The XXXI Olympiad RIO 2016 is here!

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1 S A Racewalking Number 5: August 2016 Supported by the AGN Racewalk Commission A voice for all walkers! The XXXI Olympiad RIO 2016 is here! The time for the 31 st Olympiad has arrived. For most of the readers of this newsletter, the racewalk events will be top of the agenda of interest. Although many people in the general public still do not understand the sport it is interesting that it preceded running in many ways as a competitive sport. In the days (in the 17 th century) when footmen would walk alongside the coaches of the aristocracy, it became a done thing for the rich to bet on how fast the footmen could walk. By the time the 19 th century dawned these pedestrians were serious professional athletes and many races were held some lasting up to 6 days! The walk made its debut in the Olympic programme at St. Louis in 1904 with a half-mile race that was part of the 10-event All- Around Championship, an early forerunner of the decathlon. Individual races, initially over shorter distances, were introduced at the Intercalated Games of 1906 and, except for the 1928 Amsterdam Games, have been a fixture at Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships ever since. The 20km racewalk has been contested by men at the Olympic Games since Because it is a tough sport women were not considered to be capable of competing at the highest level until quite recently! The women s event had its debut at Barcelona in 1992, and initially it was contested over 10km, but since 2000 it has been a 20km event. The men s 20km racewalk will be the first to look out for at this year s Olympics and will take place on the morning of Friday 12 August. A week later on the morning of the 19th August the men s 50km event and the women s 20km will be held. We have a particular interest in each of these events. In the men s 20km we have Lebogang Shange (currently ranked 11th) and Wayne Snyman (ranked 27th) walking for South Africa. The top 5 contenders on the IAAF rankings list are Zen Wang (China), Jared Tallent Australia), Benjamin Thorne (Canada), Miguel Angel Lopez (Spain) and Dane Alex Bird-Smith (Australia). But as we know anyone in the top contenders on a good day can be in the medals! The 50km racewalk is the longest athletics event on the Olympic programme and it remains the only athletics event still contested by men only. The 50km racewalk became part of the Olympic schedule in 1932, and, besides the 1976 Montreal games has remained as the toughest sport on the Olympic calendar. Just like the 4 minute mile for running, the four hour 50km racewalk was a tough one to crack, and it was Gennadiy Agapov, who first dipped under 4 hours with 3:55:36 on 17 October Marc Mundell, who also walked in the last Olympics (see his story in this issue), is the South African contender in this event. Marc currently lies number 53 in the IAAF ratings based on his 3:56:12 time and 20 th position at Dudince. The top 5 contenders on the IAAF rankings list are Yohann Diniz (France), Alex Schwazer (Italy), Zhendong Wang (China), Jared Tallent (Australia) and Yucheng Han (China). On the day it could be anyone s race! The last of the racewalking events will be the women s 20km event, held on the same day as the men s 50km. In this event South Africans can look forward to seeing Anel Oosthuizen in action! (Anel s story as told by her coach is in this edition of the newsletter). Anel is currently ranked 111 for her 1:34:49 walked in Podébrady in April The top 5 contenders on the IAAF rankings list are Hong Liu (China), Maria Gonzalez (Mexico), Shenjie Qieyang (China), Erica de Sena (Brazil) and Elisa Qieyang (China). When are the racewalking competitions? Race SA Participants Date & SA Time 20km Men Lebo Shange 12 Aug 19h30 Wayne Snyman 50km Men Marc Mundell 19 Aug 13h00 20 km Women Anel Oosthuizen 19 Aug 19h30 Source: Various incl. IAAF IAAF world U20 Championships Bydgoszcz 2016 Ma Zhenxia of China, although only 17 years old, is walking her way to international fame. Ma won the Youth Olympic title