The inaugural event of what is now the Astron Energy Sole Destroyer was run on 18 September 1993, thirty year ago, and while it may not be in the league of those races that have celebrated half a century it certainly looks headed in that direction.
The concept of the race was originally “sold to” Hi Tec who were then sponsors of the Mont Aux Sources Challenge in the Drakensburg. While Horseshoe Valley, as quaint as it is may be, does not rival the Drakensburg it was an area used for training by the mavericks of the earlier days when road runners were still an anomaly to society.
By the time Oxford Striders launched the race a new breed of runner, largely “tar bound,” made up the sport and it was thought it would take time to attract them to the gravel hills on offer.
As it happened in 1993 the popular half marathons were attracting around 650 runners. That same year Sole Destroyer attracted just 211 at the first outing so the predictions were real. Things would change however, and the numbers would certainly grow.
On Sunday the half marathon on its own should show impressive growth while the 10km is also an attraction.
Interestingly looking at the results from the inaugural race not too many will still be running on Sunday, the thirty years having taken a toll.
Makaya Masumpa, who won the first race in 70:15 against times he ran in other 21,1km races of around 66 minutes proves how challenging the course was and is still today. Mpumezi Bomvana finished second six seconds later and Monde Tutani, who used his speed to win the King of the Mountain award at 7km into the race, was third in 70:30.
Such is the longevity of Masumpa, that he won’t be running Sunday simply because he is running in the South African Cross Country Championships in Gauteng, in Border colours this weekend.
Queen of the Mountain was won by former “Springbok” Cross Country runner Diane Sandford who also won the race in 91:45 while a more usual winning time for her was about eighty-four minutes. Bernice Fanoe was second in 94:06. Neither woman is still active.
The only other prize-winners who may run on Sunday would be Beanie Beard who was in the veteran women’s first team home and Sharon Bosch (Eldridge) who was in the first open women’s competition along with Sandford and Jackie Cook. The 1994 race attracted 317 participants, but even fewer of those winners are still active.
Names that might still raise an eyebrow or two include Sizakele Dantie, Gerald Land, Mervyn Stanley, Sabrina Burton, Helen Candiotes, Rose Price and Anette Henry.
The race was of course named after Chris Sole who like Sandford and Tony Viljoen was a teacher at Cambridge High School. He visited Kei Mouth recently and we caught up with him. He did ask after both his many competitors inclusive and particularly of Masumpa and Tutani as well as if the race was still in existence. The positive answers were well received. Now a leading coach in New Zealand Sole would have had so much to give to the local running community were he still in South Africa.
The race starts close to the old Highgate Hotel at 6:30 on Sunday and finishers at the organisers club in Beach Road Nahoon.
The next twenty years off the hundreds of new folk to the sport to build up a legacy and belonging to this and other races, regardless of affiliation.
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