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2025 Race Report
This was the 23rd edition of the Georges Willis Memorial Breezathon, in our 25th year (2 events were skipped during Covid). The past few weeks had seen hectic summer southerly winds blowing pretty much non-stop, so it was a pleasant surprise that we awoke to a calm lagoon with only a mild breeze, perfect conditions for the 57 competitors in this year’s event. The new start on the beach was used again and after a few hiccups of missing surfskis etc we got underway at 7am sharp. The racing snakes were quickly into their skis, some not so smoothly and enjoyed an early swim to wake them up. The route was again up to the Yacht Club and around a catamaran in the bay. After a good start by Kino Meintjes, Rob Meintjes took the lead, a bunch developed behind him, consisting of David Warmerdam (from Team Caryn’s Boys), Adrian Ceruti and newcomer, Pat van Schoor. This order remained throughout the paddle leg, although Rob was very nearly pipped by David in the final run up the beach to the transition area. Thankfully the timekeepers, his wife and daughter, got excited at this prospect, thus alerting Rob to David’s late charge. Leading lady was Team Geromont’s Helena Geromont, followed by Hayley Ceruti and Cajsa Meintjes.
David handed over to teammate Greg Labuscagne, who was first cyclist out of transition. Rob was next out with a small lead over Pat, he held the lead for the 1st lap of the cycle but was caught and overtaken by Pat going up the Mamba towards Shark Bay, the lead then changed hands again several times as they diced for the advantage of getting onto the narrow gravel section 1st. Pat won this mini duel and proceeded to carve out a small gap heading into T2.
In the ladies’ race, first-timer Inge Buxton came in almost 6 minutes behind her rivals in the paddle leg but made good inroads in the cycle. Coming into T2, Alison Lindley held a lead of over 1 minute over 2nd placed Nikita Meintjes, 2 minutes over 3rd placed Linda Burger and 3 minutes over Inge.
The team situation had also seen lead changes with Chistina Geromont putting in a storming charge, despite having a nasty fall at the Parks Board gate turnaround point. She overtook Greg and put Team Geromont at the front, while setting the fastest ladies cycle time in the event’s history. West Coast Warriors were lying 3rd at this stage.
Rob managed to eke out a few seconds over Pat in T2 and set off on the run leg with a slender lead. He was able to maintain this throughout the run leg and came home in a new course record time of 1:16:35. Pat also broke the previous course record, finishing 2nd, less than a minute behind. Kino put in a strong cycle and run to take the final spot on the men’s podium while also recording his course PB of 1:19:10. Richard Webster, another newcomer to the event and a notably accomplished runner, recorded the fastest male run leg on the day.
Inge meanwhile set about chipping away at her deficit in the ladies’ race and managed to haul in all her rivals with a very strong run, she eventually won by just less than 2 minutes and also recorded the fastest ladies run leg on the day. Alison held on for 2nd place, in her debut as an individual, having competed in teams in the past and Nikita took the 3rd step on the ladies’ podium.
A solid run leg from Nikolaus Geremont capped a fine performance from the family team. They managed to win the team event by just over a minute from a fast-charging Naison Murega which saw Caryn’s Boys finishing 2nd. Team Dihanti’s runner, Isabella Hart, put in a strong run and rounded off the work done by their paddler, Angus Nel and cyclist, Karina Stowick, to pip her husband’s team, West Coast Warriors, to the last spot on the team podium.
Winners of the Youngest Competitor award were twins Dian (cycle leg) and Xander Chu (run leg) at age 13.
The Golden Girls (Lynne Pearson, Jill Arbuthnot & Elsa Berry) maintained their winning streak in the Oldest Team category, showing that, with 225 years of experience, they are still a force to be reckoned with.
The Vasbyt award was given to Teams Geelstert and Happy Feet who managed to get their very young kids and babies around most of the route via cycling carriages and running prams and had great fun and lots of spirit while doing so, great to see!
Huge thanks to Jacques Germishuizen from Langebaan Spar for his continued sponsorship of the much enjoyed boerie rolls at the prize-giving. Also big thanks to Angus Nel, Dihanti Hardware, for sponsoring the tie-downs and chain cleaners that went down well at the lucky draw. Angus also stepped up as braai master, cooking the boerewors to perfection, thanks Angus. Thanks also to Ivan and Gail van Niekerk for the venue and serving cold Coke and water to the thirsty runners at the turn point. Then a huge thanks to Caryn and Sam for their sterling work in keeping accurate times for us all. Thanks also to Louw Nel from Peninsula beverages for sponsoring the Cokes and to Hugo & Elmien of Daisy Branding for working closely with us to produce the branded peaks that were awarded to all finishers.
See you in 2026 for the 24th event!
23rd BREEZATHON – SUN 7 DEC 2025
| The 23rd Georges Willis Memorial Breezathon will be taking place on Sunday 7 December 2025. 1. WHERE : Start/Finish/Transition Area – 3 Smith Street, Langebaan 2. DATE : SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER 2025 3. TIME : 6.00am Check-in, 6.50am Race brief, 7.00am START 4. REGISTRATION: 5.00pm – 6.00pm @ Smith Street on Sat 6 Dec 5. ENTRY FEES: R140 for Individuals, R280 for Teams 6. ENTRY CATEGORIES: Individual – Do all 3 legs yourself Team of 3 – Each member does 1 leg Team of 2 – 1 member does 2 legs, the other does 1 leg Tandem Team – Both members paddle on a double surfski/kayak, then both run & cycle together Prize Giving and boerewors rolls will follow after the race at the race venue Coke and water will be provided on the run leg Please bring own liquid refreshments for after the event Lifejackets/PFD’s are compulsory for the paddle leg AND Helmets are compulsory for the cycle leg! Leg 1: 3km paddle – Flyover and Map of Paddle Leg Due to the recent seal attacks in the lagoon, we will not be paddling the traditional route around Schaapen Island. Instead we will paddle a 3km route parallel to the coastline, heading south towards the Langebaan Yacht Club, we will turn around a moored yacht in Sandbaai, near the yacht club jetties and return to where we started. In the event of extremely adverse weather conditions the paddle leg may be cancelled altogether. Leg 2: 17km Cycle – Flyover and Map of Cycle Leg The bike route will be exactly the same as the last few years, we will cycle a 2-lap route going out on the tar over the “Mamba” to the Park Gate where we will turn and come back either on the gravel “White Road” in front of The Farmhouse, if you are on a MTB, or on the tar back up the “Mamba” if you are on a road bike (or take your chances on the gravel), then back to the start/finish and then set-off for your identical 2nd lap. E-Bikes are welcome, you will be placed after the last finisher using a traditional bike in your category, please indicate on your entry form if your cyclist will be using an e-bike. Leg 3: 5km run – Flyover and Map of Run Leg Run leg will be the usual 1 lap route to the turnpoint on the “White Road” where a refreshment table awaits you, then sprint/jog/walk back to the Smith Street finish. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday 7 December! Enquiries: Rob Meintjes: lagoonlife@gmail.com, 083-635 2557 |