The inaugural Whale Coast Half Marathon took place on 25 March with 143 runners taking part in this exciting race from Grotto Beach to Stanford Hills Wine Estate.
The runners set off at 07:00 on the route that took them through Voëlklip then onto the R43 in the direction of Stanford, an undulating and slightly challenging route, to the finish at Standford Hills Wine Estate. The weather was dry and became quite hot towards the finish.
The Whalers running club had a few podium prizewinners – Robbie Hansen was the first junior to cross the finish line, Naretha Gouws the third female in the 50-59 age category, Roelof van Weele the first male in the 70+ age category, Rina Machado the second female in the 70+ age category and Norma Wheeler the third female in the 70+ age category.
The Whalers dominated the 60 – 69 Male Category with Frank Gillion in first place, David Hepburn-Brown second and Edmond Ferreira ending in third place.
Whalers results:
Frank Gillion (M) 1:38:04, Robbie Hansen (M) 1:44:54, Louwrens Bester (M) 1:45:27, Alexa van Wyk (M) 1:47:37, David Hepburn-Brown (M) 1:49:31, Shane Mullis (M) 1:49:43, Edmund Ferreira (M) 1:52:42, Josua Blom (M) 1:56:14, Naretha Gouws (F) 2:03:09, André Filander (M) 2:03:29, Mariska Erasmus (F) 2:05:54, Linet Mills (F) 2:06:11, Alwyn Roux (M) 2:06:14, Roelof van Weele (M) 2:17:18, Elaine Cuffe 2:19:02, Marizanne Kotze (F) 2:22:49, Rina Machado (F) 2:25:50, Glynn Eager (M) 2:27:40, Samantha Hogg-Brandjes (F) 2:29:04, Gerda de Swardt (F) 2:30:34, Norma Wheeler (F) 2:39:44 and Tamaryn Claassen (F) 2:59:09.
