Rhodes without snow – impossible!
After last year's overabundance of snow this year was a complete turnaround with not even a teaspoon of snow on the road, for the first time in fifteen years.One thing we can be sure of - next year will be different.
My thanks again go to all those people who work throughout the year without reward to make the event a reality and a success – Evie Raubenheimer and her organizers, Andre Jackson and the course marshals, the medical staff and the seconds – thank you!
And to the runners – thank you for your support and see you next year.
Reinhard le Roux - Chairman
The 15th Rhodes, once again run on the traditional route of 52km, was completed with some milestones.
v For the first time ever there was a tie for King of the Kloof as well as for First position.
v The Open Ladies and the Veteran Ladies records were smashed by Petro Wiedeman by 15 and 17 minutes respectively.
v The Masters record was broken by Phillip van Niekerk by 4 minutes.
v It was the driest and warmest Rhodes ever, with the temperature at the start only 0°C.
v 4 runners have successfully completed all 15 Rhodes’ - Marietta van Rooyen (Perm no 9), Sham Singh (Perm no 13), Danny Holton (Perm No 14) and Johann (Grobbie) Grobler (Perm no 34).
v It was the first year that a blind runner has run Rhodes. The route is difficult enough for sighted runners. Derrick Carter and his guide Ken Henderson completed the run in 9:42 – a momentous achievement. Congratulations from us all.
v Andre Jackson and Reinhard le Roux have very willingly placed the flags to guide the runners through the kloof for the past 15 years (other than last year) – I am sure without those flags, we would have “lost” a number of runners in the kloof over the past years.
Once again we managed to put together a run with no sponsor. We have always prided ourselves in giving you, the runner, the most we can for your entry fee. I know we were a little stingy on the snow this year, but unfortunately we overspent on our “snow budget” last year and just could not afford it this year.
Maybe next year we will once again have sufficient funds to provide snow!!
Evie Raubenheimer
