker. This saw Group 1 starting at 05:45, and Group 2 setting off at 06:00, as slightly later start than the traditional 05:30 start, in order for the runners to enjoy better light conditions in the early kilometres, notably on the descent of Polly Shortts hill. Both start groups still had 12 hours to finish the race. Another innovation in the 2025 race was a new street finish in Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, with a festive hospitality and club area next to the finish in People's Park. In the men's race, Onalenna Khonkhobe led for most of the race, but he was eventually caught with less than 20km to go. Dijane surged into the lead, but struggled to shake off the determined challenge of 2024 winner, Dutchman Piet Wiersma. The South African had to dig deep to maintain his small lead, and in a repeat finish of the 2023 race, Dijane took the win in 5:25:27, with Wiersma crossing the line in 5:25:32. 'I came prepared and stuck to my race plan,' Dijana said afterwards. 'In the last 10km, I saw Piet was closing, so I accelerated and opened the gap, and I felt like I was in control.' Nikolai Volkov produced a storming finish, chasing down a number of athletes in the closing stages of the race to grab third position in 5:29:41. Fourth was 2019 men's winner, Edward Mothibi (5:31:40), while fifth place went to Joseph Manyedi (5:32:08). There were six South Africans in the top 10, including three of the top five. Meanwhile, Zambian athlete Elizabeth Mukoloma led the women's contest until shortly after the halfway mark, but once Steyn took the lead, she never looked back. Former winner Alexandra Morozova recovered from cramps and started closing the gap on Steyn in the second half, but the South African managed to draw clear again, finishing in 5:51:18, with Morozova nearly five minutes behind in 5:55:55. Kenyan athlete Shelmith Muriuki, making her Comrades debut, held on to take third position in 6:07:55. 'Today was yet another wonderful experience out on the road at the Comrades Marathon, and to see this race going from strength to strength and to be a part of it is such an honour for me. It's really special,' said Steyn. 'I've spoken a lot about what this race means to me, and today it was cemented once again. The race went well. I set out at a more conservative pace because I really wanted to try and run my optimum race today, and it worked out well.' Fourth over the line in 6:11:34 was Olympic Marathoner and former 50km World Record-holder Irvette van Zyl, making her Comrades debut a fine day out. Poland's Dominika Stelmach rounded out the women's top five in 6:12:01. There were three South Africans in the top 10, with Jenet Mbhele the third local athlete over the line in seventh position (6:14:23). Reflecting on a successful 98th edition of the race, Comrades Marathon Association General Manager Alain Dalais said, 'We are really happy with the way the split start worked so well, with both start groups clearing the start line within six minutes. 'We've also received a lot of positive feedback about the new street finish, and we look forward to building on these aspects as we prepare for 2027. 'We treated this 2025 race as a dress rehearsal for the 100th edition, and while every race will have things that we can improve on, we are happy with the innovations introduced this year, and feel we are on track for an even better Down Run in 2027. 'I would like to congratulate all the runners who took part in today's race, from Tete Dijane and Gerda Steyn to the final finishers in the last hour, from the novices tackling their first Comrades Marathon and those earning their back-to-back medals, to the Yellow Number Runners completing their 10th and earning their Green Numbers, and all the way to Louis Massyn, finishing his 50th and becoming the first athlete ever to reach this incredible Quintuple Green Number milestone. 'On behalf of the Comrades Marathon Association, we hope that you enjoyed your race experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back to The Ultimate Human Race next year, when we once again take on the challenge of the Up Run,' he added. 'Of course, a race of this magnitude cannot be put on without the input, dedication and incredible hard work of many people, and here the credit must go to our Race Organising Committee, the Comrades Marathon Association Board and its various sub-committees, and the many Comrades Marathon Volunteers and Members, who give up their time, experience and dedication to make this race possible. 'Thank you also to our incredible sponsors, that we are proud to call both supporters and friends, many of whom also contribute vibrant activations and refreshment stations along the route. It really is a team effort by all of these people, organisations, and companies, and is truly what makes the spirit of the Comrades Marathon what it is,' concluded Dalais. Tete Dijana 05:25:27 Piet Wiersma 05:25:32 Nikolai Volkov 05:29:41 Edward Mothibi 05:31:40 Joseph Manyedi 05:32:08 Alex Milne 05:34:07 David Gatebe 05:34:29 Bongmusa Mthembu 05:35:47 Gordon Lesetedi 05:36:21 Vasilii Korytkin 05:38:58 Gerda Steyn 05:51:18 Alexandra Morozova 05:55:55 Shelmith Muriuki 06:07:55 Irvette Van Zyl 06:11:34 Dominika Stelmach 06:12:01 Carla Molinaro 06:13:02 Jenet Mbhele 06:14:23 Caitriona Jennings 06:16:41 Courtney Olsen 06:17:47 Melissah Gibson 06:19:58 NOTE: All times as per Comrades Marathon release Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Comrades Marathon runner Moira Harding found after going missing
