Ntshiliza has his sights set on defending his Two Oceans title.  

George Ntshiliza broke the drought of South African wins in the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon last year, crossing the line in 3:08:31 for the 56 kilometres to become the first local winner since Bethuel Netshifhefhe  won in 2007 (in a time of 3:07:56).

Ntshiliza, a 32-year-old professional athlete from Nedbank Running Club in Port Elizabeth,was lying sixth at the 50km mark when he decided to make his move. With a final surge in the last kilometre of the race, he passed the leader Motlhokoa Nkhabutlane of Lesotho to claim victory by 18 seconds.

The quietly-confident Nedbank Green Dream Team runner believes he can defend his title this year. "I am totally focused on Two Oceans," he explains. "I have done all my necessary long distance and strength training and now I'm concentrating purely on the speed work." He currently trains twice a day over distances of 15, 35 or 40 kilometres.

He will be up against stiff competition from international athletes from countries such as Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, as well as five top Kenyans and European athletes. But, he says, his plan for this year's race is to use the same tactics as he did last year. "I never change my plan. I start every race as if I'm a novice, and then I come from the back. I believe I can defend my title. I know that there will be pressure on me to perform but I don't let that get in the way of my goal, which is to win."

Winning Two Oceans has been the biggest achievement of his career to date, but he is also extremely proud of some of the results he has achieved overseas. He competed in the World Half Marathon championships in Brazil in 2002 and came second in the Southern Region half-marathon in Mauritius in 2004.

Ntshiliza started running in 1996 and joined Nedbank Running Club in 2010 because "it's the best club in South Africa". This will be his third Two Oceans (he finished 17th in 2010) and he knows he can rely on the continued support of his club to realise his dream of another win.
2011 Results

1. George Ntshiliza (South Africa ) - 03:08:31
2. MotlhokoaNkhabutlane (Lesotho ) - 03:08:49
3. Tsotang Maine (Lesotho ) - 03:09:19
4. MoeketsiMosuhli (Lesotho ) - 03:09:40
5. Stephen Muzhingi (Zimbabwe ) - 03:09:46
6. LebohangMahloane (South Africa ) - 03:10:49
7. Mike Fokoroni (Zimbabwe ) - 03:11:24
8. Henry Moyo (Malawi ) - 03:11:31
9. Peter Muthubi (South Africa ) - 03:12:47
10. VusiMalobola (South Africa ) - 03:12:55

Comrades Marathon Substitutions close on 30 March 2012

Aspiring Comrades Marathon participants who were unable to enter for the 2012 race during the official entry period (September -November 2011) have until 30 March 2012 to substitute an entrant who has withdrawn or intends to withdraw from the 2012 Comrades Marathon.

The new Comrades Marathon Substitution Rule was introduced for the very first time for the 2012 Ultimate Human Race and now forms part of the official race rules of the world's biggest and oldest ultra-marathon. The Substitution process officially opened on 1 March 2012 and will close on the 30 March 2012.

The completed application forms as specified in the Substitution Rule must reach the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) office by 30 March 2012.  There will be no extension of this deadline.

Athletes still intending to submit Substitution applications are asked to do so immediately. They are advised to visit the official Comrades Marathon website at www.comrades.com for the comprehensive list of the rules and regulations which govern the Substitution process.

Race Director Johan Van Staden says, `From the response thus far, we can safely say that the Substitution Rule is here to stay. The CMA is focused on the needs of the athlete and we believe that the introduction of the Substitution Rule will also reduce the attrition rate from entry (number of entries received) to the start line (number of athletes actually starting the race).'

Van Staden adds, `Comrades runners have responded positively to the Substitution Rule because it does not only help those runners who have failed to enter during the stipulated entry period but also strengthens the role of running clubs in assisting event organisers by verifying the identification and registration details of runners participating in mega events such as the Comrades Marathon.'

***ENDS***
Statement released by the Comrades Marathon Association on Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Best Regards
Delaine Cools
Media Officer

A good week for Pierre de Villiers from Nedbank Running Club Johannesburg

Race walker Pierre de Villiers started off a winning week by taking gold in the 20km track walk at the CGA Provincial Champs held on 17 March at Germiston Stadium.

Then it was off to Stellenbosch for the Yellow Pages meeting on 20 March, where he set a new South African record in the 3000m event, clocking 11:24.02 to smash Chris Britz's record of 11:27.2, which had stood since 1987.

He followed this up with a PB of 20:35.08 in the 5000m at the Yellow Pages meeting in Potchefstroom on 24 March. Although he finished second in the race, his time was an improvement of 33 seconds on his previous PB for the distance - an outstanding achievement in the 30°C heat on the day!

Pierre has set his focus in qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics at the World Race Waling Cup in Russia 12 May and we wish him everything of the very best in achieving his goal.

