The Spar Ladies Challenge is the biggest and best supported race in Gauteng North and has the largest field in the five event series which includes events in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg. The success of the series is due to its focus on women and their quintessential role in modern day health and fitness events.

In August 2008 a total field of 14 000 ladies participated in the Pretoria leg of the series and in 2009 a massive field of 18 000 ladies enjoyed the Spar experience at the University of Pretoria sports grounds. On 28 August this year 20 000 ladies are expected at the new Supersport Park race venue in Centurion.

The remarkable popularity of the Pretoria event and its venue at the University of Pretoria is based on the history of the event, from its humble beginnings of a few hundred runners to the mass field of today.

The first Spar Challenge events in Pretoria took place in 1997 in Centurion and the old Normaal Kollege Pretoria (NKP) grounds in Muckleneuk, before moving to the University of Pretoria Sports Grounds six years ago. The field of participants has shown exponential growth of twenty percent per year.

In 2008 Irvette van Blerk (Mr Price) won the event in a time of 35:47, demonstrating once again her class and agility as a runner. Irvette was followed by Faithy Kamangila of Zimbabwe in a time of 36.41 and Zintle Xiniwe of Celtic in 37:40.

In 2009 – Rene Kalmer(Nedbank) came in first in a time of 34:41, Lebo Phalula was second in 35.15, just one second ahead of her sister Lebogang

The list of runners participating, winning and placing in a coveted top ten position through the years reads like a who’s who of women’s running in South Africa. This illustrious list includes Poppy Mlambo, Renè Kalmer, Gloria Baeba, Ezbe Strydom, Annerien van Schalkwyk, Grace d’Oliveira, Sonja Laxton, Tshifihwa Mundalamo, Gladys Lekwareni, Catherine Nkosi, Ronel Thomas, Irvette van Blerk and many more.

The Pretoria leg of the Spar series has been dubbed by the media as the toughest women’s race to win in South Africa or to place in the top ten due to the quality of the field and the number of international runners participating each year.

In 2010 a bumper field of quality runners is expected, including our defending champion Irvette van Blerk (Nedbank), Rene Kalmer (Mr Price), Annerien van Schalkwyk (Irene), Thabitha Tsatsa (Zimbabwe), Faithy Kamangila (Zimbabwe) and Miliam Thole (Malawi).

A sub-34 minute time is expected on the ten kilometer route this year, primarily because the route has been re-designed to accommodate and facilitate faster times.

The route is also more spectator friendly, winding through the leafy suburbs around Supersport Park. Six thousand runners are expected to participate in the ten kilometer distance, with an expected 14 000 participating in the five kilometer fun run and walk.

- Henning van Aswegen

Click here to view route map >>

NEW ROUTE FOR SPAR WOMEN’S CHALLENGE

Tshwane - Participants in the Pretoria Spar Women’s 10km Challenge on August 28 can look forward to an exciting new route.

The Challenge – one of the highlights of the Pretoria social and sporting calendar – has moved from the Pretoria University sports grounds to one of the world’s most family-friendly cricket grounds, Supersport Park in Pretoria.

The race will start and end at the cricket ground, and the route takes the runners through the beautiful tree-lined village of Irene.

“It’s a fast, flat route,” said Daan du Toit of Athletics Gauteng North. “There are about three gradual climbs of about 600 metres each, but otherwise it is pretty level. The last two kilometres to the finish line on the cricket field are downhill, so we are expecting some very good times.”
The 5km route is completely separate, taking the participants through the equally attractive residential areas of Centurion.

Some of South Africa’s top runners will be taking part in the race, although Challenge Queen Rene Kalmer will be representing South Africa at the African Athletics Championships in Nairobi, she has said she will get back in time for the race.

Her sister, Christine, recently returned from university in the United States, where she had an athletics scholarship, will be flying the Kalmer flag, and other runners include former winners Irvette van Blerk and Charne Bosman, as well as Mpho Mabuza, Maxine Heine-Wacker, Ronel Thomas, Nandipha Dywili and Zimbabwean Thabita Tsatsa. Annerien van Schalkwyk will feel she has home ground advantage – she runs for Irene Athletics Club and will be familiar with the route and the conditions.

The race forms part of the Spar Grand Prix series, with the top runners earning points for the lucrative Grand Prix prize. The winner of the Grand Prize takes home a healthy R60 000, and the top 20 all win cash prizes. Rene Kalmer currently heads the log.

Although the race will be glittering with road-running stars, the Challenge is all about the thousands of women who take part just for fun. Many of them take the Challenge year after year because of the fun they have had each time.

For those who do not want to run, walkers are very welcome – in fact, walkers make up the majority of participants in the 10km Challenge and the 5km Fun Run.

There are prizes galore, with the most exciting being the chance to win a Nissan NP200 1.6 8V! All that contestants need to do to have a chance of driving away in their brand new vehicle is to drop their Lucky Draw ticket (attached to their official race number) in the Lucky Draw box at the venue.

Then there is the ever-popular Treat-a-Friend competition, with prizes of a Jenna Clifford gift pack, or a full day or half day Spa treatment at La Montagne Spa for the lucky runner and her friend.

Supersport Park is well known for being family friendly and there is a full programme of activities to keep the youngsters happy while Mom runs or walks. Face painting and jumping castles are just some of the activities on offer. There are separate areas for children between three and six, and for those between seven and 12, with qualified pre-primary teachers keeping an eye on the youngsters.

The Challenge continues to support the Chrysalis Foundation, which helps young women who have been abused regain their self-esteem. Proceeds from the race go to the Foundation, so participants can rejoice in the fact that they are helping a young woman while having fun at the same time.

As always, there are free race T-shirts for the first 20 000 entrants, and all finishers will receive a medal and a goodie bag.

Entry forms are available at all Spar, SuperSpar and Kwikspar stores or online at www.spar.co.za

Above - Goodie bag
 

Above - The Pretoria SPAR Women's 10km Challenge to be run on August 28 was announced in Centurion today (20 July 2010). The Challenge has moved from the Pretoria University sports grounds to one of the world’s most family-friendly cricket grounds, Supersport Park in Pretoria. At the launch were (From left to right): Irvette van Blerk (Athlete), James Mokoka (President: AGN), Mario Santana (MD: Spar North Rand), Elana Afrika (Chrysalis) and Annerien van Schalkwyk (Athlete).
Picture: Reg Caldecott