NOVEMBER
2007 NEWSLETTER
What mixed up weather
we’ve had of late. Summer has
taken ages to arrive and on the few sunny days we’ve had the South Easter has
been pumping. With a good few
members getting colds from the unseasonal weather most are still trying to get
over a long wet winter. This has
all resulted in a not too good attendance of long runs/time trials etc. Our attendance of the Voet of Afrika on 13 October was also
down on previous years. We did have
some credible performances though with Louise Erasmus, Arlene Ehrenberg and
Willie Loedolff winning their categories in the 10kms.
Andries and Coia de
Villiers have invited us to their farm in the Salmonsdam area on 17 November.
Those that have had the privilege of going before will know that this is
a really lovely outing. We will run about 20kms through and around the farm and then
have a brunch/braai. We will be
leaving Hermanus in convoy at about 0700 and everybody caters for themselves in
terms of eats and drinks. Further
details at the time trials or call Hugh or Les.
Our end of year
function will be held at the Tennis club on the evening of Friday 30 November. It will be an informal function and children are welcome at
no charge. The cost will be R40 per
head and there will be a cash bar available.
Please give your name to Arlene Ehrenberg if you are attending this
function.
This event will be
hosted by Whalers on 15 December. This
is the one race that Whalers AC 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 on 082 823 8632.
An appeal is also made for contributions in cash or in kind towards lucky
draw prizes.
· Joe de Bruyn who snapped his Achilles tendon at tennis is still walking around with a plaster cast
· Gavin Turner, who broke his hip and collarbone in a cycling accident some time ago, is back at the gym. By the end of the year he may be able to jog a few blocks!
· Mathew Browne finished the Cape Odyssey over 211kms alone and unofficially but was 3rd overall in a quality field of 48 teams. His partner, Johannes Albertyn had to withdraw due to injury
· 27 October - Saturday morning training run – 6 ladies + 3 men = men are loafing!!
· Norma Wheeler is going to the UK for 3 weeks and is determined not to loose her fitness
· Carina is desperate to get her car back from the pane beaters!
· Les Hanna is in his element! Amstel is back, and in a quart bottle which means he only drinks one beer a day!
· Shame - Suzie bought a bike a few weeks ago and hasn’t been the same since!!
· Generally Saturday long runs will be starting at 0600 at the Wine Village as from 3 November. Check with Hugh or Les if necessary
·
Two Oceans is early next year – 23 March.
So you have to start training before the end of this year
Leo
Benning reports on the WMA
Championships that took place in Riccione, Italy from 4 - 15 September : -
Boland had seven
representatives of whom three were from Whalers. They were Rita Pheiffer, Bertie
Warren and Leo Benning who was also the assistant manager. Pheiffer did
well to win a silver medal in the 100m. She had to run in two heats to qualify;
her best time was 16.53. In the 200m she came 7th. Warren best efforts were
17th and 18th places in the long jump and high jump respectively. He also
competed in the 100m and 200m and finished in the middle of the big fields in
both. Benning came 6th in the high jump which saw eight men within 4cm of one
another. His height was 1.36. He is the SA record holder in this event. His
other positions were 13th in long jump and 300m hurdles and 10th in the 2000m
steeplechase. The standard was very high and to reach a final is an achievement
in itself, but to be able to participate in these championships is indeed a
privilege.
Five
Boland athletes took part in the SWD Championships in Oudtshoorn in October.
Andre van Rooyen was the only one from the Whalers club who participated. He is
in the M65 - 69 age group and did well in his first ever provincial meeting. His
results were as follows: 2nd in the javelin (22.44), shot put (8.68), and heavy
weight (7.86) and was 3rd in the discus (28.80), hammer throw (17.86) and
Greek discus (15.29). Andre is to be commended for participating in these six
field events while he has the disadvantage of a replaced knee joint which
limits his movement
in the circle.
Our AGM is due early
next year. What is good at this AGM
is that you can get to chuck out all the deadbeats on the Committee and elect
new ones (not deadbeats!). Seriously,
the Club does need an injection of younger blood, and once every 2 years you
should see what you or your fellow runner can do for your Club.
Gavin Turner is stepping down as Treasurer, Hugh Waters as Club Captain,
and Ruby Waters as Secretary. However,
Hugh and Ruby are still prepared to do the time trials, if the new Club
Committee agrees. So give this matter some thought and see if you can come up
with volunteers, suggestions, whatever!!.
David started running
with Spartan Harriers AC in 1993 and subsequently moved to Stragglers AC. It was as a Straggler that David completed his one and only
Comrades Marathon in 2000. David
moved to Hermanus in 1999 and joined Whalers in 2001.
In the 15 years David has been running he has received his blue number
for 10 Two Oceans finishes. He has
also completed 5 Voet of Afrika and 7 Winelands marathons. David and Cathy (who teaches at Montessori) have 3 daughters
and he works for Cape Nature. David
loves his running and is pleasant and informed company on long runs.
He has an easy running style but slaps his calf on odd occasions, a habit
that we’ve yet to get to the bottom of!
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 (028316345