Pierre de Villiers

Vaal Mall 10/15km
Nedbank Running Club men dominated the 15km race at the Vaal Mall run in Vanderbijlpark on Wednesday evening, 21 March. Club members took first and second spot in the men's 15km and second in the ladies race.

Results:
Open Men
1. Lebogang Mazilo 44:50
2. Lukas Tani 45:08
Women
2. Paulina Mokoena  1:09:55

Nedbank Running Club athletes Run Fast in the dark
Green Dream Team aces Rene Kalmer and Sibusiso Nzima finished on the podium on Wednesday evening at the Nike Run Jozi 10km road race in the streets of Johannesburg.
Rene won the woman's race and Sibusiso was the runner up in the men's race.

Well done both of you, Nedbank Running Club is proud of you!

Results: Nedbank Running Club athletes in Green
Men's 1st place: Desmond Mukgobu: 30.54.9
Women's 1st place: Rene Kalmer: 35.43.4
Men's 2nd place: Sibusiso Nzima: 31.05.5
Women's 2nd place: Maxine Hein-Wacker: 37.36.2

Rene Kalmer in winning form.

Jackie Gibson 21/42km
Lebogang Masilo won the 21km race in Kibler Park, south of Johannesburg on Sunday 25 March, which had 1850 finishers.

Results:
Men 21.1km:
Lebogang Masilo  1st 1:06:56
Vuyisile Tshoba  5th 1:09:10
Ladies 21km:
Vimbainashe Mhike  6th  1:33
Masters  42km:
Paulus Mofokeng 3rd 3:10:48

Paulus Mofokeng

Responsibility 3-in-1
Nedbank Running Club's Amanda Thomas was the second Masters Lady in the 10km race at Xstrate Coal, Tweefontein Golf Club Mpumalanga. Amanda finished in a time of 1:10:25.

Amanda Thomas

Great Run Challenge
In her first race since August last year in Daegu, Korea, Annerien van Schalkwyk placed second in the Great Run Challenge at Pilditch Stadium, Pretoria, on 24 March.

Results:
Men:
3rd Wesley Mutai 47:36
Ladies:
2nd Annerien van Schalkwyk 58:35

Annerien Van Schalkwyk

Nedbank Running Club Vanderbijlpark

The club.The Nedbank Running Club Vanderbijlpark was founded in January 2002, first as Harmony Athletics Club, and five years ago formed part of the national Nedbank Running Clubs around the country.  The club strives to attract walkers, jogger, runners and cyclist of all abilities to the sport of road running, cross country, cycling and multi sport. Our club is open to all people and provides an easily accessible platform to practice a healthy lifestyle. The club is in Vanderbijlpark (in the Vaal Triangle) and based at Kollege Park Primary School where we have our own clubhouse. (Photo: clubhouse in the background).

Centenary. The Nedbank Running Club Vanderbijlpark celebrates its tenth birthday this year and the club committee has worked out a program full of fun activities over the year (detail follows). When a member joins the club, he/she receives all relevant information, a bottle opener branded with the Nedbank logo and a fridge magnet with a roadmap of all major activities on offer during the year. (Photo: the fridge magnet showing the activities for 2012).

Program for the 10-year celebration
 14 January 2012  -  Club Run - Pholokong, 07h00
 25 January 2012  - Comrades Road Show, 19h00
 27 January 2012  - Dance, 19h00
 15 February 2012  - Valentine's 15/10/5 Km Road Races, 18h30
 24-26 February 2012 - Club Tour (Diamant 42,2/21,1/10 Km - Kimberley)
 16 March 2012  - Pub Run, 17h00
 24 March 2012  - Club Run - Bophelong, 07h00
 4-9 April 2012  - Two Oceans Tour
 14 April 2012  - Iron Man (Braai), 16h00
 25 May 2012  - Pre Comrades Function, 19h00
 26 May 2012  - 14Km Group Run (Breakfast afterwards), 07h00
 3 June 2012  - Comrades Marathon
 15 June 2012  - Post Comrades Bring & Braai, 17h30
 30 June 2012  - Treasure Hunt, 15h00
 7 July 2012  - Club Run - Sharpeville, 08h00
 4 August 2012  - 2/3/5 Kamp, 14h00
 24 August 2012  - Pub Run, 17h00
 1 September 2012 - Spring Run 21,1/10/5 Km Road Races, 07h00
 28 September 2012 - Dance, 19h00
 2 November 2012  - Prize Giving Function, 19h00
 10 November 2012 - Watersuikerkaskenades, 08h00
 8 December 2012  - Nedbank 32/15/5 Km road Races, 06h00
 31 December 2012 - OujaarsParty 10/8/6/4/2 Km Road Races, 18h00

Time trials. Time trials for serious and occasional runners and fitness enthusiasts are run on a Tuesday evening and cover a 2, 4, 6 or 8km run. Attendance is good and the social vibe afterwards is energetic and pleasant, times are compared and the beers and drinks afterwards is much rewarding.  This is the place to be to receive all the relevant information about happenings of the past week and forthcoming events. Every last Tuesday of the month we have a bring-and-braai and once every quarter we offer a one-hour run on the school's two rugby fields and neighboring running clubs are invited to join us. This is an excellent way to socialize with other running mates. Time trial results is posted every week on our web page - wwww.nedbankrunningclub.co.za (Photo: time trials - Christo, Coenie, Hennie & Antoinette showing real determination!).

