Aches & Pains
Celebration Evening 2026
Celebrating Achievement • Sharing Stories • Honouring the Journey
Every year, the KMC Family gathers for one of the club’s most special traditions —
the Aches & Pains Comrades Celebration and Awards Evening.
Following the incredible journey of the 99th Comrades Marathon, club members, supporters, family and friends came together once again to celebrate the achievements of our Comrades athletes, share stories from race day, and enjoy an evening filled with laughter, camaraderie and gratitude. The evening reminded us that every Comrades journey is unique.
Whether an athlete crossed the finish line in record time or battled courageously until the final cutoff, every runner who stood on that start line was already a champion.
KMC at Comrades 2026
Klerksdorp Marathon Club proudly had 54 official entries for Comrades 2026.
49 KMC athletes proudly stood on the start line in Durban.
45 athletes crossed the finish line in Pietermaritzburg before the cutoff.
Among our finishers were 14 ladies and 31 men.
The club proudly brought home:
3
Silver Medals
9
Bill Rowan Medals
8
Robert Mtshali Medals
14
Bronze Medals
11
Vic Clapham Medals
KMC Comrades Awards 2026
First Man
Owageng Pelesa
Time: 06:39:54
First Lady
Venessa Lottering
Time: 08:29:57
First Grand Master Man
Andre Lubbe
Time: 11:26:20
First Grand Master Lady
Maryke (Rykie) van Niekerk
Time: 09:54:59
First Veteran Man
Diketso Johannes Radebe
Time: 06:40:58
Athlete of the Race
Viandra van Schalkwyk
Time: 09:52:11
1hr 45 faster than 2025!
First Novice
Danie Janse van Vuuren
Time: 08:31:21
First Couple Home
Johannes & Annelindie Potgieter
Finishing together and earning well-deserved Robert Mtshali medals.
Time: 09:53:22 | Total Time: 19:06:44
More Than Just a Race
A special word of thanks was extended to the incredible support team Robin, Janet, Hein, Hester, Hennie, Johannie and Motsomai who manned the KMC support tent at the 60 km mark. A welcome sight and lifeline for many athletes during the toughest stages of the race.
The club also expressed its sincere appreciation to the families, supporters and volunteers who travelled, cheered, encouraged and sacrificed alongside our runners throughout the season.
As was so fittingly said during the evening:
“Without your support, finishing this epic race would have been so much more difficult.”
