Page 20 Week ending 20 September, 2019 ReviewFOURWAYS www.fourwaysreview.co.za Ready for the next 250! Robyn Kirk [email protected] Greg King may be retired, but that did not stop him from taking on a challenge for his 67th birthday. On 7 September the birthday boy and Merrow Downs resident completed his 250th parkrun during an event in Lonehill with his wife and twin daughters there to cheer him on. King completed the 5km route in 00:28:02, coming 51st out of 514 parkrunners. Parkruns occur across the world and are a great chance to enjoy a free activity while engaging with your community. “I was the fourth male runner [over the finish line] and first in my age category of 65 to 69,” he told the Fourways Review about the day. “It really was a great honour to chalk up my 250th. The race organisers pay respect to various milestones, namely, one’s 50th and 100th – 250’s are quite special. “My wife and twin daughters came and joined, as well as many of my parkrun friends from other centres. Very chuffed!” King is the second person to reach his 250th parkrun during a Lonehill event, which started out near Crawford College Greg King (centre, with thumbs up) has been involved in parkruns since 2014. Photo: Supplied and was well attended even though there was a slight chill in the morning area that my dog along the Braamfontein Spruit. week thereafter, with my times getting ever establishment, development & growth of day. He competes in about 48 parkruns per Next minute, these dozens of runners come better.” parkrun in SA; to regional director Helen annum. Although King has been running bearing forth along the path. King is thankful for the joy of parkrun, Holyoak; to the various race directors Brynn for years (having already taken on the “I made some enquiries and was told and had many people to thank for the Janeke, Calvin Brown and Errol Duffet; to Comrades five times, the Two Oceans that this was the Bryanston parkrun and experience. the weekly volunteers that keep the show Ultra Marathon five times and numerous explained how to register on line, which I “A huge shout-out to the whole parkrun ticking over; and to all the enthusiastic marathons over the years), he didn’t get into duly did and pitched up for my first run the community for making this possible. parkrunners that are always incredibly parkruns until just before he retired. next week which I did in something like 35 To Paul Sinton-Hewitt for founding this encouraging - a huge vote of thanks. You “While still living in Bryanston back in minutes. amazing concept; to Bruce Fordyce and his guys are all truly amazing. 2014, I was taking a morning walk with “The bug had bitten and I returned each hard working SA team for facilitating the “Now for the next 250!” New chief executive officer of the Central Gauteng Lions has big dreams Nicholas Zaal running of the Montrose Night Challenge, potential in him and placed him in positions cricket and sustainability of it.” [email protected] said he initially never intended to apply for of increasing influence. Leaf-Wright said he hopes to ensure the top position until Jozi Stars coach Enoch On his resume, Leaf-Wright can boast children again dream of becoming Jono Leaf-Wright is the new CEO of the Nkwe and Lions players suggested he do so. being an assistant coach at the Indian professional cricketers, and he hopes to Central Gauteng Lions and he has big Leaf-Wright first started working with the Premier League, national talent scout for make the most of the stadium in his care. dreams for the organisation. Lions when he started an internship with the Cricket South Africa for 11 years, Lions “I have spoken to our head groundsman, The Fourways resident who takes club in 2003. U19 coach and Jozi Stars team manager. Evan [Flint], and we would like to make over from Greg Fredericks on 1 October “I was here [at the Wanderers] for a game When asked whether he wanted to further this a multi-purpose stadium with drop-in met the Fourways Review to discuss his and knocked on the change-room door. I a coaching career, he said he did not wish to pitches for rugby and soccer matches. We managing career and what he has planned offered to carry the players’ bags and water spend too much time away from family and are also looking at installing solar panels for the Bizhub Highveld Lions and Bidvest and do anything they needed,” Leaf Wright he hopes he can impact more people in his and a water plant so we can go green and Wanderers Stadium. said. current position. save the environment.” These include bringing soccer and rugby Managing staff were gracious and allowed “Leading a province of cricketers and Leaf-Wright also aims to drive youth to the stadium. leaf-Wright to do so. Over the years, many groups of people I believe I will be cricket and domestic cricket in the province Leaf-Wright, who also owns Sandton Leaf-Wright worked closely with former impacting more lives in a positive way to instil an even stronger passion for cricket Action Sports Arena and is involved in the SA wicket keeper, Ray jennings, who saw and have more influence on the growth of than before..