in 2014, the world U18 title in 2015 and the junior title at the IAAF World Racewalking Team Championships Rome She has now added another gold medal to her collection by winning the women s 10000m racewalk at the IAAF World U20 Championships. Ma, together with the lead pack, walked the first 1000m in 4: At the 3000m mark in 13:44.01, less than two seconds separated the top 12 women. Stella (Italy), Ma and Beletew (Ethiopia) were three seconds ahead of the rest of the field at 8000m. Ma moved into the lead with two laps to go but Stella was still right behind. Ma still had another gear to move into for the last lap and she stretched away to win by six seconds in an under 20 world-leading 45:18.45, having covered the final 1000m in 4:15. Stella crossed the line in a season s best of 45:23.85, while Beletew took bronze with an African U20 record of 45: Source: IAAF Issue 5 1 August 2016

2 Marc Mundell Racewalker - Pathfinder I have known Marc for some years; he was kind enough to give me some pointers before I went to the WMA champs in Brazil. Marc always comes across to me as a tower of strength with confidence enough for two! Marc s road walking career in a sense started many years ago with his father s sports history. Marc s dad Oliver, was a top athlete at school, a fast bowler, hurdler and rugby player. He tore a cruciate ligament playing rugby and was told to walk to keep active during his recovery. But Oliver, being of a competitive mind walked fast! Although many say that racewalking the Comrades Marathon is not possible, Oliver Mundell did it and completed the 1991 comrades in 9:27:36! Oliver represented South Africa (post isolation) at both the IAAF Racewalking Cups in Mexico (1993) and China (1995) as a 40 year old. Marc (born on the 7 th July 1983) was just 10 years old when his dad competed in Mexico and was clearly influenced by his father s success. Oliver retired in 1997 after not making the world cup team. During Oliver s racewalking career the late Frik Vermaak was the team manager. Marc grew up in Ixopo, Natal until the family moved to Hillcrest when Marc s Dad was appointed as deputy Principal at Hillcrest High School. Marc was a very competitive Junior athlete and often played in teams a year above his age. He played rugby and cricket for the school and achieved provincial colours for badminton, cross country and athletics (800m and 1200m). Marc went to Glenwood High in Durban for a year and a half, but was back at Hillcrest where he was Deputy Head Boy for his Matric in Marc (aged 13) at the SA Junior Champs (u17) in 1997 In 2009 Marc moved up from the 20km to the 50km distance at which he has specialised since. In his first race at the distance he broke the National record! Marc completed his Masters in Human Movement Science in 2011 as he was preparing for selection for the 2012 Olympics. It was in this period that Marc felt he needed a coach with a different outlook and started to work with Jamie Costin from Ireland - himself a 3 time Olympian in the 50km racewalking event. When Marc walked in the 2012 Olympics he was the first male racewalker to compete for South Africa in the 50km since isolation and in fact the first since George Hazel competed in Rome in 1960! Marc commented at the time that he hoped it would not be another 52 years before a South African Male athlete competed at the games and he has certainly had his wish since this year we have an excellent team selected. I believe that Marc can consider himself the pathfinder in this regard and I fully expect a larger and more accomplished team at the next Olympics. At the 2012 Olympics Marc finished 32nd overall with a time of 3:55:32 (note that the position has since improved considerably due to the series of athletes that have since been found to have been doping). Marc, who retains the South African and all African record for the 50km achieved the Olympic 50-kilometre qualification standard in March 2015, again at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing in August 2015 and to top that he walked his PB in Melbourne on the 13 December 2015 (3:54:12). This