Apart from the prize money at stake in the Championships, Athletics South Africa has announced that lucrative incentives totalling R480 000 will be available for South African men and women runners. This is over and above the customary position prize money which is payable to all runners irrespective of their nationality. The Championships also serve as trials to select a provisional team that will represent South Africa at the IAAF World Half Marathon in Birmingham on 11 October 2009.

A new South African record for men or women will be rewarded with  an extra R150 000 while men running  a sub 61:00 time will net the first runner R75 000 the second  R50 000 and the third R30 000. For women runners to earn these incentives a sub 68:00 time will be required.

A sub 61:30 time for men will earn the first three runners R25 000, R15 000 and R 10 000 while a sub 62:00 will earn the first three runners R8000, R6000 and R4000 respectively. Women will have to record times of sub 70 minutes and sub 72 minutes respectively to qualify for these incentives.

For top placed junior runners under 62:00 (women under 76:00) R10 000 is available, men under 62:30 (women under 78:00) R7000 and men under 63:00 (women under 80:00) R5000.

"ASA is geared towards motivating its athletes to be top performers. We believe that our athletes possess the talent to be amongst the best in the world. It is therefore our hope that these incentives will help in breaking the monotony of foreign athletes dominating local races," said ASA President, Leonard Chuene.


TIME INCENTIVE PRIZE MONEY
NEDBANK MATHA SERIES
NELSON MANDELA BAY - 2009 SA HALF MARATHON CHAMPS
       
  Incentives     
  Open  Open   
Time / place Men  Women   
SA record 60:07 (SA runner only)   150,000.00  SA record 66:44 (SA runner only)    150,000.00    
sub 61:00 - 1st runner                     75,000.00  sub 68:00 - 1st  runner                       75,000.00    
sub 61:00 - 2nd runner                    50,000.00  sub 68:00 - 2nd runner                      50,000.00    
sub 61:00 - 3rd  runner                    30,000.00  sub 68:00 - 3rd runner                       30,000.00    
sub 61:30 - 1st  runner                     25,000.00  sub 70:00 - 1st runner                        25,000.00    
sub 61:30 - 2nd  runner                   15,000.00  sub 70:00 - 2nd runner                       15,000.00    
sub 61:30 - 3rd  runner                    10,000.00  sub 70:00 - 3rd runner                        10,000.00    
sub 62:00 - 1st  runner                      8,000.00  sub 72:00 - 1st runner                          8,000.00    
sub 62:00 - 2nd  runner                    6,000.00  sub 72:00 - 2nd runner                         6,000.00    
sub 62:00 - 3rd runner                      4,000.00  sub 72:00 - 3rd runner                          4,000.00    
         
Top placed SA junior provided sub 62:00    10,000.00  Top placed SA junior provided sub 76:00      10,000.00    
Top placed SA junior provided sub 62:30     7,000.00  Top placed SA junior provided sub 78:00        7,000.00    
Top placed SA junior provided sub 63:00     5,000.00  Top placed SA junior provided sub 80:00        5,000.00    
         
Total max men's incentive purse    240,000.00 
Total max women's incentive purse   240,000.00 
Total           480,000.00  
       
Note: Record / time incentives are not cumulative. Only 3 time incentives are paid, so should 5 athletes break a time barrier, only top 3 get incentives, while all 5 get prize money payouts.
Only South African athletes are eligible to receive time incentives (and related prize monies) payout, provided minimum time criteria is achieved. 
Incentives are only payable on a ratified and correctly run route

According to news received by Distance Running Results, the "Voet" has been saved by the Cape Agulhas municipality, which will sponsor it. It is not certain whether the accompanying half marathon will also be held.  The two races were run for the 31st time in Bredasdorp last year, but rumours had been swirling around since then that they will not take place again this year. The future of the  Voet has been in jeopardy ever since Boland Athletics intervened in its organisational structure a few years ago and most of the officials who had brought the race to its preeminent position in South African road running left the scene.

The marathon will now be called the "Cape Agulhas Voet van Afrika Marathon" and will be organised as a "community project".

Between the tours we did have some days to spare and we decided to go and stay in a camp site on the Tour De France Cycling route.

The juniors stayed at the foot of one of the most grueling and well known climbs of the Tour De France namely Alpe D" Huez.

This climb is 14km. long and starts at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level and finishes at 1700 meters above sea level. Here are 21 hairpin turns in this 14km. stretch and at each turn there is a commemorative board with all the names of the well known TDF riders that performed well in the race. These boards are numbered from 21 to 1 backwards and you know exactly how many sharp turns still to come before you can be relieved from the effort to reach the top that is past the little town that is called "Huez"

I ran up Alpe D"Huez twice during our stay and experience some of the history and mystery that surround this stretch of road. Cyclists from all over the world come to this part of France and cycle this tough climb to experience what the Tour De France riders experience in this Epic race. On any given day it looks like a race up this slopes, so many social riders is taking on the pass. There is even a timing mat at the bottom and at the top that you can make use of to time yourself.

It was quite an experience for me to see the names of Lance Armstrong, The late Marco Pantani, van Basso and many more well known riders written with white paint on the tarmac.

Marco Pantani or the Pirate as he was known kept the record up this pass with a time of 37 minutes for the 14km.stretch.

I am not very fit at the moment but could manage to run up and clock 1h22 minutes for this climb. Although it was very hot (30 degrees Celsius) at around 13h00 on the Saturday afternoon on the 27 June 2009,I enjoyed it a lot.

There are several water streams running down the mountain as a result of the melting snow on top and this were my drinking stations-very cold and pure water.

