MAY 2007 NEWSLETTER

It is almost unbelievable that the New Year seems just to have started yet we are in the 5^th month already.  Whalers members have been active in various ways  since the beginning of the year and it is quite difficult to keep track of who is doing what.   Our senior membership now stands at 81 and we would like to welcome Suane Nieuwoudt, Basie Strydom, Mariza Solomon, Janeli Viljoen, Andre van Rooyen, Jorrie Louw and Herman de Vries as new members

AGM and prize giving

Our AGM was held on 21 March 2007 and the following members were recognized for their achievements in 2006.

The criteria to be used for the selection of prize winners in 2007 will be as follows:

            - Only official times will be used

            - Official age graded tables will be used

            - Your best 5 runs will be used in the calculation

            - You need to submit a list of races that you participated in during 2007 to Carien Gooding

               by 31 January 2008. 

            -  Leo Benning will monitor the performances of the track and field athletes

            - For the 1000 km challenge you must register with Johan de Kock

Two Oceans

37 Members entered the Ultra or the 21km.  David Hepburn-Brown and Carina van der Merwe were the 1^st male and female Whalers in the Ultra and Frank Gillion the 1^st male and Suzie Mattheus the 1^st female in the half. Once again Gert Koen was the oldest entrant/finisher in the half at 81 years of age. Hugh Waters came 3^rd in the over 70’s Ultra.

Comrades 2007

To our knowledge 4 runners from Whalers intend running Comrades this year. They are Gavin Turner, Barney Louw, Johan de kock, and Max Visagie.  We wish them all the best with their training schedules and their run.  Johan van Zyl Jnr is also running although in the Swartland colours.

Time trials and Saturday long runs

As from 1 May through to 31 August the time trials will be starting at 17.30pm.  Similarly Saturday long runs will be starting at 07.00am from the Wine village unless announced otherwise at the time trials – contact Hugh or Les if you feel uncertain. 

Hermanus Wheels and Runners relay

The event was held on 5 May and organised by the Access for Citizens Committee at which the club was represented by Carina van der Merwe.  The event was an enormous success and will probably become an annual event putting Hermanus well and truly on the map.  Although Whalers does not benefit financially it is an opportunity for the club to be involved in disabled sport, and hopefully we’ll have better support from our members in future. 

Track and Field

Leo Benning reports that this section of the club is growing.  The nucleus of Leo, Bertie Warren and Rita Pheiffer has been added to by Karen de Bruyn, Willie Leodolff and Louise Erasmus at some of the T and F meetings this year.  All have excelled in their various age categories, and Leo wishes that more Whalers would try and get involved.  Recently, Andre van Rooyan has joined the club so we now have an expert in the throwing events who is prepared to share his skill.

Bits and Pieces

·                    David Hepburn-Brown forgot to register for Comrades!

·                    Karen Hensen from Perth (formerly Hermanus) has been joining our Saturday morning training runs as she is going to run Comrades this year

·                    Thys van der Merwe won “Man of the Match” award in one of his recent rugby games

·                    Timekeeper needed for June as both the Waters’s and Hanna’s will be on leave

·                    Please send race results to Nicki by the latest Sunday evening (0729070387) npayne@telkomsa.net

·                    Wow! 8min & 34secs for 3km! The course is a bit short, but nonetheless, well done Brine!

·                    No prize for guessing who won the draw for the digital camera!  It was Leo, of course!

Personality of the club – Frank Gillion

Frank is the most consistently good runner in our club.  This year he was far ahead of the rest when it came to deciding the best athlete. Frank joined the Whalers shortly after its founding in 1996.  Although he has run many marathons in the past, Frank prefers the shorter distances as he has the speed to be competitive at his age.  Frank is not far from his 50^th birthday and next year will move into the master category and will probably be raking in the prizes.  Frank is a quiet, unassuming and decent person who has been and is a great asset to the club.  Our younger members can look up to him as an example. 

Committee

Chairman - Les Hanna (0283163820)                             Club Captain - Hugh Waters (0283161464)

Membership Secretary - Ruby Waters (0283161464)     Running Kit - Nicki Payne (0729070387)

Track and Field - Leo Benning (0283164960)               Treasurer - Gavin Turner (0283163348)

Social/walking rep - Arlene Ehrenberg (0283162037)     Web-site - Carien Gooding (0283141504)

Race Organiser - Carina van der Merwe (0283163450)