was a new South African and all Africa 50 km record, bettering the time that Marc set in London in Marc would like to better this at the Rio Olympics. He is happy to have walked under the qualifying time every 50km race since London! Setting a new SA and all Africa record in Melbourne (2015) Marc started racewalking when he was 12 (1995) and competed at SA Schools and SA Juniors. In 2000 Marc walked for the South African schools team at the Pacific School Games in Sydney where he placed 4 th in the 3000m. The race was won by Jared Tallent. Meanwhile Marc continued to enjoy success in a variety of sports and achieved provincial colours for softball, hockey and badminton as well as being a provincial B team cricketer. In 2002 Marc moved to Pretoria to study for his degree in sports Science. Here he was trained for some years by Chris Britz, a multiple SA record holder, who had qualified for the 1996 Atlanta games. In 2004 Marc was selected for the IAAF world cup in Germany, his first time in a senior team. Marc is indebted to his wife and family for the sterling support he gets in his sport when asked how his wife deals with the difficulties of being married to an international sportsperson with the rollercoaster of emotions that that implies Marc smiles and says she knew what she was letting herself in for, but she is as tough as nails and provides me with unwavering support. One of the real challenges in the 50km racewalk event is to ensure that you eat and drink correctly. Marc needs to take in at least 70g of carbohydrates per hour to ensure that he can put in a strong finish which also means that has to train to ingest carbs whilst competing at the highest level. Marc feels that in the 50 km event in particular it is about who can suffer best! The Issue 5 2 August 2016

3 person that can best accept the conditions for what they are and respond well has an excellent chance of being amongst the leaders on the day. Marc s wife is a medical doctor and he will be leaving South Africa towards the end of the year to accompany her to Canada where she has a contract which will enable her to gain international experience. I think the entire racewalk community will be saddened by his leaving our shores, and will support me in wishing him and his wife all the best for their future. Perhaps I can persuade Marc to be an overseas correspondent for our newsletter? Marc at the Africa Champs (2016) in Durban Anel Oosthuizen 4 years of Preparation! By Carl Meyer Anel Oosthuizen (21) is a young and hugely talented racewalker in the Rio 2016 South African Olympic team. I was privileged to see her racewalk for the first time as a 10 year old at the 2006 SA Road Racewalk Championships in Oudtshoorn. Little did I know that at the time of the race I uttered prophetic words when I stated to my athletes that we are watching the future champion of women s racewalk in South Africa! During this time and during her last school year she was coached as a racewalker under the watchful eye of Marie Zwiegelaar who is the bastion of racewalking in George for young racewalkers. Anel is also extremely blessed to have her parents and family as a very close knit support team. Anel in 2006 Marc left me with a biblical quotation regarding his life and racewalking which bears thinking of: But those that trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak. [Isaiah 40:31]. Marc, from the racewalking community I wish you all the best in the upcoming Olympics and in the challenges that face you in Canada Please keep in contact! Marc and Anel in Durban Source: Various - Interviewed by Chris C. During 2012 disaster struck when she was disqualified during the SA School Championships for a Rule 230 (technique) violation. For any racewalker and specially a young racewalker a DQ is a very traumatic experience. I watched a video clip of this event and concluded that minor adjustments in her technique would set her on a more solid path. Although the experience of a DQ can be demoralizing for a young racewalker, it is character forming. It made Anel just more determined to improve her technique and excel in racewalking. Issue 5 3 August 2016

