COMRADES HISTORY: DYNAMITE COMES IN SMALL PACKAGES

In 1932, Durbanite Hardy Ballington ran the Comrades Marathon for the first time after being encouraged by a fellow runner to enter the race. For this debut run he managed to finish 4th in a time of 08:01:14. The next year this athlete surprised everyone with his spectacular run in poor weather conditions, scooping up 1st position in a time of 06:50:37.

This was followed by another win, in 1934, thanks to a spectator who, while Ballington was stopping to take a break, remarked that his 1933 win must have been a fluke. This resulted in Ballington’s determination to prove that he could win again, saying after the race that it was such a thrill to pass everyone that was ahead of him.

Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to win the next year, but he still managed a valiant 2nd place. He came back in full force in 1936 to claim another victory and even managed to knock off 11 minutes and 32 seconds from Harry Phillips’ 1926 Up Run best time of 06:57:46.

Ballington didn’t enter in 1937 but in 1938 he was back again and was declared the Comrades Marathon Champion for the 4th time in his running career, smashing his own 1936 Best Time with nearly 14 minutes, despite experiencing stomach cramps along the way!

After the race Ballington remarked to a reporter that it would be his last run, that he had had enough and wanted to focus on his work. However, the Comrades bug bit him again in 1947 when he indeed ran his last race, ending his long-time involvement with the Comrades Marathon on a high note, claiming victory when he crossed the finish line in 06:41:05.

According to Ballington it was the most gruelling of all his runs. In his race number 41, Ballington was certainly a small but dynamite package.