Dan Mathebula Club Captain Welcome to the homepage of the Kruger Park Marathon Club...the organisers of the race amongst the lions Read more about the 2005 Lion Encounter Members of the Kruger Park Marathon Club have to be resident in the Kruger National Park - ie no outsiders may join the club. We have 20 members - a small club and hold our annual half marathon on the first Saturday in August for 1000 runners. The 2006 race will be on Saturday 5th August and the closing date for entries is 30th September 2005 (this is because runners have to get accommodation in the area and, in the Park especially, they have to book many months ahead otherwise they will not get in). We have a lucky draw system for the race as more than 1000 runners apply to run the race. The only way a runner can insure a place in the race is by raising money (a minimum of R750) for our selected nature conservation projects. 2006 race flyer & route map      record holders      2005 category winners      projects we support      contact us Gus Mills Club Chairman   THE HISTORY OF THE KRUGER PARK MARATHON CLUB AND ITS ANNUAL HALF MARATHON The Kruger Park Marathon Club (KPMC) was started in 1986 through the initiative of Dr Vossie de Vos, an avid roadrunner who had already completed 8 Comrades Marathons. In the early years the club struggled financially to keep going - as the affiliation and registration fees for the club were heavy and there were no more than 15 runners. The Eastern Transvaal Road Running Association (ETRRA) was obviously not keen for a large number of small clubs to spring up and the support for these clubs was not very encouraging. The ETRRA stipulated that all affiliated clubs had to hold at least one open race per year. This was overlooked for the first few years because the KPMC was such a small club, but then the ETRRA started putting on the pressure. If the club did not hold a race then it would have to pay the ETRRA the average of a percentage of the income made at all the races held in the Eastern Transvaal. For such a small club that would be impossible. Vossie and another founder member, Pieter Scholtz, had continuous discussions during their regular runs, on a solution to the problem. Vossie made contact with Arthur Meneke (Chairman of the ETRRA) who was extremely helpful and encouraging. At first it was suggested that a race be held outside the Park from Kruger Gate towards Hazyview. However, in the end it was decided to hold the race within Kruger and permission was granted by the then National Parks Board to hold a half marathon within the confines of the village of Skukuza, as long as the principles of the National Parks Boards towards nature conservation were not violated. A sponsor had to be found and Vossie, after a lot of searching, was fortunate to make contact with "Sams" meat suppliers, who agreed to support the race - the first being on Saturday 5th August 1989. They remained the wonderful sponsors of the Sams Skukuza Half Marathon for 12 years, each year bringing in 10 top runners, providing excellent medals and badges for the runners, hosting a pasta evening the night before the race and much more. Unfortunately, due to economic reasons they had to withdraw their sponsorship in 2001. Luckily South African Breweries came to the rescue and have been our sponsors (of the Castle Lager Kruger Park Half Marathon with 1000 runners) for the last five years and will be hopefully for many years to come. The half marathon involves practically all the inhabitants of the village of Skukuza. The water tables are manned by the primary school, the army and SAB. There is a monetary prize for the best water table as well as an interesting trophy - a brass tap mounted on a local piece of wood. The best water table is chosen by questioning a random selection of runners after the race. The food stalls are run by various organizations, such as church bodies, the creche, the primary school and cricket club. There is also a monetary prize for the best stall, chosen in the same manner as the best water table, and the workers put in a lot of effort and time into doing something extra special for the day. Those people who are not involved in the above activities help with manning the course, with the activities at the start and finish of the race - and the few Skukuza inhabitants who are left are enthusiastic supporters along the route. It is truly a community affair. In 1993 the KPMC brought a new dimension to the race and started to use it as a vehicle for raising money for nature conservation projects in our national parks. Each year the KPMC, in conjunction with SAN Parks, select priority projects to support. Runners are then asked to seek sponsorship and so far have raised over R1 000 000. This has become a very important component of the race. Projects in Kruger include the Northern Plains Project (from 1993 and ongoing), the Elephant/Herbivore exclosure project, a baboon project, the building of two bird hides, two wild dog and one cheetah census, alien plants and anti poaching. In the Kgalagadi the fund has supported Kalahari lion project, and an African wildcat project, and in Marekele, Addo and the Richtersveld a cycad and plant microchip project. Besides our two major sponsors, Sams/Kolosus and now South African Breweries, the following companies have supported the race for many years:- Coca-Cola Fortune Mpumulanga - donates the cokes for the watertables Mondipak - donates the rubbish boxes Nampak Redibox- donates the water bottles for the coke Bar Print - printed the Race Information and Conservation Drive Pamphlets KODAK - for 3 years sponsored a watertable (which entails a donation to the Conservation