This is the 11th year that the OCC gives these dedicated athletes free rein of the city's two main streets for a few hours, but the 2013 race was almost cancelled when race founder and coordinator, Esther Watson took ill.
Luckily Georgians banded together to make it happen and Saturday proved to be an outstanding event. Hundreds of volunteers pitched up to push the wheelchairs, among them TV celebrity Heino Schmidt (Altus de Bruyn in 7de Laan), former Springbok rugby player, Bevan Fortuin, George Mayor Charles Standers and George Airport Manager Brenda Vorster.
The race brought together people from as far afield as Upington and Kwazulu-Natal, as well as international athletes from Zimbabwe, Scotland and Austria, People of all ages could be seen.
According to Ansie Swart, race co-ordinator, over 1 000 people volunteered in some way or another to make the race possible. A very thin, but brave Esther Watson, who is recovering from a bone marrow transplant, was also there to fire the starting shots for the different races. The start and finish was at the Mountview Resort in York Street and the route took competitors through York and Courtenay streets that were closed for traffic.
South African champion, Ernst van Dyk from Maties Helderberg Club and Andries Scheepers from Rustenburg ended neck in neck in the 42,4 km hand cycle division and although both recorded a time of 1:09:33, Van Dyk's wheel was ahead of that of Scheepers. Stuart McCreadie followed in third place in a time of 1:09:34.
Eden's own star athlete, Gerrit Hendricks (Oudtshoorn) got his coveted first place in the 42 km racing chair division in a time of 1:56:17, riding a brand-new chair sponsored by Acsa.
Hilary Lewis was the first woman in the 42,2 km hand cycle (paraplegic division) in 01:58:39. This race was the first leg of the Tour de Kaap in which she will cover a total distance of 516 km.
Justine Asher from Maties Helderberg was the first woman in the 42,2 km hand cycle quadriplegic division in a time of 02:11:55.
In the half marathon Peter West from Bloemfontein took the honours in a time of 47:48 with Tony Williams (Cape Town) second in 57:37 and Johannes Botha (George) third in 103:03.
Organisation 'top class'
Don Oliver (78), a Capetonian who competed for the first time (in the half marathon), was a road runner for 20 years and has 19 Comrades and 18 Two Oceans races behind him.
He took up wheelchair racing after his legs were amputated about a year ago. His comments sum up many a competitor's sentiment, "I ran many big races as a road runner, but I must tell you that the organisation for us wheelchair athletes on Saturday morning in George was absolutely top class. What a pleasure to have the road to ourselves and protected by the traffic officers and marshals. The support from sponsors and the local community as competitors or supporters was heart warming to see. I hope I will be able to be in George again next year."
Swart, who took over the reins from Watson as co-ordinator of this year's OCC, was well pleased. "I am excited with how it all went and am thankful for the amazing assistance of all the wonderful volunteers and the Rotarians, as well as for the generosity of our sponsors. It was extremely hard work, but seeing all the participants together and how they enjoy it, is just such a reward."
View more photos here.
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TV celebrity Heino Schmidt was a true star and always ready to smile for the camera during the race and other proceedings. He pushed Jerobeam (Biempie) Meyer (8) of Optima, Pacaltsdorp. His dad, Warren ran along for the first few metres.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
