Twenty-two runners of the Hartbeespoort Marathon Club ran the Comrades last week and the 19 who finished brought back 19 medals to Hartbeespoort.

Three runners completed the race under nine hours, six runners ran between nine and 10 hours and six runners finished between 10 and 11 hours. Well done, Hartbeespoort!

Joanne voltooi Comrades vir katte

Joanne Kontaxopoulos, ‘n Hartbeespoort ultramarathonatleet het verlede naweek die Comrades voltooi ten spyte van ‘n besering wat sy 23km voor die wenstreep opgedoen het.
“Ek moes klaarmaak want ek het vir die katte gehardloop!” Joanne het haar 20ste Comrades gehardloop om fondse vir Harties Feral Cats Rescue in te samel. Sy was die stigter van die organisasie in 2017.
“Dit was maar taai, en weens die besering het ek het baie later klaargemaak as wat ek wou, maar ek het die wedren voltooi en dit is wat saakmaak,” sê sy. Sy het die wenstreep op 11:11:01 oorgesteek. Sy het vanjaar haar groen nommer ontvang.
Joanne het ongeveer R17 000 ingesamel en die geld sal volgende naweek vir ‘n massa-sterilisasie gebruik word. “Ons gaan sowat 50 katte met dié geld help.”

MCS teacher runs Comrades under 9 hours

Louise Venter, a teacher at The Mountain Cambridge School, was another Hartbeespoort resident who ran the Comrades last weekend. She finished the race in 08:26 hours.
“This is the ultimate race that many wish to achieve at least once in their lives. But, if you are not a runner you wouldn’t know all that goes in to preparing to achieve this goal. Never mind life balance with work, family and training,” she said this week.
“The first excuse is always I don’t have time, but how are some able to do this then? It takes clever planning, discipline and support. Our bodies are only as strong as we make them. Comrades never disappoints, each year has its own story to tell. This year for me was an amazing experience. Thank you to all my family and friends for all your encouragement and support.”

10th Comrades for Col. Brandt

Well-known Hartbeespoort police officer, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Brandt, completed his 10th Comrades ultramarathon last weekend in a time of 9:55:38 over 87.7km. He received his green number and the Robert Mtshali medal for his time under 10 hours. Congratulations Colonel Brandt!