Fund) and the TOP 10 invited runners. Steiner - have looked after the ablutions for the race Our grateful thanks go to these organizations. THE COURSE It is early dawn - still dark as race officials set out to prepare the course. Headlights pick out two hyaenas making their way back to a den where they will spend the daylight hours. To the east a jackal calls a greeting to a new African day - the horizon by now a blushing pink, sharply silhouetting leafless late winter trees. A unique place - a unique race - the Kruger Park half marathon held in and around the small staff village of Skukuza in the heartland of one of Africa's greatest wildlife refuges - the Kruger National Park. A squad of rangers, whose task it is to ensure the safety of all athletes during the race, travel by vehicle and on foot along the course to herd off any big game which would disrupt the race. Lets run along the course which this year has changed slightly: A thousand athletes line up at the start on the "village green" and are set off by a recording of a lion roar. Clockwise once around the field and then along a flat 2km stretch of road which threads its way through the picturesque village, past the quaint church and primary school. Passing between the tennis courts, bowling green and swimming pool the road dips down, crossing a small low water bridge and then climbs for about 1km, passing "Loop-en-Val draai" (where Loop-en-Val Motserauteau fell in a sandy patch during the 1989 race but still managed to come second) and on to the first water table run by SAB who also provide a water tunnel to cool the runners. The next 2.5km of undulating road meanders back through the village. Impala, warthog and baboon can be seen staring non-plussed at the "herd of runners". A short, steep climb up "Vossie's hill" now takes the runners "out into the bush" past the golf club and up along "Lake Panic" dam wall (so named because immediately upon completion in 1981 the park experienced very heavy rains and the dam started filling up rapidly and the Park Warden began to "panic" that the dam wall might not hold) where hippo, waterbirds and a variety of animals coming down to drink are often seen. At the end of the embankment the second water table comes as a welcome sight (especially on the second lap). The course briefly crosses the golf course and then follows its periphery passing through "Bok doodgeslaan groot geskrik vir leeu spruit" (translated "buck killed by ball, big fright from lion stream"), so named because a few years ago one of the Skukuza inhabitants hit a golf ball down the fairway and it stopped an impala dead in its tracks when it hit it on the head. The player walked up to the impala and seeing it was dead walked away to continue his game! After he had gone a short distance something made him look around and he saw a lioness come up to and past the impala in a slightly threatening manner. Fortunately the lioness preferred the impala to the golf player! After crossing the stream the course goes up "Rhino Hill", where a few years ago a black rhino was giving golfers more exercise than they bargained for. He had to be captured and relocated to the Lower Sabie area where he could go about his business unhindered by wayward golf balls. The well kept greens fringed by bush is a pleasant sight to tired runners and "game viewing" along this stretch of the course offers a welcome distraction. Exiting at about the 6.5km mark onto the village entry road the course drops down towards the starting point. This is a fast part of the course as it is slightly downhill and crowds of spectators line the road urging runners on. At the Nursery School corner runners bear left to start the second lap. The second lap follows the first lap for 4km and after the little low level bridge at the Nursery, takes a right hand turn further into the village and 1km later joins the Nursery road again. At the top of the Nursery road after a short left turn, the second lap turns right along a sand road where it passes the third water table at about 12km, opposite the elephant, rhino and buffalo bomas (where animals are held for a period before translocation). The route then goes out on the tourist Nursery road (which is closed to the public for a couple of hours) for about 2km and the turn is just short of the Kruger Gate/Skukuza tar road at the 15km mark. The course doubles back to past the golf club again and follows the first lap until the Nursery School corner, taking a right turn to the field. Most athletes find the course challenging and are surprised by its undulating nature. There are numerous short but significant climbs and dips and underfoot the course changes between tarmac and well graded gravel roads. Temperatures can be expected to be warm but being August there is often a fresh breeze to cool hot, sweaty bodies.   