After 1h00 of heavy running at a pulse rate above 165 beats per minute I felt flat and empty and stopped at one of the commercial photographers to beg him for something sweet. He gave me half a packet of biscuits which I ate while walking for about 2 minutes after which I continue running and feeling much better because I could see the km. boards that there where only 4km. left to the top and this part was not as steep.

The scenery is immaculate-if you look down you see the little villages below as well as the part of road that you just completed. If you look up you can see the monstrous mountains that surrounds you with snow on the top.

This run will definitely go down as one of the best runs in my life-very tough but worth every step.

Regards
Nick Bester

Results:

www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za - events - Results

For more Results go to: http://www.raceresults.co.za; www.athletics.org.za

For Time Trail Results Click Here

21.1km - R40.00 pre-entry only
Starts at 07h00 
Athletes aged 60+ Free
Temp Licence R15 pp
5km Fun Run starts at 07h30 entries on race day
Wheelchair race - R40.00 starts at 07h00
Race number collection

Late entries and runners to collect numbers on 03 July from Eastern Province Athletics at Westbourne Oval, Westbourne Rd from 09h00 to 19h00.  All other numbers will be issued on the race day from 05h30 to 07h00 sharp at the venue where the race takes place. NO entries for the 21,1km on race day, only 5km fun run.

Closing date for entries

Entries close on 01 July from all Sports shops and 03 July from EPA offices. 5km Fun Run entries on the day. 

Contact person: Athletics South Africa (ASA) or Eastern Province Athletics (EPA
Email Address:mathaseries@athleticssa.co.za
Internet entries: Online entries at www.nedbanksponsorship.co.za or www.enteronline.co.za

Delivery of Entries

Entries can be hand delivered directly at the following address: EPA offices Westbourne Rd central Port Elizabeth 
 
Phone Number: 011 880 5800 or 041 374 2818

Time: 08h00
Organisers: Volksrust Marathon Club
Distance: 21.1; 10; 5; 

Start: NGK Grounds
Kerk Street
Wakkerstroom
 
Enquiries:
Contact 1: Joanna Burgers
(C) 082-8731354

Contact 2: Nigel Mason
(C) 083-4172757
 
Entry Details:
Pre-enter on Friday 3rd July 2009 between 18h00 - 20h00 at the Mucky Duck. Late entries taken at the start from 06h00.
Walkers are Welcome
 
Route Description:
Route Type: Out and back
 

Time: 06h00
Organisers: KwaMashu Athletic Club
Distance: 15; ; 
Start: Princess Magogo
 
Enquiries:
Contact 1: Sibusiso Mlambo
(C) 083-6854621
 
Entry Details: 
  
Route Description:
Route Type: Circular
 

Time: 07h00
Organisers: Alpha Centurion Runners
Distance: 21.1; 10; 5; 
Start: Zwartkop Lapa
Wierda Road
Centurion
 
Enquiries:
Contact 1: Sharon Badenhorst
(C) 082-4541598
 
Entry Details:
Entries taken at the start from 05h30.
 
Route Description:
Route Type: Circular
The route is fairly flat with two medium climbs on the 21 km. This race is run between agricultural small holdings. On a beautiful winters morning you might just feel that you are in the countryside.
 

Date: 04 July 2009
Time: 08h00
Organisers: Helderberg Harriers Atletiekklub
Distance: 15; 5; 

Start: Beaumont Primary School
Somerset West
  
Enquiries:
Contact 1: Hans Hugo
(H) 021-8872317
(C) 072-2908179
(Email) hugoh@arc.agric.za

Contact 2: Alan Lewis
(C) 072-9571750
 
Entry Details:
Enter at the start from 06h30.
Walkers are Welcome
 
Route Description:
Route Type: Circular
From the start this beautiful race provides a difficult challenge. The first five kilometres are an extremely difficult and relentless uphill climb. This slowly flattens out and the next two kilometres are gradual and downhill. Before reaching the top, there are two to three more strenuous kilometres of climbing; a good time to grit your teeth.

From this point the course becomes a steep charge to the finish. Frith van der Merwe once described these downhill stretches as "running down a mine shaft". Run too carelessly or too hard, these final kilometres will certainly "spook" you in the legs for a few days. This course is a real challenge for hill-climbers. However, it is a beautiful, scenic race, run mostly on tar with about a kilometre on gravel roads.
 

Time: 07h30
Organisers: Roodepoort Athletic Club
Distance: 10; 5; 

Start: Northgate Shopping Centre
New Life Style Centre
Next to McDonalds
 
Enquiries:
Contact 1: Charlie Herselman
(H) 011-7664298
(F) 086-6096446
(C) 082-7701143
(Email) charlieher@webmail.co.za

Contact 2: Cecilia Havenga
(W) 011-3705087
(H) 011-4722422
(F) 011-6885217
(C) 083-5602982
(Email)cecilia.havenga@computershare.co.za
 
Entry Details:
Enter at the start from 06h00.
Walkers are Welcome
 
Route Description:
Route Type: Circular
The course is moderate to flat, with some climbing in the last quarter of the race. The secret is to go out conservatively

Time: 07h00
Organisers: Queensburgh Harriers
Distance: 10; 10; 

Start: Queensburgh Sports Association
Bowker Road
Escombe
 
 
Enquiries:
Contact 1: Dean Wight
(W) 031-5620774
(H) 031-4647505
(F) 031-5628768
(C) 083-6302423
(Email) deswight@polka.co.za

Contact 2: Hans Botha
(W) 031-3612391
(C) 083-2860608
(Email)hansbo@spoornet.co.za
 
 
Entry Details:
Pre-entries are taken at the clubhouse on the day before the race from 14h00. Late entries are taken at the start from 05h00 on race day. Grand Masters enjoy free entry. Proof of ID is required.
Walkers are Welcome