Club committee. The club is divided into several sections, for example road running, cross country, social affairs, multi sport, etc., and each section is represented on the club committee. The committee is very active and our club is growing in numbers almost every week. The committee meets every second Tuesday after the time trial.

Races. Several road races are organised by the club. They are:
 February 15, Valentine's race, 5, 10 & 15km, 18h30, starts at clubhouse.
 September 1, Spring Run, 5, 10, 21,1km, 07h00, starts at clubhouse.
 October 24, Lite2Nite 80km relay (with neighboring ArcelorMittal running club), 06h00, start sat clubhouse.
 December 8, Challenge races, 5, 10, 21,1 & 32km races, 06h00, starts at clubhouse.
 December 31, OujaarsParty, 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10km races, 18h00, starts at clubhouse.

Exposure. The club offers members of all local and national Nedbank Running Clubs the use of a club gazebo at all the major races in the area where they can enjoy a drink and snacks after an exhausting run.

Club contact details:
Phisical address:
Nedbank Running Club (Vanderbijlpark) - NRCVT
Corner of: Glanville Street & Hans van Rensburg Street
Vanderbijlpark
1900

Contacts:
Secretary:
Gerda Pretorius    
Fax: 016-931 1918    
Cell: 072-209-9906
E-mail: kollegepark@mailserv.co.za  

Vice-chairperson
Pierre Pretorius
Cell: 082-572 3334
E-mail: pierre@megasurfwifi.co.za

Web site
Visit us at: www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za

Time trial details:
Time: Tuesday at 17h30 at club house.             
Distance: 2, 4, 6 & 8km run.

Club fees: 
Club fees for 2012 is as follows:
Primary School members
Admin Fee (Once off*) - R 10-00
Membership Fee   - R 90-00
License Fee    - R 30-00
Secondary School
Admin Fee (Once off*) - R 10-00
Membership Fee   - R 90-00
License Fee    - R 45-00
Senior Athletes 20-59
Admin Fee (Once off*) - R 20-00
Membership Fee  - R150-00
License Fee    - R 90-00
Grand Masters 60+
Admin Fee (Once off*) - R 10-00
Membership Fee   - R100-00
License Fee    - R 90-00
 The "once off" fee is only payable by members who are registering for the first time.
 All Nedbank staff and Nedlife Members will receive a R50-00 discount on abovementioned membership fees.
 From August 2012 all membership fees will be 50% less than the abovementioned fees.

The club's activities in pictures

Time Trials (every Tuesday at 17h00 at the club house)
Time trials cover a 2, 4, 6 or 8km run. Attendance is good and the social vibe afterwards is energetic and pleasant, times are compared, advice is exchanged over a beer and other drinks.  This is the place to be to receive all the relevant information about happenings in the past week and about forthcoming events.

Valentine's Race (15 February 2012)
The previous three Valentine's races all took place in heavy rainstorms, but this year we were fortunate and blessed with a perfect evening. A good number of athletes turned up and everybody enjoyed a perfect evening race.

Gazebo at the Sasol & Vaal Marathons 2012
Members of all local and national Nedbank Running Clubs made use of our club gazebo at the Sasol & Vaal Marathons 2012 where they were treated with delicious boerewors rolls and drinks.


First Pub Run (16 March 2012)
Unfortunately our first pub run was washed out by the rain and only a few members
turned up- but the club's beer is as good as a real pub's!

Development Bophelong township (25 March 2012)
Our development run in the Bophelong Township was a huge success and about 50-60 (it is almost impossible to try and count a bundle of energetic kids) kids and young children turned up for the 5km run. Afterwards they were treated with coke and snacks and everyone received a medal.

Nedbank Running Clubs Comrades winners received a warm reception at Vodacom Kimberley Road Running Club. 
 
Bruce Fordyce and Nick Bester were invited by the Vodacom Kimberley Road Running Club for a Pre Comrades talk and function on Wednesday 21 March 2012. 
 
The Vodacom Kimberley Road Running Club is alive and active under the Chairmanship of Mark Van Niekerk as well as with the support of their sponsors, Sean and Johnene Ralph from Vodacom.

Before the start of the Time Trial

Johnene Ralph, Fordyce, Bester, Sean Ralph.