www.wpa.org.za

July 2013 Newsletter

EditorialEditorialEditorialEditorial Winter eventually has its final grip on the Western Cape and the fair conditions of autumn are long

past. We are welcomed daily with shorter days and icy cold longer evenings which are definitely not

doing the members who would like to train any favours. Cold and wet conditions are worsening the

rest of the days with terrible training conditions for the loyal members that are busy with winter

programs.

The WPA KIDS Holiday Camp was well presented at Vygieskraal Stadium this past week, the cold and

wet conditions did not hamper the excitement and spirit of the youngsters. The Camp’s Cultural

Diversity theme opened the minds and experiences of the children. The highlight was on Friday when

the march past took place and the kids could express themselves by presenting the different cultures

through dance, song and dress. Special mention must be made of Aphiwe and Tracy in the WPA

office, who planned and coordinated the camp, they did an excellent job. The unwavering

assistance from the office staff is greatly appreciated. The clubs and their team leaders proved once

again that we are constantly focusing on the correct way forward, continuous investment in youth

which is the future of WPA.

According to the numbers, participation in the Cross Country league events this season has proven

all statistics and conditions incorrect. The master categories have once again shown the biggest

growth in numbers. This is proving that the club structures are working well and are healthy. The senior

competition is lacking quality performances in the male category. The total number of participants

at the first 5 leagues (over 5600) shows a positive increase at each event.

After the short July school holiday break we can look forward to the upcoming events in August and

September, especially the Cape Town Marathon which will be hosted by WPA. Entries are already

open and are starting to stream in. The weekend will start with the 5 x 4.2km relay and the 5km fun

run on Saturday 21 September. The Cape Town Marathon along with the Cape Town 10km and

Cape Town Mini Marathon 4.2km (for invited junior athletes) will take place on the Sunday 22

September.

The upcoming IAAF World Youth Championships raking place in Donetsk, Ukraine from 10 – 14 July is

not as well represented as we would have hoped. WPA only has one female athlete, Tamzin Thomas,

who will be competing in the 100m event. We trust that all the political issues will be sorted out and

that the athletes will be able to participate on the athletic tracks and not be dragged into the

boardrooms with the current ASA situation. Athletics has not received positive coverage in the

media of late and this is not how we want our sport to be depicted.

Running Regards

Jakes Jacobs

CCCCommission News ommission News ommission News ommission News COACHES

Athletics South Africa hosted a workshop at the Sports Science Institute on 8 June, it was well

received and had 49 delegates in attendance. Western Province Athletics afforded 18 active and

aspiring coaches the opportunity to attend.

The following topics were covered: Mental Skills (Clinton Gahwiler), Nutrition & Supplementation

(Shelly Meltzer) and Strength, Conditioning and Monitoring Performance (Alex Joiner).

Club News Club News Club News Club News FARNESE ATHLETIC CLUB

(PAGE 10 - DAILY NEWS - FRIDAY MAY 31 2013)

LASTGROWING up in an environment where gangsterism is rampant, running became a way of

escaping trouble for this year’s youngest Comrades runner: 20-yearold Ebrahiem Samsodien of

Strandfontein in Cape Town.

The runner used athletics to escape the violent gangs, and is the youngest among 19 722 runners this

year. “I started running during my primary school years. I used to focus on running long-distance

races such as 1 500m and cross-country races. “I was not a great runner, but I persevered because it

kept me off the streets where I may have been drawn to wrong stuff such as gangs.

“When I reached high school, my running time improved every time I completed races,” said

Samsodien. He was encouraged in September by members of his Farnese Athletic Club to tackle the

ultramarathon. “I had done about five long-distance races which included the 10km Cape Town

race, the 21km Winelands Marathon and this year’s 56km Two Oceans Marathon, where I finished in

5:48, which was not bad because it was my first race,” he said.

“I am surrounded by people who have done the Comrades and all of them are much older than

me, so I asked myself: If old people can run and finish 87km what is stopping me? That is when I

decided to enter the race,” Samsodien explained.

“My running mates have told me that while the uphill race is tough, especially the last 7km, the key

to finishing is to simply not give up and carry that attitude throughout the race,” he said. Samsodien

said his family would not be travelling with him to the Comrades Marathon, but would be looking out

for him on television.

He said finishing the Comrades Marathon was his primary goal for this year, but that completing the

race under six hours would be the cherry on top.

Youngest runner and youngest finisher at the 2013 Comrades

He made us all proud!!

His debut.....

2012 2 x 10km (Cape Town and Gun Run) - 19yrs old

2012 November - 21km Winelands - 19yrs old

Birthday 31/12/2012 turned 20yrs old

2013 February 42.2 Cape Peninsula

2013 March - 56km Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon

2013 June - 87km Comrades Marathon

WPA DevelopmentWPA DevelopmentWPA DevelopmentWPA Development

KIDS ATHLETICS

The WP Kids Athletics Holiday Camp took place from 24 – 28 June at Vygieskraal Stadium in Athlone.

