Click to listen to the interview on
HOT102.7 FM with Geoff
Pirates History
A RITE OF PASSAGE
How the famous race was born
Such is the reputation of the Pirates 21k Powered by Medshield , that most Pirate runners will tell you the line they hear the most at other races are : “ hills must be nothing for you , you ’ re a Pirate !”.
Brian Jordaan , along with a few others mapped out the infamous course over Northcliff Hill as the perfect training run for Comrades in 1978 and Joburg ’ s Toughest Half was born . The original race took place on 22 January 1978 with an entry fee of R2 and a whopping 620 finishers .
The race was and is good training for Comrades , as Pirates runners these days have one of the highest finishers rate at the famous event . In part due to the fact that we run the Over The Mountain route regularly , as part of a rite of passage . So by doing the race , if you are training for the big C , it will certainly helps with strength and grit come race day .
Today the route and Pirates Road Running are inextricably linked and it ’ s a special moment for any Pirate to go Over The Mountain . In addition to training runs we also run the route during our President ’ s Handicap event and the very popular Reverse Run , held as a fundraiser for our Development Fund .
While Pirates Road Running is as old as this race , Pirates Club is was born in 1888 as a spinoff from sister club Pirates Kimberly , with the name said to be taken from the famous play ‘ Pirates of Penzance ’. Today Pirates Road Running is one of the fastest-growing community clubs while retaining its intimate cohesive atmosphere and is wellknown countrywide for its community spirit , its social commitment and unmistakable Pirates gees .
THE MAN WHO SHOT THE GUN
Profile on Geoff Davies , President of Pirates Road Running
Anyone who has been to track on a Friday morning will know that co-founder of Road Running and President of the section since 1985 , Geoff Davies and his clipboard , knows their stuff . Always ready for a joke Geoff also knows when to get serious and has helped to knock hours off Pirates runners ’ Comrades and marathon times .
He seemed to also have practiced what he preaches , as Geoff Mills shares about his namesake : “ Geoff was a champion at pacing his races and prancing around all of us lying around totally stuffed and boasting that he was ready to run back to the start .” Claiming a marathon PB of 3:08 Geoff is quick to add that it was a downhill run from Notties to Howick , yet he smashed a few Bergville events , apparently because of the scones and cream at the finish .
A Pirate for 44 years , initially through the tennis section , Geoff ’ s proudest moment was his 10th Comrades marathon , a race he would ultimately do 12 times with a PB of 9:15 . Although a quantity surveyor by trade Geoff ran an interior decoration business for many years and is now retired so he can watch Nottingham Forest beat
Liverpool and take a walk every day with wife Heather .
If you ’ re interested in Pirates history Geoff has some fantastic stories to tell and while the tales are all different , they always start with an apology for boring the listener and ends with a ‘… because I absolutely love Pirates ’.
Click to listen to the interview on
HOT102.7 FM with Geoff
8 Pirates Half Marathon | Sunday , 16 February 2025