Nick Bester Archives - The Running Mann

31st August 202631st August 2026

The Real Reason City to City was Cancelled: Greed & Incompetence

Executive Summary: AGN and CGA announced the cancellation of the 2026 City to City Marathon due to lack of sponsorship. However, Plus27 Events attempted to rescue the race by proposing to take on the full financial and operational risk, offering AGN and CGA either 20% of proceeds or a guaranteed R300,000 fee, plus their normal levies and broadcast rights.

Provincial officials delayed meetings, failed to respond timeously, arrived unprepared and eventually countered with an unrealistic demand for R600,000 plus 10% of sponsorship revenue on top of 20% of the proceeds. Two weeks later, AGN and CGA tried to accept Plus27’s original offer, but by this time it was too late to organise the 2026 race safely and professionally, leaving cancellation as the only viable outcome.

On 17 August, a joint statement from Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) and Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) announced that the City to City Ultra Marathon, Gauteng’s premier ultra, was cancelled for 2026. The official word from AGN and CGA was that this was due to a “lack of sponsorship”. However, I have received documentation that the real reason is the usual greed and incompetence from athletics administrators.

30th July 202630th July 2026

Khonkhobe gets his prize money after illegal DQ (still waiting for promised apology from AGW)

Onnalenna Khonkhobe was illegally disqualified at the KHS Founders Half Marathon in Kimberly on 16 May and lost out on the first prize of R15,500. Khonkhobe had forgotten his ASA license number at home and therefore bought and ran in a temporary license. This is perfectly legal – in fact this is why temporary licenses were originally created and is explicitly allowed in the ASA rulebook.

24th May 202624th May 2026

Khonkhobe Incorrectly Disqualified by AGW Referee: AGW refuse to reinstate him as race winner despite admitting mistake

These days it seems that provincial athletics unions are trying to outdo each other in idiocy. Athletics Griqualand West (AGW) take the early lead for Mampara of the Month Award by incorrectly disqualifying KHS Founders Half Marathon winner Onnalenna Khonkhobe, admitting that their senior race referee does not know the rules but refusing to rectify the situation and reinstate him as the race winner.

Onnalenna Khonkhobe is hot property in running circles. He is a rare and unique talent and has a personality that writes its own headlines. Most races would fight to have his winning smile on their start line and would relish the PR possibilities when Khonkhobe crosses their finish line in first position.

Onnalenna Khonkhobe wins the 2024 edition of the Two Oceans ultra marathon (photo Two Oceans Marathon).

PR possibilities are few and far between in Kimberley, one of the smallest running communities in South Africa. Just 1% of the Comrades field (fewer than 200 entrants) hail from the Northern Cape. But on 16 May 2026, there was Onnalenna Khonkhobe at the start line of the little-known KHS Founders Half Marathon. Just over an hour later, Khonkhobe arrived at the school fields for a comfortable 1:04:13 victory. And yet if you look at the official results you’ll see that the ‘winner’ came in well over a minute later – Ambitious Masihleho in 1:05:37.

23rd April 2026

Karin-Mari scores a sponsor (silver linings over silver medals)

I have some great news to share. There is indeed a silver lining to the BrahGate saga: This morning Karin-Mari Dötze, the 10^th placed lady at this year’s Two Oceans half marathon, officially signed with Nedbank and became a sponsored athlete.

4th September 20249th September 2024

PRESS RELEASE: CMA ‘supergroup’ to engage with the interim Comrades Board

After a series of legal letters and communiques from a diverse group of concerned Comrades stakeholders (including former winners, CMA Board members and Comrades legends), we are pleased to report two major developments:

1. The interim CMA Board has officially withdrawn its opposition to the High Court case due to be heard on 23 October. The case is a result of the urgent High Court interdict that allowed non-KZN residents to speak and vote at the Special General Meeting (SGM) in August after KZNA issued a ‘locals only’ edict for the first time in the CMA’s 43 year history. This is expected to save Comrades over R1 million.

2nd July 20193rd July 2019

Comrades 2019: Mens Elite Field (All the Stats)

The 94th Comrades Marathon and 48th Up Run was held on 9 June 2019. This is a stat by stat account of the Men’s Elite section of the race – with a few anecdotal interludes thrown in to break the statistical monotony.

The Gold Standard

The race starts at a fast pace but everyone (other than a few naïve television commentators) knows that the first half of the Up Run is for the television cameras, the second half is where the medals are earned. Continue reading “Comrades 2019: Mens Elite Field (All the Stats)”