Riverside Reserve parkrun

On Sunday the 23rd of August Riverside Reserve celebrate their 1st anniversary.

Congratulations and thank you to Stephen, Quinton, Rod, Mike and Mariska and the rest of the team for making the event possible every weekend.

📸 A spontaneous little shout-out to Mara! 💕

Thank you so much for capturing these beautiful moments at Riverside Reserve parkrun! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️📸

While we’re busy running, walking, chatting and trying to look like we’re enjoying the hills 😂… you’re there behind the camera catching all the smiles, high-fives and special moments!

We appreciate you more than you know! 🥰

Thank you, Mara, for helping us remember the magic of Saturday mornings! 💚🌿📸

🌿🏃‍♀️ RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN #52 — WHAT A MORNING! 🏃‍♂️🌿

157 finishers. 28 PBs. 9 first timers. 9 incredible volunteers. 💚💗

And plenty of smiles, sweat and “I’m never doing this again… see you next Saturday!” 😂

A HUGE Riverside Reserve shout-out to everyone who made #52 another brilliant parkrun!

🌟 WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST FINISH!

Congratulations to our first finishers:

🏃‍♂️ Wiehann Mohlen — 21:19
🏃‍♀️ Mieke Moolman — 25:41

And welcome to our 9 first timers! We’re so happy you found us! 🌱

🍃 FIRST TIMERS AT PARKRUN

A special welcome to:
Grietjie Van Zijl & Nyasha Muzemba 🎉

🔥 28 PERSONAL BESTS! 🔥

The PB bell was working overtime! 🔔👏

Congratulations to:

Mieke Moolman, Sven Ruthven, Anashe Goronga, Yolandi Stander, Mazi Scibbe, Aiden Bates, Brandon Piner, Christi Jackson, Khanya Khoza, Danielle Russell, Cherie Mukendi, Christine Camper, Henning Venter, Mukendi Kabuya, Charlene Vorster, Jennifer Smith, Pamela Zita, Kevin Pather, Steyn Jurie, Julie Brand, Abigail Botha, Jeanette Oberholzer, Liv Scorgie, Gomolemo Maunye, Lisa Venter, Willie Bester, Lizanne Roos & Thandolwethu Carol Cele! 🎉🏅

🏆 PARKRUN MILESTONES

👏 10: Jennifer Smith
👏 25: Gys Van Der Merwe, Kirabo Gumede & Thandolwethu Carol Cele
👏 100: Marlyn Beukes

Keep collecting those little milestone shirts! 👕💚

🙌 VOLUNTEER MILESTONES

Congratulations to our unofficial volunteer milestones:

🌱 First volunteer: Renusha Naidoo
⭐ 10 volunteer credits: Sanjay Singh

And our volunteer legends with the most credits:

🥇 Jane Mackinnon — 114
🥈 Mike Baynes — 107
🥉 Johan Van Putten — 101

💗 OUR AMAZING #52 VOLUNTEERS 💗

This event simply doesn't happen without you!

👏 Mike Baynes
👏 Jane Mackinnon
👏 Paul Overgoor
👏 Heleen Horne
👏 Sanjay Singh
👏 Henning Venter
👏 Nazia Adam-Kabir
👏 Renusha Naidoo
👏 Mara Strydom

You gave up your Saturday morning so everyone else could run, walk, jog, volunteer, cheer and occasionally question their life choices on the hills. 😂❤️

📊 RIVERSIDE RESERVE SINCE 23 AUGUST 2025

We’ve now had:

🏃 2,149 participants complete
🏃‍♀️ 10,682 parkruns
👟 53,410 km covered
🌟 1,768 personal bests
🙌 184 individuals have volunteered
💗 565 volunteer credits
📈 Average attendance: 205 participants

That is a LOT of kilometres, PBs, friendships, muddy shoes and Saturday-morning memories! 🥹💚

Thank you, Riverside Reserve family, for continuing to show up and make this little parkrun something special.

Same place. Same Saturday magic. See you at the start line! 🌿🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

📸💜 **RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN #51 — THE CAMERA SAW EVERYTHING! 😂**

The running.
The walking.
The smiling.
The suffering.
The *“I definitely look faster than I feel”* moments. 😜

Our Event #51 photo album is here! 📸🎉

From the first nervous steps to the final sprint, there were **176 finishers**, **27 PB celebrations**, **37 first-timers**, plenty of high-fives and, of course, some absolutely priceless facial expressions! 😂

So go find yourself in the photos, **tag your parkrun buddies**, and share your favourite shots.