A runner who went missing after finishing the Comrades Marathon on Sunday afternoon has been found. 'Moira Harding has been found and is alive,' the Comrades Marathon Association said t on Monday morning. 'Please pray for her recovery,' said Gords Reid, who was instrumental in the search for herd. Harding, who wore race number M33485, was confirmed to have finished the ultra-marathon at 4.52pm but then disappeared. The race was run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban this year.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
How GEMS supports underprivileged runners at the Comrades Marathon
Helping underprivileged runners The GEMS team prepare for a busy day at the Comrades Marathon. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied Fanyana Chamani will be out to run a new Personal Best (PB) time on Sunday as he chalks up a third Comrades Marathon finish. Talented a runner as he is, though, the Waterfall AC athlete would ordinarily not be on the start line in front of the Pietermaritzburg City Hall among the close to 25,000 athletes who will tackle the 98th running of The Ultimate Human Race. 'I just would not have afforded it," says the runner from Zola, Soweto. "I am unemployed and I cannot afford to pay for a hotel. I don't know any people in KZN who could host me for the weekend, so it would not be easy for me to go to Comrades." But thanks to a corporate company that chose to partner with the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) in a way not many would have found attractive, the likes of Chamani are able to be part of the world's most famous ultramarathon. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Of course, the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) is in it for some ROI (return on investment) — it is the reason companies get involved in sports. And they are no different. 'The Comrades Marathon is, of course, a very powerful brand — the fact that it is called the Ultimate Human Race signifies just how important it is among global ultramarathons, and for us the partnership made sense from a perspective of promoting the GEMS brand,' says GEMS Principal Officer Stan Moloabi. 'As a medical aid scheme, we felt it would be great to associate with an entity that is very powerful from a healthy lifestyle point of view because that would help leverage our brand.' But the fact that they looked at it from a social impact angle speaks volumes and sets them a little apart from other sponsors. 'For us, it is always important to put our members first, and this kind of partnership with Comrades speaks to how we can collaborate with our members to achieve — in this instance — promoting a healthy lifestyle. We took advantage of the fact that we have over 800,000 principal members and some of them are sportspeople. We realised that there are a good number of members who also participate in the Comrades. However, when they go, they have to stay a few days there, and that requires them to pay for transport and accommodation — and we found that some of them can't cover all their costs. We first then identified their needs and created this accommodation platform for GEMS members, which we have since extended to include everybody who is underprivileged.' And along with the CMA, GEMS then checks the applications from the runners and accommodates them accordingly, allowing the likes of Chamani to participate in the race they dearly love. 'The scheme covers non-GEMS members as well, and there is a way that they identify those who are unable to take care of their accommodation needs. At GEMS, we believe that anything that is of social good, where you help people who would otherwise not be able to afford and accommodate themselves, works for us — and that's exactly the point of our involvement with the Comrades. It is not for the limelight; we feel good where we are allowed to help people. For us, that's where the element of ubuntu comes through.' Helping the underprivileged GEMS Chief Operations Officer Dr Vuyo Gqola ahead of the 2025 Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied Do not, however, misconstrue that to mean that GEMS is just being charitable. Far from it, for Moloabi said it took some convincing to have everyone on the board agree to the partnership with Comrades. 