Every October, a very challenging 15 km running race takes place up the Platberg ('flat mountain') in Harrismith (Free State, South Africa). The arguably 'toughest in the world' route climbs approximately 600 metres in five kilometres to the summit of Platberg (2377m / 7799ft). This race is the oldest in South Africa, older even than the Comrades Marathon.
Harrismith was a significant military town during the Anglo-Boer War (which officially ended shortly after 23:00 on 31 May 1902 in Pretoria with the signing of the Treaty of Peace by both sides). Two recreational activities, namely golf and the Mountain Race, have direct connections with the Anglo-Boer War. During the war the officers of the garrison were enthusiastic golfers and left several floating trophies to commemorate their sojourn. The Mountain Race has an interesting origin.
Further details about the history of Harrismith have been written about
by The South African Military History Society in the Military History Journal,
Vol.8 No.2, "HARRISMITH: A Military Town During the Anglo-Boer War, and
After: Part II", by SA Watt.
http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol082sw.html
The Mountain Race originated in 1922 when a British soldier, Major AE Belcher, returned to Harrismith where he had been stationed near 42nd Hill during the war. He was referring to Platberg as 'that small hill of yours', and one of the locals immediately bet him that he could not reach the top (591 metres above the town) in less than 60 minutes. The major accepted the challenge and covered the distance with eight minutes to spare. Afterwards, Major Belcher presented a floating trophy as a prize, and in 1927 the Belcher Cup was awarded to the first athlete to reach the summit of the Platberg. The record time today is 22 minutes and 9 seconds.
The race was traditionally run on 10 October for many years, as this was a public holiday until 1994 when a new schedule of holidays was initiated after the first democratic elections in South Africa. From 1994 onwards, the race has been run on a Saturday early in October.
In 2002 the organising club (Harrismith Marathon Club) staged the race for the 80th time.
The race used to be 12.3 km in length, but the route was expanded to a distance of 15 km from 1996.
Course Records:
Men: Michael Miya 01:03:08 (2000)
Women: Ntebaleng Letsela 01:23:11 (2016)
The race starts from the town's sports grounds, and the route is up the slopes of Platberg passing through the terrain where the concentration camp (second site) once stood. The top is reached via One Man's Pass, close to which a fort, built during the Anglo-Boer War, is to be seen. After traversing a short distance along the top, the descent is made via Zig-Zag Pass, and the race is completed at the sports grounds.
This race is tough! Wally Hayward said, "Never again. It's the toughest
obstacle in the whole world!"
http://www.runnersguide.co.za/RacesInSA/Details.aspx?RaceNo=1500007723
You run the first 3km in town, and from there it's a gruelling climb up the slopes of the Platberg. Stock up well at the first watering point, for it is a tough climb to the next water table at "Bloekombome" at the base of One-Man Pass. If you are in the hunt for a silver medal don't get caught behind the slower runners here, as there is very little chance of overtaking until you reach the top of the Platberg. There is a watering point here, and the time is called out. Two and a half kilometres along the top and you come to the knee jerking, quadriceps ripping downhill run. Be careful! With 2km to go, the race returns to the tar road. Your legs will take a beating, but there is great crowd support. You are given very clear directions throughout the route and the golden rule is: "Follow the white stones". After you leave the town you run on a footpath. At the top of the mountain there is a control point where times for the first male and female are taken. It is certainly a race where you must take the first half slower than the second.
The Harrismith Mountain Race is noteworthy for its sometimes extreme
weather conditions. For example, on 6 October 2007, Harrismith apparently
(according to one of the race organisers) had 120 mm of rain over the
24 hours prior to the race. Conditions were very wet and muddy. There
was a cloudburst just before the race.
http://www.runnersworld.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9388
The race currently begins at 10h00 at Platberg Stadium, Harrismith. You can pre-enter up to about three weeks before the race. You can also enter at the start, at a premium. Walkers are welcome. The first three men and women win gold medals (as do the first finishers in the junior, veteran, masters, and grandmasters age categories); those who complete the course in less than 1h40 win silver and all who finish within the cut-off of 3h30 get bronze medals. There is a cut-off at Bloekombos at 1h15.
Official website: www.harrismithmarathonclub.co.za
E-mail: harrismithmk@gmail.com
Phone enquiries: 084-570-2544 (Harrismith Marathon Club)
An interesting item of running trivia:
The most wins within a single race series is 16 by three different runners;
Michael McLeod (ENG) at the Saltwell Harriers (ENG) 10 km,
Jim Pearson (USA) at the Birch Bay (WA/USA) Marathon,
and Michael McDermott (RSA) at the Harrismith Mountain Race (RSA) 15 km.