And remember… if you didn't get a photo looking like an Olympic athlete, don't worry. We have plenty of evidence that you were at least having fun! 🤣🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

A huge thank you to everyone who made Event #51 another brilliant Saturday morning at Riverside Reserve. 💗

**Run. Walk. Smile. Get photographed. Repeat.** 📸💜

🏃‍♀️😂 **RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN #51 — 176 PEOPLE, 27 PBs & ONLY 9 HI-VIS HEROES!** 💗🦺

Saturday morning at Riverside Reserve: where some people arrive to **run 5km**, some arrive to **walk 5km**, and some arrive wondering why they agreed to this before their first coffee. ☕😂

But once again, you all showed up — and what a morning it was!

🎉 **EVENT #51 STATS**

🏃‍♂️ **176 finishers**
• 70 male
• 91 female
• 15 unknown — your barcode is not optional, friends! 😜

🌱 **11 first timers**
Welcome to the Riverside family:
Bernhard Richard Herrmann, Owen Scorgie, Liane Venter, Abigail Botha, Esli Faber, Willie Bester, Joshua Ngwenya, Vasti Van Den Berg, Sebastian Faber, Amori Faber & Paballo Mokhobo.

We hope your legs have forgiven you by now! 😂

🔥 **27 PERSONAL BESTS!**

A massive congratulations to:
Charles Russell, Adrian Dietz, Tumelo Machogo, Yolandi Stander, Ayanda Dlamini, Liezel Pienaar, Walter Buna, Carla Coetzee, Jacobus Moolman, Cherie Mukendi, Maureen Ngwenya, Thea Maritz, Thembi Mathumbu, Hekkie Wasserman, Allet Kinnear, Louwrens Coetzer, Liv Scorgie, Susan Van Den Berg, Adriaan Van Den Berg, Marna Bester, Gomolemo Maunye, Mafa Mogakane, Willemien Du Plooy, Nazia Adam-Kabir, Ethan Wakefield, Jonty Wakefield & Basetsana Mokghele.

👏 **27 reasons to celebrate!**

🏆 **FIRST FINISHERS**

🥇 Wiehann Mohlen — **20:46**
🥇 Annelie Dollenberg — **24:59**

Fast feet, strong coffee, questionable Saturday decisions. Whatever works! 😂☕

📊 **HIGHEST AGE GRADE**

🏆 Richard Herrmann — **69.17%**
🏆 Zanike Henning — **67.95%**

Proof once again that age is just a number… but the stopwatch is brutally honest! 😜

👟 **MOST PARKRUNS**

👏 Jan Van Der Merwe — **455 parkruns**
👏 Annelize Kirsten — **413 parkruns**

At this point, we suspect Jan and Annelize may have their own parking spots. 😂

💗 **MOST VOLUNTEER CREDITS**

🦺 Stephen Mallory — **247**
🦺 Wendy Williams — **153**
🦺 Jane Mackinnon — **113**

These legends have given up countless Saturday mornings so that the rest of us can run, walk, chat, laugh and pretend we're only here for the socialising. ❤️

🏅 **PARKRUN MILESTONES**

🎉 **25 parkruns:** Yolandi Stander
🎉 **50 parkruns:** Nazia Adam-Kabir

Congratulations! Your Saturday mornings are officially under new management. 😂👏

💗 **AND THEN THERE WERE OUR 9 HI-VIS HEROES!**

A huge THANK YOU to:

Quinton Christie
Stephen Mallory
Johan Van Putten
Wilma Kasa
Jane Mackinnon
Henning Venter
Heleen Horne
Ria Nel
Mara Strydom

You are the reason Event #51 happened safely and smoothly. 💗🦺

🌍 **RIVERSIDE RESERVE — THE BIGGER PICTURE**

Since Riverside Reserve parkrun started on **23 August 2025**:

🏃 **2,140 participants** have completed
🏃 **10,525 parkruns**
👟 Covering **52,625 km**
🔥 **1,740 Personal Bests**
🦺 **182 individuals** have volunteered
👏 Volunteers have given **555 volunteer credits**
📈 Average attendance: **206 participants**

And just think… we're only getting started! 🚀💜

So whether you smashed a PB, completed your first ever parkrun, volunteered, walked with friends, chased your kids around the course, or spent the entire 5km wondering why you didn't stay in bed…

**YOU ARE PART OF RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN.** 💜

See you Saturday! Same place. Same 5km. New excuses. 😂🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

💙 Young people. Big hearts. Real impact.

Today, on International Youth Day, we’re celebrating the incredible young people who bring energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas to our parkrun communities. 🙌

But why just participate when you can make a difference too? 💙

Volunteering at parkrun is a wonderful way to get involved, meet new people, build confidence and empower your community. And the best part? Your parkrun volunteering hours can contribute towards your school’s community service requirements. 🎓✨

Whether you’re scanning barcodes, handing out finish tokens, marshalling, tail walking or simply helping wherever you’re needed, every contribution counts.

So, South African youth, this one’s for you! 🇿🇦
Come along, lend a hand, make some friends and discover just how rewarding volunteering can be.

