Memorial Race

The Edgemead Runners Memorial Race will be held for the 41st time in 2014 and will once again attract hundreds of runners, joggers and fun seekers to the Mouille Point Lighthouse for the annual end of year event.

Now called the Runners Memorial Race, it originated in 1973 as the New Year’s Eve Race and then became the Chris McKinnon Memorial Race to honour the Western Province runner killed while on a training run in Pretoria. Its new name was chosen to commemorate all Western Province runners who died tragically.

More info and online entries available at http://www.racecentral.co.za/runners-memorial

The race was originally organized by the WP Road Runners Association, thereafter taken over by Tygerberg Athletics Club and organized by Edgemead Runners since 1996. It was the death of Edgemead Runners club member Mxolisi Mitchell Mase a few days before the 1995 Two Oceans Ultra Marathon that emphasized the need for such a race. The race is now hosted to commemorate all runners who died while being involved in their favourite activity, running.

Over the years the venue has changed, but the race has always been run along the Sea Point beachfront. The run takes place over 8km and takes participants from  the Mouille Point Lighthouse, along the promenade to Milton’s pool and back to the finish on the lawns in front of the Lighthouse. The race is open to runners and walkers alike, no license numbers are required, but club athletes are welcome to wear their club colours. There is a family atmosphere and people are encouraged to bring the family down to the beachfront and take part. The names of deceased runners from 2010 to 2013 are read out before the start of the race.

Many illustrious names in SA Athletics have won the race, amongst others Ewald Bonzet, Victor Liebenberg, Kevin Flanegan, Johan Fourie, Andries Krogmann, Matthews Temane and Sonja Laxton. The race has a special place on the Cape Town running calendar, and it is certain that many familiar faces will be in the crowd when the event starts next to the Mouille Point Lighthouse at 18h00 on Tuesday, 31 December 2013. A commemorative drinking glass is on offer to the first 1500 finishers.

Please contact Roland Matzke (Race Convener) on 082 878 1167 should you require more information.