4 During 2013 in her last school year she was given the opportunity to attend an IAAF women s racewalk symposium in Kenya. I accompanied the delegation as SA National Racewalk coach and it is here that Anel was introduced to the international think-tank of women s racewalk. She was exposed to what scientific racewalk training is all about. It was during this trip that Anel asked me to become her coach. At the time I had already assessed Anel s abilities and was impressed with her talent. Adopting a new training regime since then was a very new experience for her. It was no easy task to coach Anel over a distance of 1200km. Monitoring training progress she had to incur expenses in upgrading her training watch to one that recorded vital statistics such as heart rate and training times, which got uploaded daily onto an internet platform. During the last 6 months of her school year we gathered enough training statistics to start planning for the years ahead. The coaching distance between us changed in 2014 onwards when she became a student at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) where I am the racewalk coach as well. During February of 2014 I brokered a training relationship with the Slovakia Olympic racewalk squad that did a high altitude training camp in Johannesburg. From 2015 the Slovakian squad set their base for their annual high altitude training camp up in Boksburg where I live. This arrangement gave Anel the opportunity to forge training relationships with the likes of Matej Toth (2015 World 50km Racewalk Champion). Anel is still developing as a 20km racewalker. International statistics show that 20km female racewalkers reach their top form at age 25 and later. Her annual training distance is still falling short from where we want to be mainly due to her academic commitments to complete her teacher s degree at the end of 2017, then she will be able to reach the goals we are working towards. Progress of Anel s annual training distance statistics from January to December: km (last 6 months) km (10km preparation & 20km transition) km (1st year 20km preparation) km to date (2nd year 20km preparation planned 3600km) 2017 (planned 4000km) 2018 (planned 4400km) The greatest challenge of any elite athlete s training regime is to stay healthy. Anel has had her share of injury setbacks but generally she remains blessed with very good health and an optimistic mindset. However, she is not scared to work hard and it is one of her best qualities. Ready for recovery after a very hard 22km session Matej Toth This has given Anel access to International racewalking contacts. It also provided her with a greater understanding of what was required to become an Olympian. Since her arrival at UJ in 2014 Anel has been selected to represent South Africa at the following events: 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships in the US IAAF World Racewalk Cup in China Africa Games in the Congo IAAF World Racewalk Team Champs in Rome Africa Championships in Durban 2016 Rio Olympic Games At 21 Anel has already won the SA Senior Championship over four consecutive years (twice as a junior) equalling the record of 2004 Olympian, Nicolene Cronje Badenhorst. As a UJ and CGA athlete Anel has set SA records in the 10000m (track) and 10km (road) events for junior u/20 women as well as the women s 20km senior record this year, improving Susan Vermeulen s 1999 time by 1:29 to 1:34:49. This 4 year journey with Anel has had a great and positive effect on her as person and her career as international racewalker. She works hard as an athlete as well as excelling as a student. She is a role model as a true ambassador in maintaining balance with humility on the sports field and academically. Her enthusiastic approach to everything she embarks on makes it easy to be her coach. Her selection as a member of Team SA to the Rio Olympics will forever be a proud moment for us all. Anel is not only a champion racewalker she is a true Olympian. By Carl Meyer (UJ Racewalk Coach) Did you know? Jesús Ángel García (ESP) is selected for the 50 Km racewalk in Rio. He is set to equal Merlene Ottey s appearance record of seven Games! The youngest female gold medallist in the 10km racewalk was Chen Yueling of China when aged 24 in The oldest was Yelena Nikolayeva of Russia aged 30 in 1996! The youngest male gold medallist in the 20km racewalk was Chen Ding of China when aged 19 in The oldest was Peter Fenkel of the German Democratic Republic aged 33 in 1972! Source: IAAF Issue 5 4 August 2016

