NOVEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER

Whalers turned 10 years old in September this year, and is going from strength to strength.  Our membership now stands at 89 and recently we have welcomed Alan Scheepers as a new member.  To the best of our knowledge, the founder members who are still with us are Valerie van Deventer, Doug Peiser, Sarel and Annarie Nel, Andre and Carina van der Merwe and Robert Alam.  This will be the last newsletter this year, and so we ask you to forward it to anyone who may not have received it through normal channels. With the changes to our constitution, we will not be having the AGM in December, but in the first quarter of 2007 together with the awards ceremony.   But we are having a another social event this year – see below.

Time trials

The time trials are a wonderful way of introducing new members to the club, and on the 14 September a record of 69 attended the time trials.  Gavin Turner who operates the “Bar in the Car” has had to make new allowances for the increased attendance.  The Stanford time trial on Tuesdays continues to flourish and we thank Andries and Coia de Villiers for taking over the arrangements from Nadia Nel.

Road Races

The last designated race was ‘The Foot of Africa’ in Bredasdorp, and we had 25 Whalers participating in the various distances.   It was a beautiful day and the ladies especially put in some excellent performances.  In December we have 2 designated races – Hangklip on 9th, and Danger Point on 30th, and all Whalers are encouraged to attend them.

In the South African Masters 10km Championships Louise Erasmus and Roelof van Weele were selected for Boland. Louise ran 43.52 and came 23rd in her age group, and Boland Veteran Ladies team were 6th overall.  Roelof van Weele ran 46.44 and was 9th in the 60+ age category.  Congratulations to both of them.  Leo Benning attended as an individual and ran a commendable 54.23

Saturday morning runs now start at 6am at the Wine Village, and lately a core of ladies have been setting the pace and outnumbering the men – not that Club Captain Hugh Waters seems to mind!   Tuesdays 10km training run at Onrus now pulls in at least half a dozen runners, and Wednesdays 13km Rotary Drive has also started to catch on!  The latter is worth a try, even if it does bring you down to reality!

Thank you Johan de Kock, for volunteering to take over the managing of the 500/1000km Challenge. Johan, together with Michelle Botes, Nicki Payne and Arlene Ehrenberg have been participating in road races at least once a week and keeping the Whalers flag flying high.  It is good to see younger Whalers participating so responsibly.

The Onrus Gateway Superspar 10km will be hosted by Whalers on 16 December.  This is the one race that Whalers tackles on its own, and we need assistance on the day.  You can assist before or after the race, and you can also participate in the race.  Volunteers should contact Carina van der Merwe -0828238632  

Bits and Pieces

Social event

Please diarise the evening of Friday 1st December.  This will be a combined  end of year function and Whalers 10th Birthday celebration.  It will be held at the cricket club as an informal function so that children can attend.  The Club is arranging to have a spit braai, and you will only be required to bring your own chairs, cash for a cash bar, and R25 per adult. Please give a your name to Arlene Ehrenberg if you are attending this function.  Please try to attend as this is a special occasion for the Club.  Besides, we think you will have a good time!

Personalities of the club – Norma Wheeler

In the seventies, if you spotted black stockings under a Mary Quant dress, dark black eyes, a number one hairstyle with long tresses from the neck, it could have been Norma Wheeler, or so she said in one of her weaker moments when she let her guard down to Road Runner!  This incredibly resilient and plucky dame never ceases to amaze with her fund of general knowledge that she is quite prepared to share with anyone on a long run!  And she is also prepared to let you know how she feels on the subject, so you can have a jolly good argument and never get bored!  Norma only started running in her fifties in the UK.  She and hubby Ray both ran the London Marathon.  Ray appears not to run any more and there are no conspiracy theories on why?!

Norma found Whalers when she came to Hermanus (thanks Mat) 3 years ago, and rekindled her love affair with long distance running.  In 2005, she ran her first Two Oceans Ultra in under 6 hours – a great achievement, and is preparing to cap that result next year.  She is a no nonsense lady – if you don’t keep up with her on the run, you get dumped!  She deserves a lot of respect and that’s why we salute you Norma Wheeler!

Loves – Ray , her 3 children, long distance running, and living in Hermanus

Likes – the Gym, Mat Browne’s bod, reading, and her MP3 player

Hates – the Labour Government and Tony Blair (a prat, a pillock, a tosser!)

Whalers Committee