Your time. Your community. Your impact. 💙

🩷🦺 **Meet the Hi-Vis Heroes Behind Event #50!** 🦺🩷

While everyone else was chasing PBs, enjoying the scenery, or catching their breath, these amazing people were making sure every finish token, barcode scan, cheer, and smile happened exactly when it was needed.

A heartfelt **THANK YOU** to our incredible volunteers for making **Riverside Reserve parkrun #50** such a success:

💜 Mariska Van Wyk
💜 Stephen Mallory
💜 Graeme Gibbs
💜 Hugo Weideman
💜 Anette Venter *(First-time volunteer! 🎉)*
💜 Namisile Ndlovu *(10 volunteer credits! 👏)*
💜 Lisa Venter
💜 Heleen Horne
💜 Mara Strydom
💜 Carmen Savva
💜 Wilma Bridger
💜 Wendy Williams

Every timer clicked, every finish token found its owner, every barcode was scanned, and every participant was welcomed because of your time and dedication.

Thinking, *"I'd like to help one Saturday"*? We'd love to have you! Most volunteer roles are easy to learn, full training is provided, and you'll still have plenty of time for coffee and conversations afterwards. ☕💜

Drop us a message or comment below if you'd like to wear one of our famous pink hi-vis vests.

**Because parkrun doesn't happen by magic... it happens because of volunteers.** 🩷

📸💜 **The smiles say it all!**

From nervous first timers to seasoned parkrunners, speedy PB chasers to relaxed walkers, every photo tells the story of a community that shows up for each other.

There were high-fives, laughter, finish-line celebrations, muddy shoes, and plenty of unforgettable moments as we celebrated **Riverside Reserve parkrun #50!** 🎉

Take a scroll through the photos, tag your friends, and share your favourite memory from Saturday. We love seeing parkrun through your eyes! 💜

See you next Saturday for another 5km of fun, friendship, and fresh air.

🎉🌟 **Riverside Reserve parkrun #50 – What a Golden Morning!** 🌟🎉

Wow... **50 events!** 🥳 What an incredible milestone for our Riverside Reserve parkrun family. Thank you to every runner, walker, volunteer and supporter who has made these first 50 events so special. 💜

Here's what made Event #50 one to remember:

🏃 **196 finishers** crossed the finish line!
👨 68 male participants
👩 91 female participants
❓ 37 unknown participants (Don't forget your barcode next time!)

💚 **30 first timers** joined us!
Welcome to the parkrun family! We hope this is the first of many Saturday mornings with us.

🔥 **30 Personal Bests!**
Congratulations to everyone who rang that PB bell! Whether it was by one second or several minutes, every PB is worth celebrating.

🦺 **12 amazing Hi-Vis Heroes**
You made Event #50 possible! Thank you for giving up your run so others could enjoy theirs.

# # # 🏅 First Finishers

🥇 **Male:** Charles Russell – **21:42**
🥇 **Female:** Monique Christie – **25:38**

# # # 🌟 Highest Age Grade

🏆 Charles Russell – **65.82%**
🏆 Anita F van Aarde – **61.59%**

# # # 👟 Most parkruns Completed

👏 Jan van der Merwe – **454 parkruns**
👏 Annelize Kirsten – **412 parkruns**

# # # ❤️ Most Volunteer Credits

🦺 Stephen Mallory – **246**
🦺 Wendy Williams – **153**
🦺 Quinton Christie – **95**

# # 🎈 parkrun Milestones

💜 **25 parkruns**
• Chantell Thomson
• Ivy Christopher

🔴 **50 parkruns**
• Jani Odendaal

# # 🦺 Volunteer Milestones

🌟 First time volunteer:
• Anette Venter

👏 10 Volunteer Credits:
• Namisile Ndlovu

# # 🌱 First Timers at parkrun

A huge Riverside welcome to:
Mthokozisi Mthembu, Ignish Booysen, Carla Coetzee, Chantelle De Lange, Cherie Mukendi, Renthia Ritson, Melissa Müller, Nikita Van Heerden, Nthabeleng Rachuene, Mafa Mogakane, Gomolemo Maunye, Leonie Van Tubbergh, Leon Van Tubbergh, Alta Botha, Jason Daniels and Kai Daniels.

We hope to see you again this Saturday!

# # ⚡ Personal Best Achievers

Congratulations to:
Charles Russell, Ethan Russell, Yolandi Stander, Tsheko Kgopane, Mazwi Sedibe, Chantell Thomson, Lerato Mashile, Monika Nothnagel, Walter Buna, Alida Mentz, Henning Venter, Wilma Kasa, Margaret Beck, Mukendi Kabuya, Susan Chota, Alexis Van Wyk, Charlene Vorster, Marietjie Oosthuizen, Thea Maritz, Anna-Marie Fitzgerald, Elzabe Van Der Berg, Ramontse Mphahlele, Brandon Ritchie, Steyn Jurie, Jeanette Oberholzer, Kamogelo Moeletsi, Sunette Steyn, Gavin Bruce Kingston, David Oberholzer and Kelello Mashile.

