By BOB NORRIS
Today at 5pm some of South Africa’s most eccentric runners line up in Port Alfred, at the start of the TLB Washie 100 Miler.
They will be joined by a runner from each of the United States, Malawi, Argentina and France.
Or those are the ones we know about at the time of writing, for Washie is one of the few ultra-marathons that can spring an entrant from all but nowhere with minutes to go – though the official stance is that entries are now closed on 98.
The Washie was borne out of Lionel Whitfield’s desire to have his father, Granville Washington Whitfield, known to most by his nickname “Washie” honoured and remembered.
The 40th running of the 160km sojourn from Port Alfred to East London, will enjoy a special touch when the runners are sent on their way by Marion Kelly, the granddaughter of “Washie” himself.
In the running of the 39 events to-date, there are many stories to share, many characters to recall and very many moments of nostalgia to look back on. There were just 12 finishes at the first event in 1977, won by Len Jenkins in the colours of one of South Africa's oldest athletic clubs, Germiston Callies. The winning time of 15:17:24 would be successfully and decisively challenged the following year.
When Len Keating, who was running for RAC at that stage, entered the 1978 race as a well-known and highly-competent Two Oceans and Comrades runner, expectations were naturally high.
He did not disappoint, beating off again just 12 finishers, that included an equally respected Casper Greeff.
It was the magnitude of his time that impressed, recording 13:34:36 over the hilly terrain.
The year 1979 would produce the first local winner, when Don Underwood of Buffs won in extremely windy conditions.
The Washie has been run in all manner of weather but the most trying of all, was certainly the 1980 race which was run from East London to Port Alfred, as it was in the early days.
The most radical west wind, cold and driving rain greeted the 41 starters and the brave seconding teams on the road.
Tammy Bilibana of Mthatha, who was running for Buffs with the support of Dietmar Wittrowski, had been a surprise ninth-placed gold medallist at the Comrades Marathon in the same year that Alan Robb would win for the final time – and a young Bruce Fordyce emerged as crown prince in finishing second. Bilibana was convinced to enter Washie and went on to win the race in seriously freezing conditions, beating off the most legendary Washie runners of all time and a fellow Buffalo, Dave Park, who is a Washie permanent number one. Park finished second on three occasions and third once, but sadly he never won the race.
The Manie Saayman era followed when the man from Vaal AC won in 1981, ’82 ’85, ’86 and ’87. Keating picked up a second win in 1984 and local man Thomas Gxakaza won the 1983 event.
Saayman had set a new course record of 13:13:38 in 1982 and only Gxakaza would come close with a 13:14:56 the following year, until Johan van der Merwe of Pietersburg AC burst onto the scene to win and break the record 30 years later.
So many characters have emerged from the Washie, both as competitors and in the engine-room of putting the event together.
Two men who made their mark by virtue of their longevity at Washie are Eric Wright and Butch Duffey, both of whom are running in pursuit of completing their 26th journey tomorrow.
Cometh the hour, cometh the Washie
Today at 5pm some of South Africa’s most eccentric runners line up in Port Alfred, at the start of the TLB Washie 100 Miler.
They will be joined by a runner from each of the United States, Malawi, Argentina and France.
Or those are the ones we know about at the time of writing, for Washie is one of the few ultra-marathons that can spring an entrant from all but nowhere with minutes to go – though the official stance is that entries are now closed on 98.
The Washie was borne out of Lionel Whitfield’s desire to have his father, Granville Washington Whitfield, known to most by his nickname “Washie” honoured and remembered.
The 40th running of the 160km sojourn from Port Alfred to East London, will enjoy a special touch when the runners are sent on their way by Marion Kelly, the granddaughter of “Washie” himself.
In the running of the 39 events to-date, there are many stories to share, many characters to recall and very many moments of nostalgia to look back on. There were just 12 finishes at the first event in 1977, won by Len Jenkins in the colours of one of South Africa's oldest athletic clubs, Germiston Callies. The winning time of 15:17:24 would be successfully and decisively challenged the following year.
When Len Keating, who was running for RAC at that stage, entered the 1978 race as a well-known and highly-competent Two Oceans and Comrades runner, expectations were naturally high.
He did not disappoint, beating off again just 12 finishers, that included an equally respected Casper Greeff.
It was the magnitude of his time that impressed, recording 13:34:36 over the hilly terrain.
The year 1979 would produce the first local winner, when Don Underwood of Buffs won in extremely windy conditions.
The Washie has been run in all manner of weather but the most trying of all, was certainly the 1980 race which was run from East London to Port Alfred, as it was in the early days.
The most radical west wind, cold and driving rain greeted the 41 starters and the brave seconding teams on the road.
Tammy Bilibana of Mthatha, who was running for Buffs with the support of Dietmar Wittrowski, had been a surprise ninth-placed gold medallist at the Comrades Marathon in the same year that Alan Robb would win for the final time – and a young Bruce Fordyce emerged as crown prince in finishing second. Bilibana was convinced to enter Washie and went on to win the race in seriously freezing conditions, beating off the most legendary Washie runners of all time and a fellow Buffalo, Dave Park, who is a Washie permanent number one. Park finished second on three occasions and third once, but sadly he never won the race.
The Manie Saayman era followed when the man from Vaal AC won in 1981, ’82 ’85, ’86 and ’87. Keating picked up a second win in 1984 and local man Thomas Gxakaza won the 1983 event.
Saayman had set a new course record of 13:13:38 in 1982 and only Gxakaza would come close with a 13:14:56 the following year, until Johan van der Merwe of Pietersburg AC burst onto the scene to win and break the record 30 years later.
So many characters have emerged from the Washie, both as competitors and in the engine-room of putting the event together.
Two men who made their mark by virtue of their longevity at Washie are Eric Wright and Butch Duffey, both of whom are running in pursuit of completing their 26th journey tomorrow.
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