5 The Via Francigena From La Douay in Switzerland to Rome in Italy A journey that is anything from 350km to 400km. What a life-time experience! It is much like giving birth. You want to do this walk so badly, that you plan, organise and buy necessities and prepare yourself physically. Then of course the big day arrives and you have to start walking. Well, that is another story You moan and groan, because if it is not sore feet or blisters, then it is the blazing sun and some bothersome fly buzzing around your head. Not to forget the unrelenting hills. Why, I cannot explain, but every town is on top of a hill. I could not remember one day of our trip that was without hills, even in Rome. By now I think you must have a pretty good idea of our trip. Would I do another Ultra-walk? Well, as it is with all women - never ask the question straight after the birth. I have been back for almost two weeks and I keep remembering funny moments and beautiful sunsets and scenes. I have already forgotten the heat and tired body. I am wondering when the next Camino will be or which route Sylvia will choose this time.. Source: Sanette Henderson Invitation Sanette taking a moment to rest This is the first African Centurion walk to be held! We as walkers in SA should all be entering. Currently there are 13 individuals who have registered for the 160km only 4 South Africans. Not a single team!!! I am pretty sure CGA / AGN can get some teams together. A few interested people are hoping to have a social bring and braai from about 4pm on 9 August in Midrand (the venue depends on numbers) to plan a way forward. I (Dave Ingram) have started a Facebook group to share ideas for teams and training. Have a look and share your ideas. You cannot do this without following a fitness programme and preparing yourself mentally. We walked between twenty to thirty kilometres per day in freezing conditions on the St Bernard pass (Switzerland), and at 40 o C heat in the Italian countryside. ( We were a group of 11 women from Canada, America and South Africa). Sylvia Nilsen, from AmaWalkers, organized 4 groups to do the Via Francigena. We were the third group, as we could only do it in the June-July school holidays, due to work commitments. Every night I would say a silent thank you to Sylvia for booking us into comfortable lodgings to rest our exhausted bodies. We also could not do the walk without our group leader with her Google maps and I-Pad (She could find a needle in a haystack with no problem). The road surfaces varied from tar road, where it sometimes felt as if the tar was burning through the soles of your shoes, to gravel roads. If the gravel roads were level, they had loose stones on the surface, which could be very slippery at times or they could be covered in a deep layer of sand that you sank into. Some of the gravel roads were really 4 by 4 tracks and you had to climb over rocks and hardened mud tracks. I chose to walk in trail shoes, but some girls preferred to walk in hiking boots. You could carry your backpack every day, or choose to pay a nominal fee and have your backpack transported to your next destination. I chose to travel light and only took a backpack which I carried most days. It provided me with three sets of clothes two sets were for walking and one set for the evening. It meant that I had to wash one set every day as soon as I got to my destination. Who should do this walk? It would suit active and adventurous people, who want to discover the country, but want to avoid the touristy areas. We met wonderful people in Switzerland and Italy and enjoyed their hospitality and helpfulness. I stood in awe