It started in 1992 and went from strength to strength.
The popular SPAR Women’s Races, said organisers, were started as a way to get women of all ages, shapes and sizes together to enjoy a safe 5km or 10km run and enjoy the day.
“In 2007, a competitive element was added to the SPAR Women’s Race with the introduction of the SPAR Grand Prix Series where professional runners were invited to take part in all of the regional races and compete for substantial cash prizes,” they said.
This year’s race took place on Sunday 30 March in Greenpoint and 16 000 people participated in this #Twenty20Thrive event. Residents from all over the Overberg also joined. SPAR Grabouw arranged a bus for all Grabouw’s participants and more than 70 women came together to be part of this challenge.
Seven club members from the new club in Grabouw, Grabouw Walk For Fun Walking Club, also participated in this event. According to Jane Swart from Grabouw they enjoyed this event and are thankful to SPAR Grabouw who supported them. “They walked the extra mile. They arranged transport and helped us with the admin. They are really there for their community,” she said.
Apart from Jane, other members from the Grabouw Walk For Fun, Letitia Piek, Bernice Lesley, Ziavia Matthys, Sanet Auret, Gene Williams and Claudene Jansen all took part in the SPAR Women’s Race.
During the event the defending champion Glenrose Xaba’s bid to become the fourth athlete to win the SPAR Grand Prix three times got off to a good start with her victory in the first SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in Cape Town on Sunday. The Boxer runner won the race in 33:13 to earn 20 points for the victory and five bonus points.
She is just one point ahead of the Ethiopian Nedbank runner, Salem Gebre, who also earned five bonus points. They were the only senior runners to earn bonus points. Last year, Xaba won maximum bonus points in all her races. Her slower time on Sunday may have been the result of a 30-minute delay at the start of the race, for safety reasons.
She said after the race that she was disappointed with her time. “We stood too long at the start and my muscles were very stiff and my body didn’t respond well. But I am happy that I was able to keep my focus and win the race.”
Xaba’s training partner, Karabo Mailula, is in third position on the log with 17 points.Former SPAR Grand Prix winner Lebo Phalula is in fourth place, with 16. Phalula’s excellent run in Cape Town puts her top of the 40-49 age group one point ahead of SPAR Grand Prix debutant, Olga Firsova (Australia) who was also a top ten finisher on Sunday in eighth place overall.
Capetonian Anne Stewart (Atlantic Athletics Club) leads the 50-59 age group with evergreen Judy Bird (Boxer) topping the 60+ age group a point ahead of Grace De Oliveira (Maxed Elite). Both Bird and De Oliveira earned bonus points in Cape Town.
