VITALRUN on LOURENSFORD WINE ESTATE
It is with regret that we wish to confirm that the Vitalrun organised by Run/Walk For Life Athletic Club will as from this year, not be taking place as scheduled for 7 December 2014 as indicated on the Racing calendar. The reason being, that the Land owners of Lourensford Wine Estate and home of the Vitalrun, took a Management decision at the end of last year to refrain from any further Running / cycling events on their land. The Cape Epic being an exception due to international contractual obligations.
In follow-up negotiations with our sponsor, Vital Health Foods (VHF), we looked at alternative options/venues in the Helderberg to comply with Sponsors requirements – being: firstly Race attendance with larger numbers, secondly a special scenic character and thirdly a WPA Accredited Event. Unfortunately alternatives within these parameters could not be found.
Since we could not find an appropriate venue and route to meet these requirements, we stood the risk of loosing the sponsors’ support to Road running. In subsequent negotiations with another club - Helderberg Harriers, this sponsorship has now been secured for the Winelands Marathon. The Winelands - being a well established Race which complied to all the requirements VHF needed.
One additional request from the Sponsor was to add a 10km event on the day. Run/Walk For Life – Somerset West has agreed to assist HH in the organising of such for this year. This will enable the Winelands to grow its participant base and become an even bigger and invaluable multi-race landmark on the WPA Road running calendar.
The Vitalrun which was presented on the Lourensford Wine Estate for the last four years was a unique Race as a hybrid between Road running and Trail running and only went from strength to strength. It was a huge disappointment to us as a Club when we were first informed of the policy decision by Lourensford Wine estate and regrettably we realize that this will leave a gap within this years’ racing events.
It has been a great and very special journey to Run/Walk For Life and our Race organising committee being involved for the last 10 years in organising our Race. We would like to believe that the Event contributed towards the sport of Running and Walking as a whole in the Western Province.
May we take this opportunity to thank Western Province Athletics for your invaluable support. It has always been a pleasure to work with you. We would like to express a big thank you to the Western Province Athletic Club Office, with whom it has always been equally a pleasure to work with.
We hope to be assisting Helderberg Harriers to make the Winelands a great running Event for all.
Kind regards
Marié