of their historical sites and their complex history and was privileged enough to hear the Pope address the people in St Peter s square. To enter as a team 4 people must join, they can do any amount of distance each but as a team 160km must be done in relay format within 24hrs, with only one member on the track at a time. The required speed is an average of 9 min/km. The laps will be 4.7 km after the initial 10km loop. So I would guess each team member would do 9.4 km then have a few hrs to recover, but this could change as the team wishes. I would really appreciate the company and support on all my laps as well! More info and entries at: Listen to: 160km-on-robben-island-in-october Source: Dave Ingram Letter to the editor MONDO TRACK (edited) TUKS ATHLETICS CLUB introduced their new circuit (the first of its kind in SA) the (blue) MONDO track. What are the advantages of the MONDO...? Will this surface influence athlete s performances? Such as technique and speed? e.g racewalkers (perhaps?) have to adjust their stride pattern? I would like some feed back from those of you who had the privilege to use it. Carol v d Walt Carol, some feedback: Both Wayne Snyman and myself walked PB s at the opening of the track. Did you know? The youngest gold medallist in the 50km racewalk was Alex Schwazer of Italy when aged 23 in The oldest was Tommy Green of Great Britain aged 38 in 1932! Source: IAAF Issue 5 5 August 2016

6 CGA Provincial trials - Results Pos Race No First Name Surname Distance Age Year of birth Club name Time SUB SUB YOUTH GIRLS 3KM 13 YEARS AND YOUNGER (2003 AND LATER) Katumetse Khola 3km Orlando 20: Sanelisiwe Booi 3km Blue Sky 21: Kagiso Molefe 3km RAC 21: Chris-Ann Kavai 3km Wanderers 22: Daisy Thakadu 3km RAC 23: Ntsako Mabaso 3km RAC 26: Ntombikayise Motloung 3km RAC 26: Pako Menoe 3km RAC 26: Thatohatsi Dosen 3km RAC 26: DNS Keketso Kunene 3km DNS SUB YOUTH GIRLS 5KM YEARS (2001 / 2002) Dimakasto Msheba 5km Tuks 31: Sibongile Malhe 5km Simunye 35: Hlayisani Hlungwani 5km Blue sky 37: Kgothatso Chauke 5km No club 42: Sonia Bam 5km Orlando 42:55 YOUTH GIRLS 5KM 16 TO 17 YEARS (1999 / 2000) Koketso Lesejane 5km RAC 34: Siphokazi Mashala 5km Gauteng Striders 36: Nonduduzo Mahungele 5km Gauteng Striders 39:16 JUNIOR WOMEN 10KM YEARS (1997 / 1998) Whitney Matseba 10km Tuks 1:24: Palesa Mshiba 10km Tuks DNF 0218 DNS Sbongile Ncuthu 10km DNS MASTERS WOMEN 10KM W Lisa Patterson 10km RWFL 1:04: Natasja Billson 10km BNAC 1:25:30 MASTERS WOMEN 10KM W Carol Selolo 10km BNAC 1:23: Mphego Jabulile 10km BNAC DNF MASTERS WOMEN 10KM W Bronwyn Lendrum 10km RWFL 1:07:45 MASTERS WOMEN 10KM W Lauren Krog 10km RWFL 1:14:04 MASTERS WOMEN 10KM W50-54 DNS Julie Gower 10km RWFL DNS DNS Lesley Van Buuren 10km Wanderers DNS MASTERS WOMEN 10KM W Avril Coats 10km RWFL 1:06: Teresa Coetzee 10km RWFL 1:21:36 DNS Diana Boyd 10km RWFL DNS MASTERS WOMEN 10KM W Barbara Nell 10km UJ 1:02: Loritha Jacobs 10km RWFL 1:11: Sue Holden 10km BNAC 1:20: Nonhlanhla Hlatshwayo 10km Simunye Global AC 1:25:25 WOMEN 10KM W Mary Jarvis 10km RWFL 1:22:21 WOMEN 10KM W Esme McIlvin 10km BNAC 1:24: Dee Macartney 10km RWFL 1:25:45 SENIOR WOMEN 20KM Udelle de Winnaar 20km UJ 1:57: Nthatisi Mokhele 20km Gauteng Striders 2:10: Buyisiwe Mazibuko 20km Orlando AC 2:11: Zinhie Gumbi 20km Orlando AC 2:22: Rose Shabalala 20km RAC DNF 1219 DNS mbalenhle ngema 20km no club DNS MASTERS WOMEN 20KM W DNS Florence Molopo 20km Boksburg corr. services DNS MASTERS WOMEN 20KM W Assalina Nyathi 20km Post Office 2:35:31 MASTERS WOMEN 20KM W DNS Michelle Harding 20km BNAC DNS 1263 Linah Nkosi 20km Blue Sky DQ MASTERS WOMEN 20KM W Anita Starsky 20km FFA 2:22:28 WOMEN 20KM W DNS Rachel Ledwaba 20km Rocky Road Runners DNS NOTE: I am but human, I make mistakes. If anything here is incorrect don t tell your friends and family tell me! In that way I can correct it and the correct figures will appear in future. Pos Race No First Name Surname Distance Age Year of birth Club Time SUB SUB YOUTH BOYS - 13 YEARS AND UNDER - 3KM Alex Nyivana 3km Blue Sky 17: Tsebo Chauke 3km RAC 19: Mlondi Nyembe 3km Blue Sky 19: Sipiwe Manyoni 