BOB NORRIS
The Discovery Surfers has it’s origins in 1975, which has been well documented down the years. A road relay race from King Williams Town, now Qonce to East London was the catalyst when a team of surfers took on their Buffalo Road Running Club friends and lost.
The surfers decided not to take it lying down, but to challenge the runners to a race on “their own turf”.
In other words on the beach, with two river crossings and a tough section commanded by rocks, shingle and other obstacles.
The runners had an ace or two they thought could work and invited their cross country runners to come along for a challenge with a difference.
Kenny Wilkinson was an all round athlete, running anything from track and field to standard marathons and the Comrades.
The surfers were confident, but Wilkinson proved too strong and won the first encounter in 1975. He returned for the 40th running.
In 1976, school teacher and another cross country exponent, Rob Joiner won. There is no record of who won in 1977, but Joiner was back and together with one of Border’s all time best road runners, Gordon Shaw they finished together in 1978.
The only other years that remain blank for the men are 1979, ‘80 and ‘81. If anyone has information that could assist please do get in touch.
The first three times (on a trot) winner was Danny Biggs from Durban who won 1985, ‘86 and ‘87. He returned last year for his first since and enjoyed the experience. His fastest run was his second when he recorded 60:13. Tides and weather were extremely favourable that year.
The first woman that we have a result for was Heidi Wust in 1983, the same year that Shaw won again, on his own this time. It was also the year he secured a second place for the second time, albeit seven years apart at the Comrades Marathon.
1984 was a big year for the women when Colleen Lindeque (De Reuck) won as did her brother Colin in the men’s race. She later married Darren de Reuck from Gonubie, became a SA Champion and an Olympian.
The women’s results for 1984- 1988 are also blank and then Wust won again in 1989.
Lizanne Holmes one of the top Border athletes of all time won twice, while the all time Queen of Surfers is undoubtedly Hanlie Botha who has won the longer version on 11 occasions.
A visitor for quite a few years was Myrette Brink, who won on three occasions with the fastest documented time for the women’s race of 74:25 in 2014.
The first black man to win Surfers was Thabang Baholo in 1988, while a year later Mzwandile Shube ran the fastest time ever.
Gqeberha athlete, Keagan Cooke’s winning time in 2025 is the second fastest, since the distance was increased by a kilometre in 2010.
A surprise to readers may be just how many Comrades runners, have run Surfers, including two winners, in Alan Robb and Bruce Fordyce, while Biggs and Shaw have run gold medal times and in the women’s field Yolande MacLean the 2015 Surfers winner, is a multiple gold medallist.
The all time Queen of Surfers is undoubtedly Hanlie Botha who has won the longer version on eleven occasions
