FEBRUARY 2008 NEWSLETTER

The Committee of Whalers AC would like to wish all its members the best in 2008.    Senior membership of the club has stabilized at ± 80 and we welcome new members Emma Whitaker, Jeremy Browne, Anton du Plessis, Edna Engelbrecht, Craig Matodes, Carl de Clercq and Christine Hibberd.  We also welcome two junior members Bulalane and Vuyo

As usual we have purchased a number of licences for 2008 so if you intend getting a number please do so soon and contact Ruby Waters.

*************************** ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING *************************

 

The AGM and prize-giving will be held at 11.00 on 15 March 2008 at Fernkloof.  We will have an informal get together afterwards with sponsored wors rolls.  Please bring your own drinks. We have to elect a new committee this year and Hugh and Ruby Waters as well as Gavin Turner are standing down as Club captain, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.  Nominations for Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Club captain and Race Co-ordinator will be called for so please give this some thought.

TIME TRIALS

Time trials start at 18.00 on Thursdays from the Cricket Club and anybody is encouraged to participate with no obligation to the club.

Hugh Waters and Brine Nofotyo have initiated a time trial to be held in Zwehlile on Wednesdays with the first one to be held on 6 February at 6.00pm.  This is a Whalers initiative, but anyone is welcome to attend.  Brine says that the venue is safe and that everyone in Zwehlile respects Brine, so lets give it a go.

We’ve had a chat to the Hermanus Times and hopefully we’ll have more luck with them publishing the results etc in future.

ROAD RUNNING AND RACE CALENDAR

The year has got off to a flying start with good participation in both the Bay to Bay 30km and Redhill 36/42km races.  With Two Oceans being very early this year the more serious runners are following  the Club captain’s training programme.  Included in this programme is a run to Caledon on 1 March, a distance of about 34km, which will have vehicles as back-ups.

Not as many Whalers seem to enter the races in Cape Town.  Probably the cost of fuel, but we do try to share vehicles to bring down the cost.  Talking of races, Frank Gillion is as steady as ever, and you will always find him in the top half of the field.  Suzie Mattheus is also shaping up nicely and has been the first lady Whaler at the Bay to Bay 30km and Redhill 36km.  Hugh Waters is having an autumn flush also coming in 2nd and 1st respectively in the +70 category in those 2 races.

A good number of runners have entered the Puma Peninsula marathon on 17 February.  Logistically this is a difficult race because you start in Green Point and finish in Simon’s Town.  We need somebody that is prepared to help with travel arrangements as well as erecting the gazebo at the finish.  Please talk to Hugh or Les.

On 23 February the Elgin/Grabouw AC is hosting 21/10/5 km races with very good cash prizes in all categories.  Whalers are encouraged to attend.  You can register on the day.

A reminder that Saturday long runs start at the Wine Village (currently at 0600) and all are welcome as we cater for the fast and not so fast. A vehicle goes along for those who don’t want to run too far.  Generally Saturday runs happen unless the club is participating in a particular race.  We normally make an announcement at Thursday’s time trials.

Johan de Kock has a race calendar consisting of the Boland, W.P. and S.W.D. events for 2008 so please contact him if you need a copy.

BITS AND PIECES

*          Jackie Schneider is the latest victim of falling off her bike!

*            Christopher Wheeler, son of Norma, is too strong for his own good!  He pulled the gym equipment on to his face, resulting a visit to the Mediclinic!

*          A hoodoo on Whalers women?  Carina and Arlene have both had their vehicles shunted from the rear.  In addition, Carina, Norma and Suzie are all nursing sports injuries!

*          Club Captain says that “Emma Whitaker has taken over as having the best legs in the Club!” You’ll only find out if you do that Saturday morning run!  George & Emma have been regulars this year although they live in Cape Town.

*          Anel Mostert – now Mrs Hennie Henn has a 2 week old baby daughter!  Congrats Anel!

*          Gavin Turner is on the comeback trail.  Jogging is still quite painful, but he is persevering and deserves a big pat on the back for the effort he is putting in!

*          Get to the AGM – you need a change and make sure you get it!

TRACK and FIELD

At the SWD Masters Championships in October at Oudtshoorn, Andre van Rooyen was the only Whaler who was able to participate. This was his first ever provincial masters meeting and he performed very creditably with 3 second places and 3 thirds. His best achievements were 28.80 in the discus and 8.68 in the shot put.

In November at the Free State Masters Championships in Bloemfontein, Leo Benning won 4 events, was second in two and third in one. His best results were 1.36 in the high jump,  triple jump 8.03, and javelin 28.18. (His HJ gave him an age-graded percentage of 92.15 which was the best of all the athletes at the meeting.). At the Bellville club meeting on the same day Bertie Warren won the high jump and saved himself for the 20km BIG Walk in Cape Town the next day.

PERSONALITY OF THE CLUB – LEO BENNING

Leo has been involved in track and field fairly seriously since 1952 and road running, cross country and walking since 1969. He has run eight Comrades, the first in 1969 and got a silver in 1977 (7:26). Finished 25 Two Oceans, missed a silver by 3 seconds in 1975 and made it by about 3 ½ minutes the next year.. Including ultras he has run 116 marathons between 1969 and 1998 but has competed in 275 high jump competitions over 33 years.

In 1990 Leo was awarded his SA Masters colours for track and field and for road running in about 1996. He won the bronze medal in M60 300m hurdles in Japan in 1993 and the gold medal in M70 high jump in Puerto Rico in 2003. He holds 5 SA records in the 60, 65 and 70 groups and numerous WP and Boland records.

In 1975 Leo founded the WP Veterans/Masters and has served on the committee ever since and is still the President. He is the SAMA and WMA Statistician for Africa.

Very `explosive` wife Marie, thinks it is fine to play tennis at 70 but infradig to hurdle or do high jump at 60!  Long distance races were totally out as they were very disruptive to the household due to the early starts. Tennis was naturally very normal! 

Whalers Committee