Two Oceans Marathon look to return to the glory years

Confirmation that the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon will move from their traditional Easter Weekend was a significant point of discussion at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting at a Cape Town hotel yesterday evening when it was confirmed that entries for the event, which will take place on the weekend of 14 – 16 April 2023, will open to the public on 1 November 2022. Entries are already open for Two Oceans Blue Number Club members.

The decision to split the 56km ultra-marathon and the 21km half marathon into separate days for this year’s race was an inevitable and positive outcome of the growth of the event over the past decade and while numbers of participants in mass events the world over have not yet returned to pre-COVID levels, it would have been counter-productive to return to hosting the two road-races on a single day.

But surprisingly, and partly for urban mobility and transportation reasons, the ultra-marathon will be held first, on Saturday 15 April, followed by the half marathon on the Sunday, in a reversal from this year’s format.

The City of Cape Town plays a vital role in the smooth running of large events within its jurisdiction, notably in respect of traffic management. Understandably, they have been instrumental in the move of the Oceans away from Easter, when their staff are thin on the ground.

The time has surely come for Cape Town’s three primary major road events, Cape Town Marathon, Two Oceans Marathon and the Cape Town Cycle Tour, to work closely together with the City to ensure optimal planning and logistical arrangements in the interests of all parties – the runners, the organisers and the City.

No voting was required at this year’s AGM, as twelve persons were nominated for twelve positions and the composition of the 2022 – 2023 Two Oceans Marathon board is: William Swartbooi, Allan Ryninks, Garth Schreiner, David Maralack, Paul Murphy, Ashraf Orrie, Nhlanhla Mlitwa, Elizabeth Short, Ian McDonald, Phumizile Mlotshwa, Angelo Kriger and Ilse de Wet.

The return to the board of former Two Oceans Marathon NPC chairperson, Dr David Maralack, was welcomed by the members and his experience in sports administration will be valuable for the Two Oceans for the next few years.  He served on the board for seven years from September 2012 and was chairperson from 2015 – 2019.

Addressing the meeting, past chairperson, William Swartbooi, exhorted the incoming team to ensure that the organization was professionally run, financially sound and fully committed to the task at hand.  In answer to a question, he explained that the board had opted not to attempt to fill the vacancy arising from Debra Barnes’ resignation as Race Director in the short term but have asked past board member, Hilton Kearns, to act as interim project manager and lead the team through next year’s event.

The 2022 Two Oceans Marathon disbursed funds to the value of R422 000 to six charities under the Two Oceans Marathon Initiative, namely Mamelani Projects, The Homestead, Resource & Education Awareness for Life, Khluleka Grief Support, The LifeMatters Foundation and Sakhisziwe Youth Development Programme.