'It was not easy, because when we do work to promote the GEMS brand, not everyone agrees that it is worth it. Marketing the organization, some people wondered whether it was worth it. So we had to check our policies and our processes to ensure we aligned with the things we want to achieve. We have to justify why we decided to spend money on a sponsorship — and we use this partnership carefully because it is a marketing relationship. Is it working? We certainly think so. Whenever we have entered into such partnerships, after every event our marketing team assesses how much exposure it has given us — a way of evaluating the return on investment — and for the few years we've been with Comrades, we are very happy with that.' They are again making it possible for runners such as Chamani to participate at the Comrades this year. "I've used the accommodation they offer in the last two races and I am going to use it again. It is a very good thing they are doing because they provide us with a mattress and a blanket to sleep on in a very warm place. And they also give us food and fruit. It is really good because there are a lot of runners like me who would not be able to come here and run our favourite race." And because he does not have to worry about where he will sleep and what he will eat, Chamani has been able to train properly as he looks to get his second silver medal. "I ran a 7:20 in my first one two years ago, but I had it bad last year and finished in over ten hours. This time I am going for silver again and I am confident I will run a new PB." GEMS' involvement with Comrades goes 'beyond the race itself," because they also sponsor the Spirit of Comrades awards that recognise people who have contributed positively to the race. "It means a lot for us to be a part of an event that is 100 years old, and we are very proud to honour people like yourself in the media for the role you play in the Comrades Marathon," says Moloabi. They don't just provide the accommodation and food — they also spend time with the runners prior to the race to provide inspiration. "As the GEMS team, we meet with the runners of the underprivileged programme a day before the race to try and inspire them as much as we can. This year, three executive team members from GEMS will be there to see them, and we will also have a gazebo at the finish line to receive them." It is a sponsorship of a different kind — one that ensures the likes of Fanyana Chamani are able to run the Comrades Marathon and chase their silver medals. IOL Sport
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
All systems go for Comrades Marathon
This year's Comrades Marathon promises more than just a gruelling test of endurance — participants can expect a 'buffet' along the route and a 'jol' at the finish, according to the organisers. At the final media briefing held in Durban yesterday, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) declared that it's all systems go for the iconic ultramarathon, which starts in Pietermaritzburg and ends in Durban tomorrow. The Witness reports that CMA general manager Alain Dalais assured athletes that the route is fully prepared, with water stations fully stocked to keep runners hydrated. 'There will be about 47 water stations between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. They are all well-equipped and fully stocked with everything [runners need] until they cross the finish line. 'I can offer assurance that all the water tables will be loaded with every type of hydrating liquid you can think of. 'We also brought in plenty of bananas, potatoes, snacks and different kinds of bites or eats that are needed to keep the runners going or energised until the end. So, the runners are expected to have a buffet on the route while they enjoy the race,' said Dalais. He added that the finish line will offer a party atmosphere, with innovations designed to enhance the overall experience. 'Also, at the end of the race, our new changes and innovations at the finish will be exciting and everybody will enjoy it,' he said. One of the most significant changes is a street finish, bringing the Comrades in line with other major global marathons. 'I am glad to announce that this year's Comrades Marathon finish will be on the street. We all know that it is already happening with other international marathons like the London Marathon, New York Marathon and others,' Dalais said. The event is expected to be the largest in the race's history, with CMA chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo confirming a record-breaking 22 000 runners are set to take part. 'We have never experienced anything like this before, and that's why we spent long hours and weeks making sure that everything is in order,' Ngcobo stated. He emphasised that the latest changes were implemented with runner safety, security and enjoyment in mind. The KZN Tourism and Film Authority anticipates a significant economic boost, projecting an increase on last year's R600m economic spin-off. Hotels and other accommodation across Durban and Pietermaritzburg are expected to be fully booked. Msunduzi Municipality has undertaken extensive preparations for the start of the race, including road repairs, verge clearing and stormwater drain maintenance. 'Msunduzi Municipality has completed all route preparations and is ready to welcome thousands of athletes and spectators to Pietermaritzburg,' said municipal spokesperson Ntobeko Mkhize. Dalais confirmed a record number of international participants, with 3 063 runners from outside South Africa — 1 282 from the rest of Africa and 1 781 from overseas. An additional 3 000 international supporters are expected to accompany them. 'Many runners and their supporters — particularly the international visitors — spend extra time in the province after the race, booking game drives and safari visits to wildlife conservation areas,' Dalais added. 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.