The most consecutive wins within a single race series is 16 by McLeod
and McDermott.
http://www.arrs.net/Trivia.htm
Table of race winners:
Originally based on
http://www.arrs.net/HP_Harris15.htm
Harrismith Mountain Race 15 km
Harrismith RSA
Race Winners
(95 runnings)
15 Oct
2016
1:09:26
1:23:11
17 Oct
2015
1:10:07
1:31:11
11 Oct
2014
1:09:10
1:39:36
12 Oct
2013
1:10:44
1:27:21
13 Oct
2012
1:18:45
1:31:33
08 Oct
2011
1:xx:xx
1:xx:xx
09 Oct
2010
1:xx:xx
1:xx:xx
03 Oct
2009
1:xx:xx
1:24:55
04 Oct
2008
1:xx:xx
1:xx:xx
06 Oct
2007
1:xx:xx
1:xx:xx
07 Oct
2006
1:xx:xx
1:xx:xx
01 Oct
2005
1:09:58
1:35:05
02 Oct
2004
1:05:53
1:33:29
04 Oct
2003
1:05:02
1:32:36
05 Oct
2002
1:03:35
1:27:33
06 Oct
2001
1:03:41
1:35:01
07 Oct
2000
1:03:08
1:30:49
1999
1:05:49
1:35:08
10 Oct
1998
1:04:06
1:34:29
1997
1:06:21
1:31:06
1996
1:05:05
1:34:28
1995
n/a
---
08 Oct
1994
55:53
1:22:08
1993
n/a
1:29:49
1992
n/a
---
1991
n/a
---
1990
n/a
---
1989
n/a
---
1988
53:59
---
1987
56:38
---
1986
54:25
---
1985
50:30
---
1984
52:45
---
1983
53:45
---
1982
54:54
---
1981
54:56
---
1980
54:29
---
1979
54:11
1978
55:28
1977
55:30
1976
56:15
1975
55:56
1974
57:10
1973
57:48
1972
58:13
1971
59:15
1970
57:47
1969
1:00:05
1968
57:52
1967
56:13
1966
58:05
1965
56:57
1964
1:01:33
1963
1:02:08
1962
58:07
1961
59:41
1960
1:01:36
1959
1:04:54
1958
1:00:55
1957
1:00:33
1956
1:01:20
1955
1:00:22
1954
1:02:13
1953
1:03:24
1952
1:05:29
1951
1:04:16
1950
1:01:44
1949
1:04:55
1948
1:04:48
1947
1:05:56
Notes: 1922 was the inaugural year. The race distance before 1996 was 12.3 km. The course climbs from 1645 m to
2236 m in the first 5 km to the top of Platberg ("Flat Mountain"), a gain of 591 m.
Sootho Raletebele
Ntebaleng Letsela
Buti Mokoena
Janse Grundling
Lucky Miya
Sunelle Coetzee
George Tshabalala
E Kutuloane
Martin Yeye
Myrette Filmalter
?
?
?
?
?
Myrette Filmalter
?
?
?
?
?
?
Jacob Malakoane
Maleme Makhamele-3
Sebetso Retere
Maleme Makhamele-2
Michael Miya-5
Madri Blom
Pule Rasebakoa
Maleme Makhamele
Michael Miya-4
Marietjie McDermott-3
Michael Miya-3
Marietjie McDermott-2
Michael Miya-2
Marietjie McDermott
Michael Miya
Anneke Hechter
Michael McDermott-16
Katie Ismael
Michael McDermott-15
Chantal Butcher
Michael McDermott-14
n/a
Michael McDermott-13
Liz Mulder
Michael McDermott-12
Heather Young
Michael McDermott-11
n/a
Michael McDermott-10
n/a
Michael McDermott-9
n/a
Michael McDermott-8
n/a
Michael McDermott-7
n/a
Michael McDermott-6
n/a
Michael McDermott-5
n/a
Michael McDermott-4
n/a
Michael McDermott-3
n/a
Michael McDermott-2
n/a
Michael McDermott
n/a
A B Annandale
n/a
Robert vanderMerwe-3
n/a
Robert vanderMerwe-2
Mark Cookson
Errol Green
Johan Daffue
Robert vanderMerwe
Victor Liebenberg
Derick Marcisz
Andrew Marsay
C vanStraaten
D Edwards
Johnny Halberstadt
Koos Keyser-5
Koos Keyser-4
Koos Keyser-3
Koos Keyser-2
Koos Keyser
B Rens-2
F vanderHeuwel-2
F vanderHeuwel
Cyril Bentall
A Beadle-2
A Beadle
B Rens
J Volschenk-2
J Volschenk
M Luyt
J Barnard
Wally Hayward
M Kriel
B Keith
J Gordon-2
J Gordon
Sydney Luyt
Most Wins
(1922/date)
Men
16
Michael McDermott
1982-97
Women
3
Marietjie McDermott
1999-2001
.
Maleme Makhamele
2002,2004-05
Entry Form for Harrismith Mountain Race, 15 October 2016 (Starting time 10:00am)
Entry Form for Harrismith Mountain Race, 17 October 2015
Entry Form for Harrismith Mountain Race, 11 October 2014
Entry Form for Harrismith Mountain Race, 12 October 2013
Entry Form for Harrismith Mountain Race, 13 October 2012
Entry Form for Harrismith Mountain Race, 8 October 2011
Entry Form for Harrismith Mountain Race, 9 October 2010
Entry Form for Harrismith Mountain Race, 4 October 2008
Results for Harrismith Mountain Race, 15 October 2016
Results for Harrismith Mountain Race, 17 October 2015
Results for Harrismith Mountain Race, 11 October 2014
Results for Harrismith Mountain Race, 12 October 2013
Results for Harrismith Mountain Race, 13 October 2012