Thank you for another great weekend of Cross Country Running. Saturday's event was a treat for the 431 Athletes who took part (especialliy the ladies category winners) and it is easy to see why Athletics South Africa seriously considered hosting the South African Cross Country there later this year. However, the South African Championships takes place on 12 September 2009 (less than 100 days to go) at LC de Villiers sports grounds, but with organizational skills of this caliber, we have a lot to look forward to. Thanks Bronkhorstspruit Athletics Club!!
Cross Country is a great sport, mostly because of the good spirit and camaraderie of the people that take part. It is great to see the children from Nantes primary school in Eersterust who is joining us every weekend now through the assistance of CSIR running club. To the Nantes boys and girls I would like to say; keep at it, taking part is the first step towards becoming great athletes. To CSIR running club; you guys give wings to the spirit of Gauteng North Athletics, we are really proud of what you are able to accomplish. Thank you so much!!!
Many of you would have seen the article in the Record (Noord) this week with a photo of Modiba Gold athletics club with the new national cross country coach, Mr. Danson Muchoki. Also in the photo is Johan Human of Logistic Protection Services Group, the person responsible for transforming the Modiba Gold Club from running in rags to the Black and Gold kit which they wear so proudly. Thanks Johan, you are an inspiration to us all.
Event 5, Hatfield Christian Church - NOT TUKS (13 June 2009)
Please Note that the Cross Country this weekend moves to Hatfield Christian Church (Waterkloof Glen) as a result of the Soccer, please communicate to all you know who might be going to the wrong venue.
We would like to thank Pierre and Hannele le Roux and Hatfield Christian Church for helping us at such short notice.
Best route to get there would be to turn South into Corobay Avenue from from Garsfontein road (at The Glen High School) which will take you straight to the event.
Contact Steve Rautenbach at 072 184 4445 or Michael Seme at 073 148 5332.
Entry Fee: R 10.00
Temporary Licences: R 5.00 (Athletes 14 years and older)
Program:
Race 1 - 12:30 - 1 km
Girls 8 yrs (Born 2001 or after), Boys 8 yrs (Born 2001 or after)
Race 2 - 12:40 - 2 km
Girls 9 yrs (Born in 2000), Girls 10 yrs (Born in 1999)
Race 3 - 12:50 - 2 km
Boys 9 yrs (Born in 2000), Boys 10 yrs (Born in 1999)
Race 4 - 13:00 - 3 km
Boys 11 yrs (Born in 1998), Boys 12 yrs (Born in 1997)
Race 5 - 13:15 - 3 km
Girls 11 yrs (Born in 1998), Girls 12 yrs (Born in 1997), Girls 13 yrs (Born in 1996)
Race 6 - 13:30 - 4 km
Boys 13 yrs (Born in 1996), Boys 14 yrs (Born in 1995), Boys 15 yrs (Born in 1994), Men 21yrs (Born in 1988 and after), Men 23 (Born in 1986 and after), Senior Men
Race 7 - 13:50 - 4 km
Girls 14 yrs (Born in 1995), Girls 15 yrs (Born in 1994), Girls 16 yrs (Born in 1993), Girls 17 yrs (Born in 1992), Women 21yrs (Born in 1988 or after),
Women 23yrs (Born in 1986 or after), Senior Women, Women 30, Women 35 yrs, Women 40 yrs, Women 45 yrs, Women 50 yrs, Women 55 yrs, Women 60 yrs, Women 65 yrs, Women 70+ yrs
Race 8 - 14:10 (includes both 6 km and 8 km distances)
Boys 16 yrs (Born in 1993), Boys 17 yrs (Born in 1992), Junior Women (1990, 1991, 1992), Men 60 yrs, Men 65 yrs, Men 70+ yrs - 6 km
Junior Men (1990,1991,1992), Senior Men, Senior Women, Men 30, Men 35 yrs, Men 40 yrs, Men 45 yrs, Men 50 yrs, Men 55 yrs - 8 km
Running Shoes
Earlier in the season, we asked runners to donate their running shoes that don't see much action any more at Run-away sport so that we could try and find a home for them where they could finish up their useful lives with someone who really needs them. We have had such an overwhelming response that Run-Away sport has now collected four full bags. Thank you so much!! If you know of someone who really needs a pair of shoes for running or even just to keep warm in winter, please send me an email and we can help.
The Rest of the season
We are now firmly into the second stage of our cross country season. We are now working towards a position in the team to Newcastle on 11 July 2009. To be in the team, athletes need to compete in at least two of the events listed below:
· Monaco Athletics Club (23 May 2009) Tshwane University of Technology Soshanguve, starts 12:30, contact Joel Baloyi at 012 327 4931 or 084 448 4873 - League 2.
1 Middelburg (30 May 2009), starts 08:00 contact Andre Gobey 072 191 0538 or the AGN office at 012 327 4391.
2 Bronkhorstspruit (06 June 2009), Erasmus High School, starts 12:30 contact Frikkie Geyser at 082 448 8603 - League 3.
3 Tuks (13 June 2009) Hatfield Christain Church, starts 12:30 contact Michael Seme at 073 148 5332.
4 Enduro (20 June 2009) Innovation HUB, starts 12:30 contact Chris Callaghan 082 37 52052 - League 4.
Please note that we have changed the required number of events to two in stead of three as a result of an event that we would have hosted on 20 June, which have now fallen away.
In the third stage, things become a little more complicated. In our drive to combine AGN and school events we will split our events into two groups:
· Primary school athletes (Ages 8 to 13).
To qualify for the South African Cross Country championships, athletes have to take part in at least three of the following events of which the Gauteng North Cross Country championships is compulsory:
Boerefort Primary School (24 July 2009)
Tuine Primary School (31 July 2009)
Simon Bekker Primary School (7 August 2009)
Gauteng North Championships (15 August 2009) (Compulsory)
You can contact Japie Venter at 082 823 8019. Please note that Primary Schools still need to affiliate to take part in the events on Friday's so that so that they can add your name to their results system.
Smaller groups, individual athletes and development groups will be affiliated via Athletics Gauteng North. Please try and have your school affiliated before the school holidays by obtaining a electronic file from Japie Venter.
· Secondary school athletes, seniors and masters (Ages 14 and up)
To qualify for the South African Cross Country Championships, athletes have to take part in at least three of the following events of which the Gauteng North Championships is compulsory:
Irene (18 July 2009). Agricultural Research Centre Irene, starts 12:30, please contact Wynand Breytenbach at 012 654 0005.
New Balance (25 July 2009) Fountains Valley. This event incorporates the first ever Trial Running event on the Gauteng North calendar. Contact Alan Smith at 073 255 7931.
TUT (1 August 2009) Tshwane University of Technology (Technicon Rand), starts 12:30, contact Jazz Mnyengeza at 076 262 9752.
Gauteng North Championships (15 August 2009) (Compulsory), starts 10:00, contact Andre Gobey 072 191 0538 or the AGN office at 012 327 4931.
The National Cross Country championships take place on 12 September 2009 at LC de Villers in Tshwane.
Andre Gobey
072 191 0538
