BOB NORRIS
Running the Surfers Challenge on a Saturday afternoon does have a few drawbacks for youthful athletes, which centres around primary sporting commitments.
It is not as heavily congested as rugby, soccer and hockey obligations, but track and field athletics, the odd swimming gala, cricket and water polo are all in full swing in February.
One of the biggest sporting events on the local calendar is the Buffalo Regatta and there has often been a clash of dates, but happily that is not so in 2026 with the historical event taking place this weekend.
The 17.5km Surfers is the least affected by other sporting activity, while the 11.2km is, and the roughly 5km event the most affected.
Unfortunately, one of the largest track and field meetings has had to be moved to February 21 and that takes out a few hundred top class athletes.
All that documented, Surfers still has a strong appeal and with just two weeks to race day, most potential competitors will be seen training on the beaches, trails and roads of the city to eke out an advantage over a rival, an old foe, all in the name of competition and fun.
One big name that stands out in the Surfers results is Chris Sole. There are a few years with blanks and so the Go & Express contacted the former top provincial and club athlete who dominated much of athletics in his day.
He now resides in Australia, where he has lived for a number of years.
He could not remember Surfers, but agreed to scour his outstandingly detailed personal history of running. And he drew another blank.
The Strandlopers, which was run in December, the Table Mountain Race he ran and won 12 times and still holds the record.
It is incredible that the man who trained in Horseshoe Valley and ran and still does run on beaches, inclusive of Kei Mouth when he visits his sister, never ran Surfers.
What that does mean is that those who have run it are genuine “record” holders.
The 5km and 11.2km are breeding grounds for future sporting stars in various disciplines, and looking back at results, the following young runners are just some who promise much: Carter Palmer, Bradley Victor, Sam Norris, David Bwema, Caleb Giese, Landon Van Heerden, Alex Peterson, the Tinhoff brothers Luke and Stephen, along with Riley van Aswegen.
They are by no means the only ones but they do feature at cross country and road races too.
Caitlen Lombard and Danieka Botha are two girls who come from athletic families and have shown great promise. Watch out also for many other youngsters, the likes of Morgan Graham, also with a family pedigree, who has been prevalent at more than one event, the family of Ruby, Ella and Sophia Stutterheim, Erin Weimann, Kate Booyens and Gemma Falkenberg.