👏 Fantastic running everyone!

# # 💜 A Massive Thank You to Our Volunteers

Today's event was brought to you by:

🦺 Mariska Van Wyk
🦺 Stephen Mallory
🦺 Graeme Gibbs
🦺 Hugo Weideman
🦺 Anette Venter
🦺 Namisile Ndlovu
🦺 Lisa Venter
🦺 Heleen Horne
🦺 Mara Strydom
🦺 Carmen Savva
🦺 Wilma Bridger
🦺 Wendy Williams

Without volunteers there is simply **no parkrun.** If you'd like to wear one of those famous pink hi-vis vests, let us know—we'd love to have you on the team! 💜

Thank you to every single person who came to celebrate our **50th event**. Whether you ran, walked, volunteered, cheered or simply enjoyed a coffee afterwards—you are what makes Riverside Reserve parkrun such a special community.

Here's to the next **50 events** and many more memories together! 💜🎉

**🏃‍♀️🎉 Riverside Reserve parkrun #49 | 25 July 2026 🎉🏃‍♂️**

Another incredible Saturday morning at Riverside Reserve parkrun! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, whether you walked, jogged, ran, volunteered or cheered others on. 💚

📊 **This week's numbers**
🏁 190 finishers
👨 58 Male
👩 91 Female
❓ 41 Unknown
🌱 28 First Timers
⚡ 28 Personal Bests
🦺 10 Volunteers

🏅 **Highest Age Grade Performances**
🥇 Wiehann Mohlen – 18:21 (SM25-29) – 70.39%
🥇 Anita F Van Aarde – 38:25 (VW70-74) – 62.00%

👟 **Most parkruns**
🏅 Annelize Kirsten – 411 parkruns
🏅 Egor Oussov – 379 parkruns

💚 **Most Volunteer Credits**
👏 Quinton Christie – 95
👏 Martie Van Putten – 95
👏 Mariska Van Wyk – 65

🎉 **Milestone Celebrations**
🦺 Rod Mackinnon – 50 Volunteer Credits
🙌 Ben Visser – First Time Volunteer
🏃 Antoinette Van Deventer – 25 parkruns
🏃 Herculine-Mari Wasserman – 50 parkruns

🥇 **First Finishers**
🏃‍♂️ Wiehann Mohlen – 18:21 (70.39%)
🏃‍♀️ Nicola Forsyth – 32:37 (47.52%)

🌱 **Welcome to our 14 First Timers!**
Alicia Van Graan, Philip Van Staden, Sven Pretorius, Steyn Jurie, Brandon Ritchie, Ulandi Du Plessis, Willie Du Plessis, Adriaan Van Den Berg, Susan Labuschagne, Jan Labuschagne, Maureen Ngwenya, Christine Pretorius, Sihle Mnguni and Londiwe Hlatshwayo.

We hope this was the first of many parkruns! 💚

⚡ **Congratulations to our 28 PB achievers!**
Wiehann Mohlen, Christiaan Visser, Alex Oussov, Lauren Bradfield, Chante Koen, Hendrik Van Wyk, Msizi Ramaoka, Dominic Fundisi, Jenny Botha, Alida Stassen, Walter Buna, Maresa Van Den Berg, Stanton Mouton, Herculine-Mari Wasserman, Raymond Mazibuko, Henning Venter, Nkazimulo Nyathi, Thembi Mathumbu, Jenna Corbett, Marietjie Oosthuizen, Anna-Marie Fitzgerald, Koos Snyman, Susan Greyling, Osie Oosthuizen, Susan Van Den Berg, Devina Dalasile, Antoinette Van Deventer and Louise Minnaar.

👏 **A massive thank you to our volunteers!**
Rod Mackinnon, Ben Visser, Hugo Weideman, Heleen Horne, Graeme Gibbs, Nadia Schoeman, Jacobus Moolman, Paula Steyn, Mara Strydom and Mariska Van Wyk.

Without our volunteers, there simply wouldn't be a parkrun each week. Thank you for giving up your time so others can enjoy theirs! 💚

📈 **Since Riverside Reserve parkrun started on 23 August 2025:**
🏃 2,073 participants
🏁 10,153 parkruns completed
📏 50,765 km covered
⚡ 1,683 Personal Bests
🦺 179 different volunteers
🙌 534 volunteer occasions
👥 Average attendance: 207 participants

Thank you for making Riverside Reserve parkrun such a special community. 💚

We're looking forward to seeing everyone next Saturday for our **50th event**! Let's make it a celebration to remember! 🎉

💚