It was a resounding success. Due to the cold and heavy rains, WPA was initially concerned that the

attendance was going to be affected on the first 2 days of the camp. Luckily enough the kids came

in numbers and all events / activities continued as scheduled. The kids enjoyed all the fun,

educational presentations and excursions that took place during the week.

The theme for the WP Kids Athletics holiday camp was “South African Cultural Diversity.” It was so

amazing to see how well they worked on their preparations for the presentation, which took place

on the last day. We had different speakers from each culture talking and demonstrating their

traditions, dance, dress etc. This helped a lot by sharing ideas on how diverse South Africa really is.

The children were transported on a daily basis to and from Vygieskraal Stadium, they were

transported from the following areas; Athlone, Century City, Lavender Hill, Constantia, Eerste River,

Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Mitchells Plain, Parow, Ravensmead and Strandfontein. The kids

received a nutritional breakfast and lunch pack every day.

Each day we welcomed +-190 kids, 34 facilitators and volunteers, they assisted with the programme

throughout the week and without them WPA would not have been able to host such a successful

event for the kids. We are truly grateful to everyone who gave of their time and energy.

WPA received amazing support and we would like to thank all the sponsors that made this event

possible.

• City of Cape Town

• Two Oceans Marathon Association

• Peninsula Beverages

• K3 Water & Energy Sachets

• Bokomo Foods

• Parmalat

• Shoprite

• SANDF

• Silver Ray

• Tamara Blumeris

All the clubs that were an integral part of the WP Kids Athletics Holiday Camp worked very hard and

it was beautiful to watch them marching and demonstrating their chosen culture. Their creativity

blew us away! They were all winners; unfortunately WPA had to select a few winners based on the

following criteria; The most disciplined, the most creative and well-presented culture.

Below are the clubs that were recognised:

1st WPA Holiday Camp Winning Team – Khoisan (Stragglers AC)

2nd WPA Holiday Camp Runner Up – Ngunu (MP Titans)

WPA Holiday Camp Most Outstanding Team (Lion of Africa Itheko AC)

Best Team Leader – Glenda Palm

The kids are currently enjoying their school holidays; they will be back to participate in the Cross

Country League taking place on 21 July. Watch out for the fastest kids on the route.

JuJuJuJulylylyly Event DiaryEvent DiaryEvent DiaryEvent Diary DATE DAY EVENT DIS TIME VENUE CLUB CONTACT PERSON CONTACT EMAIL

13-Jul-13 Sat Orak 12 Hour Race Var 6:00 Vredendal Sports Grounds Orak Gerrie Cilliers 083 650 0642 gerriecil@telkomsa.net

13-Jul-13 Sat Bastille Day Trail Trail Franschhoek Trevor Ball www.trailrunning.co.za

14-Jul-13 Sun Dave Spence Memorial race 10 7:30 NY 49 Stadium, Gugulethu RCS Guguletu AC Marshall Moiloa 084 650 8785 accesspark.multisport@newbalance.com

Sun Dave Spence Memorial race 4.2 7:35 NY 49 Stadium, Gugulethu RCS Guguletu AC Stanley Malange 076 470 8592 ncebax@gmaol.com

20-Jul-13 Sat ASA Half Marathon Championship 21 TBA Witbank ASA ASA Office

20-Jul-13 Sat McCarthy Toyota 10 7:30 Table View High School West Coast Lizelle Meyer 084 581 3713 lizellemeyer@webmail.co.za

20-Jul-13 Sat McCarthy Toyota 5 7:45 Table View High School West Coast Lizelle Meyer 084 581 3713 lizellemeyer@webmail.co.za

21-Jul-13 Sun Cross Country League 6 CC Strandfontein South Peninsula Russell Mehl 084 545 5851 russel.mehl@westerncape.gov.za

21-Jul-13 Sun Cape Winter Trail Series 1 of 4 Trail Paul Cluver Wildrunner Event Manager 072 438 3242 info@wildrunner.co.za

27-Jul-13 Sat Fairbridge Mall 15 km 15 7:15 Fairbridge Mall, Brackenfell Easterns Kraaifontein AC William Swartbooi 084 247 7170 willden@telkomsa.net

Sat Fairbridge Mall 6 km Fun Run 6 7:25 Fairbridge Mall, Brackenfell Easterns Kraaifontein AC William Swartbooi 084 247 7170 willden@telkomsa.net

27-Jul-13 Sat Cross Country League 7 CC Rocklands Mitchells Plain Titans Russell Mehl 084 545 5851 russel.mehl@westerncape.gov.za

27-Jul-13 Sat Hout Bay Trail Challenge Trail Hout Bay Claire Ashworth trailchallenge@sports4u.co.za

28-Jul-13 Sun Cape Winter Trail Series 2 of 4 Trail Tygerberg Nature Reserve Wildrunner Event Manager 072 438 3242 info@wildrunner.co.za

Should you wish to share your club or event news please send the information to sue@wpathletics.co.za