Since entries for the 85th Anniversary of the Comrades Marathon opened last week, 01 September 2009, the CMA office has been a buzz of activity. Runners have really taken to the early entry process. As of 09 September the entry number stood at 4425. As a reminder to all "previous runners" entries will be capped at 15 000, or 31 October 2009, and no considerations will be entered into. Runners may enter now, and submit a qualifying time and their 2010 license details to the CMA offices at a later stage.

"Its fantastic to see that runners have embraced the 2010 entry process in the manner they have, and that the excitement around the 85th anniversary race is evident with the amount of entries received thus far. We at the CMA are confident that the 15 000 entries for the first phase will be reached well before the closing date of 31 October. We urge all runners to get their entry in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment" - Renee Jordaan, Race Director.

The majority of entries received, has been through the online entry process on www.comrades.com, and the Mr Price retail outlets.

Novice entries will open on 01 November 2009 and close on 30 November 2009, and will be capped at 5 000. Novice runners wishing to enter Comrades next year, can stand a chance to win their entry into the race. Simply SMS "2010 to 38275. SMS costs R10, and all proceeds will be donated to the Comrades Marathon Amabeadibeadi Charity Campaign. Terms and conditions apply, visit www.comrades.com

Ends

Statement Released 09 September 2009
Issued by Comrades Marathon Media & Communication, Craig Fry
For further information contact Comrades Marathon on 033 8978650 or www.comrades.com

You can enter online at www.nedbanksponsorships.co.za, or at leading local sports stores. Postal entries for the marathon event will be accepted up to two weeks before the event. Hand-delivered entries will be accepted at the offices of ASA or the Western Province offices up to a week before the race. Call the race office to confirm whether late entries will be accepted. No entries are taken on the day of the race. Nedbank City of Cape Town Marathon has been ranked by the Runner's World race judges as a well organised and well presented event. Since the initiation of their ranking system, it has been voted as one of South Africa's top ten marathons. Contact Western Province Athletics on 021-6990612 for details.

See Flyer for more details

"We have 3060 confirmed entries from 17 provinces for the SA Championships. Together with the 700 fun runners in the morning, it tops the previous record of 2720 set by Free State in 2005 by more than 1000," explained Phiwe Tsholetsane, ASA Events Manager.

Tsholetsane said that for the first time ever, six visually-impaired runners will be competing against their able-bodied counter parts. Competition is expected to be stiff as the National Cross Country team will be selected at these Championships.  The senior men's team got position nine (9) at the World Cross Country Championships which took place in Amman, Jordan in March this year; while the ladies team were placed tenth overall. "There were only four countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, USA and South Africa) in the world who managed to get their teams in the top ten position, in all four categories at the World Championships," said Tsholetsane.

For the first time this year, Athletics South Africa will host an expo at this event.

Release ends.

First Name	Last Name	Club	Pos	Time
Open Men
HENDRICK	RAMAALA	NEDBANK CGA	2	1:03:11
TSHAMANO	SETONE	NEDBANK CGA	3	1:03:19
XOLISA	TYALI	NEDBANK CGA	4	1:03:51
JEFFREY	GWEBU	NEDBANK CGA	6	1:04:01
LUWIS	MASUNDA	NEDBANK AGN	8	1:04:11
WESLEY	RUTO	NEDBANK	10	1:04:43
Open Woman
SHARON	TAVENGWA	NEDBANK AGN	1	1:17:10
ONNEILE	DINTWE	NEDBANK AGN	5	1:19:27
RUTENDO	NYAHORA	NEDBANK	6	1:21:23
LESLEY	TRAIN	NEDBANK AGN	8	1:24:21
SIMANGELE	MABUZA	NEDBANK AGN	9	1:25:02
Junior Woman
LOVENESS	MADIBA	NEDBANK AGN	1	1:26:19
Men 40 - 49
WILLIAM	MALEKELE	NEDBANK ACHILLES	1	1:11:31
Woman 50 - 59
FRANCES	VAN BLERK	NEDBANK AGN	1	1:37:53
CHARMAINE	VAN DER WALT	NEDBANK ACHILLES	2	1:44:45
ELSABE	DE KLERK	NEDBANK ACHILLES	3	1:46:00
Men 60 - 69
SIMON	MOKONE	NEDBANK	1	1:31:49
PAULUS	MPHO	NEDBANK ACHILLES	3	1:34:58
Woman 60 - 69
WILLEMINA	SMUTS	NEDBANK ACHILLES	1	2:00:59

I overlooked one of our Nedbank athletes Marietjie Ceronio from Nedbank AVT in last weeks results for SA Champs in Stellenbosch, she came in as the 2nd woman aged 50-59 in a time of 40:44

ORGANISER: Nedbank Running Club LVCC

Race Flyer

CONTACT: Gary Vincent 083 294 0739  or  Lawrence Bloch 083 228 3719  or  Mark Greeff 083 299 3779

START: 7am - Witklip Dam, on the Sabie/White River Road

Route type: Circular. One of the best kept secrets in road running. Organised by Lowveld Country Club in Nelspruit, The Nedbank Om die Dammetjie 10/21km is run on gravel roads out in the forests of Mpumalanga. The 10km is an out and back course whilst the half marathon is a circular one with the first 13kms along the banks of the dam before it then puts in a 4km loop into the forest and then back to the waters edge. Both races start and finish on the dam wall. One thing guaranteed - no traffic hassles. Sabie Shufflers was for years considered the ultimate club away weekend - this one has to be even better. The dam is situated between White River and Sabie within easy access from both towns plus Nelspruit. Mark it down as a must do lowveld run.