3km Blue Sky 19: Mohau Mohlakane 3km Harambe 25:30 SUB YOUTH BOYS - 14 TO 15 YEARS - 5KM Vincent Nhlapo 5km Tuks AC 28: Kgosi Ngake 5km Blue sky 30: Junior Molefe 5km RAC 30: Mfana Kunene 5km RAC 30: Sfiso Mtebe 5km Harambe 36: Mzwakhe Ngwenya 5km Simunye 37: Karabo Mhlongo 5km RAC 37: DNS Tshegofatso Senosi 5km DNS YOUTH BOYS YEARS 10KM Tumelo Molete 10km RAC 55: DNS Bennett Cunde 10km DNS 1152 DNS Andries Louis Swart 10km Nedbank DNS JUNIOR MEN 18 TO 19 YEARS 10KM Edwin Tumisang Pule 10km Tuks Club 50: Xolani Vusi Hlongane 10km RAC 54: Jabulani Benzane 10km RAC 55: Lebogang Mokatsoie 10km Blue Sky 55: Pierre Vermaak 10km UJ 56: Simamnkele Tomsama 10km Lodirile DNF 1295 Kamohelo Polile 10km Orlando DQ MASTERS MEN M KM Karabo Molefe 10km RAC 59: Ayanda Dingile 10km Blue sky 1:22:13 MASTERS MEN M KM Ihan Collins 10km mittal 59:35 MASTERS MEN M KM Wessel Molale 10km RAC 1:04: DNS Merwe Du Preez 10km Nedbank DNS MASTERS MEN M KM Bles Kavai 10km Wanderers 1:01:03 MASTERS MEN M KM Aubrey Johannes 10km RAC 58: Bennet De Klerk 10km Rustenburg Masters AC 1:00: Stephen Msimango 10km BNAC 1:03: Christo Hechter 10km Suikerbosrand Athletics Club 1:20:15 MASTERS MEN M KM 0386 DNF Carel Meyer 10km UJ DNF MASTERS MEN M KM Bernard Donnelly 10km RAC 1:08: Ben Mohlakane 10km Harambe 1:12: Nigel Naylor 10km RWFL 1:16: Eugene Lubbe 10km No Club 1:17:14 MASTERS MEN M KM A Dumisani Sidwell Mhlongo 10km BNAC 1:11: Peter Combes 10km Sunninghill Striders 1:18:06 SENIOR MEN KM Mzwakhe Mavundla 20km UJ 1:35: Jeffrey Manamela 20km Alberton 1:45: Dannyboy Sehemo 20km Nedbank 1:48: Mthunzi Mnisi 20km Transnet 1:50: Ntoane Ntoane 20km UJ 1:54: Tebogo Betane 20km RAC 1:59: Kwenzaakufan e Masoka 20km RAC DNF 1233 Jabulani Sithole 20km Take It Easy DNF 1239 Louis Khwela 20km RAC DNF 1238 Sizwe Ndebele 20km Tuks Club DQ MASTERS MEN M KM Johannes Mashigo 20km Orlando 2:11:51 MASTERS MEN M KM Ronald Eykenduyn 20km RWFL 2:15: Maribe Mamabolo 20km Boksburg Correctional Services DQ MASTERS MEN M KM Alan Nemeti 20km RWFL 2:11: Wayne Scott 20km Roodepoort 2:14: Hans Joythe 20km Solidariteit 2:21:17 MASTERS MEN M KM Dave Ingram 20km Team Vitality 2:16: DNS Sarel Smith 20km BNAC DNS MASTERS MEN M KM 1170 John Gillbee 20km BNAC DQ Source: Kevin Phillips & Lesley van Buuren

7 CGA News Spirit of flight Race to be AGN 10km Champs The Central Gauteng one hour challenge is held each first Saturday of the month at 7:30 is the month so please remember to turn up for this excellent event. Pictures from the CGA Trials Udelle looking good! Source: Jacques Kypie Niemand Some future stars with Brenda Wakfer Since this is the AGN Racewalking commission 10km Championships there will be additional prizes for racewalkers registered with AGN. The table of prizes is given below: AGN News Source: Jacques Kypie Niemand September AGN Racewalking event Unfortunately this event which is due to be held in Pretoria is not yet finalised, but Keep your Eyes open for an announcement in this regard. Monthly one hour Challenge Join other AGN Racewalkers on the track on the third Thursday of the month and experience the new Tuks track! Note: Medals and prize money for both men and women, unless indicated otherwise (Youth: boys only since youth girls are not eligible for 10 km). Please keep an eye on the information on the race the racewalking event is likely to start 15 minutes before the run. Source: Chris Britz Issue 5 7 August 2016

8 ASA LEVEL 1 COACHES COURSE Fast Feet Development, in collaboration with AGN and Centurion Academy (CA), presents an ASA Level 1 Coaches Course at the Centurion Academy in Centurion from August The course will run from 14:15 18:00 every day. The course will cover the following general topics: Coaching Philosophy; Physiology; Growth and Development; Nutrition; Biomechanics; Sports Injuries; Coaching Theory; Programming and Sport Psychology.