Hope Fountain race on

Sport
THE Rotary Club of Belmont has confirmed sponsorship for this year’s Hope Fountain 30km race to be held on November 9, making a comeback after the 2013 edition of the competition was cancelled due to financial constraints.

THE Rotary Club of Belmont has confirmed sponsorship for this year’s Hope Fountain 30km race to be held on November 9, making a comeback after the 2013 edition of the competition was cancelled due to financial constraints. SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER

Athletes from Bulawayo and hinterland around usually participate in the race sponsored by the Rotary Club of Belmont. Bulawayo Athletics Board secretary Dailes Bingadadi confirmed the competition was back this year.

“We failed to hold the Hope Fountain race last year. But we are happy that the sponsors are back on board this year,” he said.

“We had a meeting with them on Monday where they confirmed that they would sponsor this year’s tournament. However, they are yet to finalise the prize monies for this year’s competition, since it was our first meeting.”

Last year, athletes were dealt a heavy blow when the race which is one of the major events in Bulawayo athletics calendar, was cancelled.

Top Zimbabwe athletes Sharon Tavengwa and George Majaji won the last edition of the race in the women and men’s categories respectively.

Both athletes walked away $500 richer in the race which was sponsored to the tune of $7 120.

Tavengwa came home in a time of one hour 57,25sec beating the time of two hours 6,12sec that was set by Muchaneta Gwata in 2011.

Majaji was first in a time of one hour 35,34sec and beat the time set by 2011 winner Nkosiyazi Sibanda of Blanket Mine who clocked one hour 36,55sec.

Meanwhile, the second edition of the Joshua Mqabuko half-marathon will be held on December 22.

The half-marathon was initially pencilled for June 29, but was postponed because it coincided with the Econet Victoria Falls marathon.