SPECIAL MENTION: NICK BESTER AT THE NEDBANK GRAVEL BURN

Our National Manager, Nick Bester, is taking on the Nedbank Gravel Burn, a seven-day gravel stage race of about 750km through the Karoo. The second edition started in Robert Sobukwe Town (Graaff-Reinet) on Sunday, 25 October and finishes at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape on Saturday, 31 October.

Nick got his race off to a winning start. He won Stage 1, an 89.6km opening day, in the men's 65-69 category in 3:45:27, finishing 1 minute 57 seconds clear of Bart Meganck of Belgium, with Peter Felber of Switzerland in 3rd. From all of us in the Green Dream Team, well done, Nick, and we wish you strong legs and safe riding for the rest of the week.

DIAMONDS AND DORINGS KIMBERLEY BIGHOLE MARATHON, NORTHERN CAPE

Nedbank Running Club athletes raced hard under a scorching sun at the Kimberley Bighole Marathon. Coach Audrey Chebet Louis, who sent through the feedback from the race, gave special thanks to Coach Pio Mpolokeng for being there with the athletes on the day.

Marathon

In the women's race, Mildred Chepkemei Kinyanja (Nedbank Running Club International) led the Green Team ladies home in 4th in 2:44:55, followed by Melan Chepleting Msikhu in 5th in 2:46:51 and Lina Jepkemoi Kaino in 9th in 2:52:40. Simone Malan (Nedbank By Grace Running Club) was 10th in 2:53:19, which also made her the 2nd Veteran.

In the men's race, Onalenna Khonkhobe (Nedbank Running Club Central North West) was 2nd in 2:16:16, and Silvester Kipkemboi Kipsang (Nedbank Running Club International) took 5th in 2:17:58. Silvester and Keyborn Obato controlled the pace together until Keyborn began to cramp badly, but he battled on to finish 11th.

Half Marathon

Nedbank Running Club had four women and five men in the top 10 of the 21.1km. In the women's race, Agnes Tjoka (Nedbank Running Club Lesotho) was 2nd in 1:14:44, Sharon Jepkurgat was 3rd in 1:15:58 in her first race in South Africa, Mary Njambi Njuguna was 7th in 1:23:03 and Nonhle Dlamini (Nedbank Running Club KwaZulu-Natal) was 10th in 1:28:55.

Stephen Ngigi Kangethe won the men's race in 1:04:20, with Jackson Kirwa 3rd in 1:06:04, Lucky Mohale (Nedbank Running Club Central Gauteng) 7th in 1:07:12, Brian Muthomi Kiagora 9th in 1:07:56 and Thabang Mosiako (Nedbank Running Club Central North West) 10th in 1:08:29. Robert Kiprotich Chelanga was the 2nd Veteran.

10km and 5km

Dikeledi Majara (Nedbank By Grace Running Club) won the women's 10km in 34:34, and Moleboheng Mohapi was 3rd overall and the winning Junior in the women's 5km.

NRC WESTERN PROVINCE

Don Lock, Celtic Harriers

Olga Layton won the women's 15km outright and took the W40-49 category as well, with Elmé Middlemost 3rd in the W40-49. Over the 8km, Jani Calitz was 3rd woman overall in 32:19 and won the W40-49, with Elmé Middlemost 2nd and Angela Dell 3rd in the category, Charmaine Cupido was 2nd in the W70-79, and Roger Simpson won the M60 category in 31:30.

Melkbosstrand 15km

Brian Eley finished 2nd in the M60-69 category.

WPA Combined, Masters and Open Meet, Greenpoint

On the track, Jacques Mouton won the 800m overall and claimed the 50+ titles over 200m and 400m. On the second day of the meet, Tariq Klink won the 5000m walk.

NRC SOUTHERN CAPE

Eden Meander 10km, George

Nedbank Running Club SWD athletes filled the podiums at the Eden Meander 10km on 24 October. In the women's Open race, Melissa Janse van Rensberg won in 39:37, which also made her the winning Veteran, and Nadia Joubert was 3rd in 45:07. The men's Open podium was all Green, with Selwyn Matthews winning in 30:54, Austin Koopman 2nd in 31:10 and Wayne April 3rd in 31:45.

In the age categories, Zelandi Muller won the W50-59 in 48:53, Mariet Horn the W70-79 in 56:01 and Geraldine Loftie-Eaton the W80+ in 1:40:54, while Joseph Potgieter won the M60-69 in 45:27 and Andre Barnardo the M70-79 in 52:06. Mariana van Zyl won the women's walk in 1:08:05 and Durando Abries the men's walk in 54:22, and Khanyiso Pietersen won the Junior men's race in 34:00.