(8 hours) Apart from the above a selection must be made of one of the following event groups: Sprints and Hurdles, Middle and long distances; Throws (Shot, discus, javelin; hammer) and Jumps(High Jump; Long Jump; Triple jump; Pole Vault)(12 hours) slower 40 year old will receive a prize of R300! To bring this closer to home I may be lucky enough to also beat the 40 year old walkers and will be equally affected if I do. Note that the runners are equally mistreated by the organisers! The solution is simple, but it appears to have been missed by race organisers! If this clear ageism does not bother you then you are fortunate, ignore my little diatribe; however if it does touch at that part of you that cannot be happy with something which is unfair based on gender, race or age then phone the organiser at and ask for an explanation. Some walkers at the Zwartkops Road Race On completion of the course an exam is done, on passing of which, an ASA Level 1 certificate is issued. Enquiries can be made at hugo.badenhorst@lantic.net or Cost R550 per person. Western Cape News New walking newsletter The Western Province Athletics Racewalking Commission have started a newsletter! The newsletter, called Walk n Talk, calls for news and photos from WPA walkers. In their first issue they advertise a racewalking clinic to be held on 30 th July Source: WPA Racewalking Commission Masters News The SAMA champs 2017 will be hosted by WP Masters at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, on the 4th, 5th and 6th May Editorial I remain very concerned with the tendency to demean racewalking by local race organisers, as well as the clear ageism shown by some in the way prize-monies are awarded. Where is the morality in living in a society where racism, sexism and all the other -isms are decried, but ageism is allowed! Many of Pretoria Walkers know what transpired at the Garsfontein Ice breaker race in Pretoria. On one hand Elsa Meyer (in a planned protest) walked with a 40 age group tag (quite legally) and won the prize which had a restricted age group there were NO prizes for older participants. Whilst none of us (including Elsa) particularly like this, it was meant to bring home to the organisers that a closed upper age group is ridiculous. In the same race Jaap Willemse came in in fourth place (there were open prizes for positions 1-3). Jaap got no recognition for his efforts since he is 59, however the 40 year old walker that came in 5th was recognised as the winner in the age category. This sort of problem does not only affect walkers! At the excellently organised Zwartkops Road Race the first 70 year old runner came in at about 49 minutes, ahead of the first 60 year old. Again if there had been a closed category prize for 60-69, the 70 year old runner would have been ignored. Fortunately the organisers had equal prizes for all the age categories and an open category at the end. The Makro Wierie Road race coming on the 13th August is the next one guilty of ageism. Worse it is a league race! Firstly I note that regardless of your age you pay the same to enter the race - R80 for the 10km and R100 for the 21.1 km. Please don t misunderstand me it has good prizes and I understand the problems with awarding prizes to us walkers so I can even look past the fact that the 10km walkers are rather short changed. However If our top lady walker in the category beats the 40year olds, as is her wont, then she receives R150 for her efforts (the prize) whilst the possibly Source: Facebook (Harald Ruck) In comparison the Spirit of Flight has a much better system with equal prize money for runners and walkers as well as a fair distribution by age Well done Spirit of Flight! Remember that the website for back issues is ( and please contribute to the facebook page (South African racewalkers). I have put the resources in place and it will also be up to you to ensure that they are used to the best to build community in the sport. Please send me race reports, photos suggestions and articles that you write. Make this YOUR newsletter rather than mine be a part of the fabric of South African Racewalking. Contact me Chris Callaghan: Chrisc37@gmail.com Love Running: Sport for the Glory of God "To walk is to live, to walk fast is to live well." If you want to receive this newsletter in your inbox, you need to me and ask! Issue 5 8 August 2016