The Skukuza Sterling Light Half Marathon 2005 Lion Encounter The seventeenth running of the Skukuza Half Marathon will long be remembered as the "Lion Race." At about 14 km into the race the lead vehicle came across three lionesses lying in the road and when Vossie, the driver of the lead vehicle, tried to move them off they were reluctant to leave and only moved to the side of the road. By this time the leading runner, Vincent Kutoane, had caught up with the vehicle and when he saw the three cats on the side of the road, he jumped up onto the bakkie. A game guard was called in and managed to persuade the lions to move on, by which time twelve runners had collected around the lead vehicle. The runners decided that there was safety in numbers and so voted to finish the race in a bundle, jogging the last 7 km. They agreed that Vincent be declared the winner, with Graham Malinga and Nthuthuko Maseko, the second and third runners at that stage, being given those positions in the final results. The rest of the field past the point without more drama, most of us blissfully unaware of what had occurred earlier. I suppose it was inevitable that eventually an encounter of this nature would take place during the race and it proves that the game guards are needed and fulfil a very important function. Our thanks to them for their services. We will not accept entries sent in on behalf of "Mothers-in-Law" for next years race! The first woman runner past the post was Noria Sibanda, a junior, who broke the Junior Lady's Curse record in a time of 1h28m31sec. The other feature of this year's race was the change in the course, with a 7 km first lap and a 14 km second lap. This has been brought in as an attempt to cut down the severe congestion experienced on the second lap when the faster runners catch up with the slower runners towards the end of their first lap. By all accounts it was successful, although it has I think made the course a bit tougher. We are receiving more and more reports of people without race numbers walking part of the course. This is not permitted and we ask people who have not qualified to enter the race to please stay off the course. Next year extra marshals will be deployed to remove all runners without race numbers as it is in contravention of the rules of the South African Road Running Association. For the 6th year Rob Barrie received the prize for raising the largest sum for the KNP Marathon Club Conservation Fund in 2004. Our sincere thanks to him and everyone else who made an effort to raise money. Remember that if you raise R750 you gain automatic entry into next year's race and the top two money raisers receive a wonderful prize of two free nights at Notten's Bush Camp and Lukimbi Safari Lodge, who have once again generously agreed to sponsor these prizes. The closing date for donations is 30 September. We also thank Simbambili Game Lodge and Avis for sponsoring our 20 high school runners from neighbouring communities, the Post Office and Adot for sponsoring a water table, and of course Sterling Light our wonderful major sponsors This was Margie's last race as Race Organiser and mine as Club Chairman. Next year Jose Knight will take over from Margie and I am sure that you will find her as efficient and friendly as Margie always was. At the same time we say a very big thank you to Margie for all she has done over the last 17 years.   The Kruger Park Half Marathon Record Holders CATEGORY NAME TIME YEAR SENIOR MEN Gert Thys 01:03:42 1992 SENIOR WOMEN Frith vd Merwe 01:15:47 1991 VETERAN MEN Ewald Bonzet 01:10:57 1992 VETERAN WOMEN Sonja Laxton 01:22:57 1998 MASTERS MEN James Gertse 01:19:26 1998 MASTERS WOMEN Liz Mulder 01:34:01 1994 JUNIOR BOYS Meck Mothuli 01:04:50 1994 JUNIOR GIRLS Noria Sibanda 01:28:50 2005 GRANDMASTER Danny Shongwe 01:17:55 1992 GRANDMASTER WOMEN Wendy Wilkins 01:38:15 2001 FIRST KRUGER PARK MARATHON RUNNER Derek Maluleke 01:15:47 2003 FIRST KRUGER PARK VETERAN RUNNER Dan Mathebula 01:31:10 2005   2005 Category Winners POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 1 Vincent Kutoane 596 Powerade 1:14:30 1:03:42 2 Graham Malinga 1393 Harmony 1:14:31 GERT THYS 3 Nthuthuko Maseko 5 Correctional Services 1:14:32 1992 WOMEN OVERALL POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 39 Noria Sibanda 9 Harmony 1:28:31 1:15:47 42 Sibongile Rathokoa 10 Harmony 1:28:50 FRITH VAN DER MERWE 64 Allison Hay 125 Nelspruit 1:34:47 1991 MEN 40 - 49 YEARS POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 11 Jerry Rankapule 593 Powerade 1:14:47 1:10:57 12 Meshack Motla 594 Powerade 1:16:04 EWALD BONZET 13 Rhufel Ndlovu 7 Lowveld Sport D 1:16:52 1992 WOMEN 40 - 49 YEARS POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2004 TIME RECORD 64 Allison Hay 125 Nelpruit 1:34:47 1:22:57 69 Hesta de Graaff 238 Harmony 1:35:46 SONJA LAXTON 96 Norma Crampton 558 Nelspruit 1:40:08 1998 MEN 50 - 59 YEARS POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 29 Aaron Mahlalela 1345 Lowveld Sports Dev 1:25:23 1:19:26 47 Joaquim Barbosa 48 RAC 1:31:31 JAMES GERTSE 1998 WOMEN 50 - 59 YEARS POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 102 Linda Potgieter 176 Harmony 1:40:56 1:34:01 173 Annette Schoeman 607 Drafstap 1:50:13 LIZ MULDER 1994 JUNIOR BOYS POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 27 Martin Palm 1283 AS Eagles 1:23:18 1:04:50 MECK MOTHULI 1994 JUNIOR GIRLS POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 39 Noria Sibanda 9 Harmony **1:28:31 1:34:40 SALMINAH NTSOANE 1992 MEN 60 YEARS AND OLDER POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 83 Ken Poole 178 Jeppe Quondam 1:37:35 1:17:55 DANNY SHONGWE 2001 WOMEN 60 YEARS AND OLDER POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 364 Pamela Osborne 127 Nbathn 2:05:40 1:38:15 WENDY WILKINS 2001 FIRST KRUGER PARK MARATHON CLUB RUNNER POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 8 Lovers Hlatshwayo 15 Kruger Park 1:15:47 DERICK MALULEKE 2003 FIRST KRUGER PARK MARATHON CLUB WOMAN RUNNER POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 661 Sinah Mdluli 1315 Kruger Park 2:11:32 1:47:33 CHELSEA NEWBY 2000 FIRST KRUGER PARK RUNNER 40 YEARS AND OLDER POS NAME RACE NO CLUB 2005 TIME RECORD 46 Danny Mathebula 11 Kruger Park 1:31:10 1:44:10 CLEVE CHENEY 1995 ** NEW RECORD BEST WATER TABLE 2005: PRIMARY SCHOOL BEST FOOD STALL 2005: PREGOS   Contact Us P.O. Box 126, Skukuza 1350 Kruger National Park Tel Chairman: (013) 735-5354 Tel Secretary: (013) 735-5354 (& Fax)    Cell: 082-6803864