GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - On Sunday morning, 19 August, the annual Medihelp Nelson Mandela Bay Train Race, kicked off at 09:00 at the historic Port Elizabeth Railway Station, ending at 13:00 at the Uitenhage Railway Station.

With a record-breaking 223 teams taking part this year, it was the train that crossed the line first in a time of 1 hour and 46 minutes, just three minutes ahead of the first running team.

Among the teams who took on the challenge to try and beat a Metrorail train over 38km, was a team of Graaff-Reinetters - aptly named the Graaff-Reinet Ladies - that consisted of Marijke Beukes, Suliza van Wyk, Ernsl Conradie, Elise Steynberg, Malinda Piek and Carissa Marais.

The team was comprised of five runners and one mountain bike cyclist.

Marijke Beukes started the race for the team to complete the first 5km, after which Suliza van Wyk took on the second 3.5km run, Ernsl Conradie-Venter then completed a 4.5km run, followed by Elise Steynberg on her mountain for 12.5km of the race, Malinda Piek then took on the second-last leg of 5km, after which Carissa Marais completed the last 6.5km of the race.

The team crossed the finish line in a time of 3 hours and ...

The team was well supported along the route with over 100 volunteers lining the route and hundreds of locals coming out in support of the race as it passed through Port Elizabeth, Swartkops, Azalea Park, Despatch and Uitenhage.

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