NRC EASTERN PROVINCE

Refeloe Solomons won the women's race at the Two Views Challenge 2026, with Kelly van Vliet close behind in 2nd.

NRC KWAZULU-NATAL

Umzila kaThambo Marathon

Nedbank Running Club KwaZulu-Natal had a fine day over 42km at the Umzila kaThambo Marathon. In the women's race, Rosina Jepkoskei Kiboino finished 2nd in 3:07:10 and was the winning Veteran, Nokuthula Ntshangase took 3rd, and Hleziphi Ncayiyana won the 50-59 category. Siyamthanda Bazana won the men's race in 2:24:17.

NRC GAUTENG NORTH

Jacaranda City Marathon

The heat was brutal at the Jacaranda City Marathon on 24 October, and many runners came to the gazebo with cramps. Over the 42.2km, Ingrid Koster was 2nd in the W50-59 in 3:21:13, Liesel-Mari Fritz was 6th in the W40-49 in 3:28:55 in her very first marathon, and Solice Makgetlaneng was 2nd in the M50-59 in 2:50:24.

In the half marathon, Lauren Kruger (AVT) won the women's race in 1:22:48. Taryn Snyman was 5th woman overall and won the W40-49 in 1:33:46, and Dalene Sonnekus won the W60-69 in 1:44:17, with Lelanie Cornelius 2nd in the same category in 1:48:53. Skye Barker was 2nd woman overall and the winning Junior in 1:27:34.

In the 10km, Resegofaditswe Moumakwa was 9th man overall in 35:10, Marie Snyman-Jacobs was 3rd in the W50-59 in 56:14, and Patrick Mafelika won the 80+ category in 1:13:13.

THEMBISA MILE, GAUTENG

In the 10km, Tebogo Mokgosinyane was 8th overall and the winning Veteran in 40:09, and Kai Hattingh (Nedbank Running Club Central Gauteng) was 2nd in the Junior category. In the 1 Mile, Boipelo Maroga was 3rd in the Girls 15 category.

NRC FREE STATE

Absa Run Your City Mangaung 10K, Bloemfontein

Two Nedbank By Grace Running Club women finished in the top 10 at the Absa Run Your City Mangaung 10K on 25 October, with Dikeledi Majara 7th in 35:17 and Este van Tonder 9th in 37:24. Este also led a clean sweep of the W40-49 podium, with Anna Moeketsie 2nd in 42:47 and Maryna Swanepoel 3rd in 43:41. Albert Kangor (Nedbank Running Club International) was 20th man overall and 3rd in the M40-49 in 32:38. In the Junior women's race, Dineo Dithakono was 2nd in 39:57, Karabo Monyaki 3rd in 41:07 and Catherine van Aardt 4th in 43:03.

CUT Alumni, Bloemfontein

The day before, Anna Moeketsie won the women's 21km overall and the 40+ category in 1:32:10, and Reitumetse Beukes was the winning Junior over the same distance. In the 10km, Dineo Dithakono won the women's race, with Karabo Monyaki 2nd and Moleheng Bogosi 3rd, and Omphile Letshabo won the men's race.

NRC LIMPOPO

Tabitha Tsatsa had a productive double weekend, winning the Master category at the Highlanders Half Marathon on 24 October in 1:43:02 and again at the Jacaranda Bloom Half Marathon the next day in 1:43:48.

SECUNDA 21KM, MPUMALANGA

Chrizell Roberts won the women's 21km at the Secunda Mall Take Heart Race.

STANDARD CHARTERED NAIROBI CITY MARATHON, KENYA

Hillary Kiprotich Chumo ran a personal best of 2:12:36 to finish 9th at the Standard Chartered Nairobi City Marathon, and our congratulations go to him on an outstanding run.

And That's a Wrap

It was a big weekend for Nedbank Running Club, with a stage win for our National Manager in the Karoo, a half-marathon win and a strong showing in the heat in Kimberley, a W40-49 podium sweep in Bloemfontein, a clean sweep of the men's podium in George, and age-group wins from Cape Town to Gauteng, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. Well done to every athlete who raced, to the coaches and supporters behind them, and to everyone who sent in their results.

We will be back next week with all the results from the weekend of 31 October and 1 November.

#RunWithUs | #GrowWithUs | #GreenDreamTeam | #NedbankRunningClub | #MoreThanAClub

Click here for more Photos