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McCarthy Toyota Half MarathonMcCarthy Toyota (Ex Cartoria 21.1km) |
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| General | Venue | Entries | Route | Prizes | Results | Rules | Fun Run | History |
INTRODUCTION
The McCarthy Toyota (originally known as the Cartoria Toyota) Half Marathon is one
of the oldest half marathons in Pretoria and in Gauteng North. It is the flagship
event of Magnolia Road Runners for the past 22 years and even more astounding is that
McCarthy Toyota of Pretoria has continuously sponsored the race. The McCarthy Toyota
Half Marathon has over the years also shown a steady growth in runners participating,
to now reach record number of runners in the excess of 3800. Another major feature of
the race is the number of top athletes in the country who continuously run the McCarthy
Toyota Half Marathon and achieve their PB’s. The quality and standard of the race also
compares with any of the other major road races in the country.
HISTORY
If one reflects on the past of the McCarthy Toyota Half Marathon, then one can say
that it was born out of a sheer principle. Magnolia Road Runners, being one of the
few bigger clubs in Pretoria in the early ‘80’s, felt obliged to present a race for the
running community of Pretoria. The decision was taken on a 21,1km distance and the
route had to be reasonably flat and safe for the runners. The then Magnolia Chairman,
George Jordaan, and his committee negotiated with Clapham High School in Queenswood for
the venue and thereafter developed a route around the vicinity of the school. The
reason for it being in Queenswood was mainly due to the area being quite and safe
(traffic related), flat and no other races were being presented in this area of
Pretoria. Magnolia was fortunate to negotiate a sponsorship with John Warren (MD) of
Cartoria Toyota of Pretoria and the first race was presented in the first week of
February 1984.
VISION
The first Cartoria Toyota Half Marathon was organised under the leadership of Hank
Bezuidenhout - an average club member with no previous experience other than
co-ordinating a water station. The race committee consisted of close running partners
of Hank and their wives and they conveniently lived in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria.
From the outset, a close partnership was established with the Cartoria Toyota
management and staff. In 1985 Charles Bailey was appointed MD of Cartoria Toyota and a
new vision was accepted between Hank and Charles; The Cartoria Toyota Half Marathon
must be the best and biggest half marathon not only in the province but in the country.
It was for this reason that Magnolia and Cartoria Toyota management pursued with a
pre-entry only race and to maintain with a Permit Status race. The Magnolia
management persisted with Hank as the race organiser and he in turn convinced his then
running partners (Ken Hewer, Rob Reidy, Ray Pead, Les Davids, Steve McCourt) and wives
to remain on the committee until the vision was achieved. This vision was realised five
years after the inauguration of the race when Hank received the trophy for the best
organised race in N TVL for the year of 1988 from the Chairman of the N TVL Marathon
Association, Hannes Botha. At the same function , Magnolia received a R44 000
sponsorship from Cartoria Toyota for the 1989 race.
From then on the Cartoria Toyota Half Marathon, with Hank Bezuidenhout and a
dedicated committee, grew from just being a half marathon to the biggest and
most popular single race in Gauteng North and now amongst the ten most popular
races in the country.
SUMMARY OF TOP PERFORMERS
Throughout the years , many of the countries top runners have competed and won this
race. Records show that Gibeon Mashaba set a new course record in 1986 of 1:05:57 only
to lose his record to Springbok Matthew Temane in 1986 in a time of 1:05:48. The
same Matthew Temane broke his own record again in 1989 in a time of 1:03:38 which also
is the Gauteng North 21,1km record. He went on to win the race again in 1990 in
1:04:06, just edging ahead of Jan Tau (1:04:07). In the womens race Adelene Joubert
won in 1986 in a time of 1:22:02, Annette Falkson in 1988 (1:15:25) and then the record
breaking run of Michelle Joy in 1990 in a time of 1:13:24 which also is the Gauteng
North 21,1km record. Both these runners records still stand today.
Other winners have been Gert Thys (1:04:36), Xollie Yawa (1:04:27), Lawrence
Peu (1:04:14), and women, such as Frith vd Merwe (1:18:09), Sonja Laxton
(1:20:10), Helene Joubert (1:17:44) and L. Mofula (1:17:07.
SNIPPETS
There were some very interesting incidents that happened with the Cartoria Toyota
Half Marathon.
- In the one year Gibeon Mashaba was the first Springbok runner to be disqualified
by a N TVL referee , Mof van Schligting, after winning the race because he ran only
with one provincial licence number.
- On another occassion, the lead vehicle obstructed the front runners,
Matthews Temane, Rami Tsebe and Gert Thys as they entered the finishing lane.
