Buffalo Sports Club, East London, SA

Monday, 06 September 2010

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Susan Hurter

Subject: Re: Buffalo Club - CHAIRMAN'S CHIRP - 23/07/2008

Good day to all members of the chairmanship of the Buffalo Club.

With Washie behind us together with memories of which are not worth

remembering but most of them memories that I will certainly not forget

namely that I stood up and finish the race.

A lot of discomfort was caused by the media and that is the only thing that I personaly regret.
I would like to clean the air from my side.

Neither me nor my helpers talked to the media as the news somehow started to

spread, even while I was busy with my race. The first media report on the

internet , local newspapers and the beeld was done without any interview

with myself but with fellow runners . (I dont think it is necessary to

mention any names) For the sake of my parents and daugter at home I chosed

not to make this incident public but unfortunately it didnt happen that

way. My very first conversation with the media was with P.T.A News on the 24

th of July with the heading "I wish the winner could make the headlines and that

she is the one who should be on page one of every newspaper." I also made it

clear that I want the media to put this issiue at rest as I am trying to go

forward with help of a councellor. Personally I feel that I did everything

that I could to be safe as my helpers were never more than 200m from me and

at the time of the incident they were just more than 100 meters from me. I

felt all the time that we were moving outside the rule of helpers must wait

5km ahead of the athlete. Last year I was nearly disqualified from Golden Reef

because my helpers were driving 100 meter behind me. I really enjoyed myself

on the run and was prepared with my teargass on my belt but coming to the

point when I needed it, I didn't even remember that I had it with me.

Shortly I want to say that I dont want to link this incident to the Washie

or the organisation of the race but rather the bad times that we are living

in this country. Unfortuanately I lost a lot of confidence now and is working

very hard to get back in my shoes for one simple reason and that is that I

love running the long distances and would like to be back at the 100 milers

as soon as possable. With that I would like the rules to be altered so that

seconds are allowed to be next to the athlete, as it is very difficult to

find runners who are prepared to run with one this distance.

I wish you all the best with your arrangements for the next Washie 2009.

Regards

Susan Hurter

Apologies for my English (I am so Afrikaans and this was my very best

English)

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Comments (2)

	1. 04-08-2008 15:54
	Susan, Baie dankie vir U e-pos. Dit is wonderlik om van U te hoor. Ons hier by Buffs hoop alles gaan vorentoe met die familie. Dit is altyd so dat die pers krap vir die onplesurigheid in die lewe en amper nooit die sukses van n mens, of die goeie dinge wat gebeur. Daily Dispatch het my weer vandag gepla oor die ongelukkige gebeurtenis en gevra wat se planne ons gaan in bring vir volgende jaar. Dit is ongelukkig dat jou span 'seconds' nie geweet dat by Washie hulle wel langs die drawer mag ry en dat ons dit eintlik verkies. Volgende jaar gaan ons 'n span stig wat saam met julle meisies kan draf as julle dit wil he. Mag God U en U familie seen, en mag U baie kilos van gelukkige wedlope draf. Met baie liefde wense Ons hier by Buffs Drawers Oos Londen Guest

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	2. 04-08-2008 15:51
	Hi Susan, I am the French Guy who ran with you in the begining of the race. Don't let this incident worry you, it is behind now and is not going to reoccur. Feel free to put in a word for me if you can. All the best. Gérald Guest