Matthews and Rami managed to slip pass the vehicle but Gert had to come to a
standstill. More drama was still to follow when it was judged that Temane
tripped Tsebe three metres from the finish line. Temane crossed the line only
to be told that the finish line was actually three metres further. The race
was then awarded to Tsebe. Temane and Thys appealed - Temane for not knowwing
where the Finish line was and Thys for being obstructed by the lead vehicle.
Eventually the referees decided to award the race to Temane, second place to
Tsebe and third place to Thys. Both these incidents made the main evening news
bulletin on SABC TV, to the delight of the sponsor and Magnolia.
- Two years ago the route was measured 600m short and many runners ran their PB’s but
unfortunately it could not accepted.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
The route has always been two laps with variations over the years mainly due to
traffic congestion at certain points along the route. However, this has not influenced
the runner’s times and many runners attempt to improve or set PB’s on the route.
LOGISTICS
Water Stations.
There are four water stations on the route. Over the years three
of these stations are sponsored by Wesbank, McCarthy Call A Car, Budget and BP A
trophy is awarded to the best water station which Wesbank has won on many occasions.
Runners Safety.
There are usually 40 marshalls from Magnolia and 15 Traffic Officials controlling the safety
of the runners and regulating the traffic. It must be said that over the years a good
relationship has existed between the Magnolia race committee and the Traffic Dept of Pretoria.
There are two roving ambulances and a doctor along the route and after the front runners have
completed the race, a medical post is established at the finish.
Finish.
Magnolia puts in a lot of effort to ensure that runners completing the McCarthy Toyota Half
Marathon experience a “Comrades look alike finish”. A finish structure and finishing lanes are
erected with wire crowd barrier fencing and colourful plastic type fencing to ensure runners
are not hindered until after they receive their medals. One of the stalwarts of Magnolia,
Haffie Mohamed, with his Laudium clan and usually 15 Magnolia members and family, control the
time keeping and finish procedure. The calculating of the race results is a joint venture
between Magnolia and McCarthy Toyota staff using there own developed computer programme and bar
coding system.
The Finish area also accommodates a sponsor’s car display and the sponsor runs a
competition on race day.
Another success factor to the McCarthy Half Marathon is the provision of a professional
announcer. In the past Magnolia used the service of Dave Jack (Radio 702) and in more recent
times, controversial George Koertzen.
Race Advertising Pamphlets.
A total of 15 000 race advertising pamphlets are printed and distributed at all major races
in the Pretoria and Johannesburg area from mid November and mid January. Pamphlets are also
distributed to sports shops in the mentioned areas and as far as places, such as Bloemfoontein,
Kimberley, Durban, Cape Town, Pietersburg, Nelspruit and Middelburg.
RACE STATISTICS
The McCarthy Toyota Half Marathon has grown from approximately 1500 runners to nearly 4000
runners. The trend over the years indicates that 68% of the field is run by seniors, 25% by
veterans and 19% of the field are run by women. The number of runners qualifying for silver
medals is around 8% of the field. The majority of the field finish the race between 1hr 30 and
2hrs (60%).
INCENTIVES
Magnolia have always strived to give the runners value for money and for this reason the
McCarthy Toyota Half Marathon has given top quality sponsors T-shirts to the first 2000
pre-entry runners. (Most runners must still have cupboards full of the red-hooped McCarthy
Toyota T-shirts.) All finishers qualify for bronze medals, silver medals according to
specified times and mounted gold medals to category winners. Category winners are awarded with
miniature trophies. Cash prizes (R10000) are awarded to all category winners with R1500
awarded to the male & women winner. Certificates are also awarded to runners that can be
collected by a certain date at any of the McCarthy Toyota branches.
FUN RUN/WALK
For the last ten years a 5km Fun Run was introduced to accommodate family and friends of
runners participating in the McCarthy Toyota Half Marathon. Companies such as Mini Alarms,
BexForce Security, ADT and COIN security have sponsored the Fun Run/Walk and it is organised
by Colin Billau of Magnolia. The route used to run through an agriculture land next to the
school but it now runs through the residential area around the school. The Fun Run/Walk has
attracted over 800 runners and is sure to be very successful in the future.
Feedback of the 2005 event
Ken Nurden
I saw lightening in the distance as I set off for the McCarthy Toyota 21km.
At the race venue I heard reports of heavy rain at Centurion but fortunately
for us than ran this race, the rain stayed away. This is really a well
organised race. A broad start area with the large number of athletes ( 2000
plus ) filling up from the back and a separate start area for the walker.
Enquiries
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