MURRAY & ROBERTS INVESTS IN SOUTH AFRICAN RUNNING

Henry Laas, Murray & Roberts Group chief executive, announced the ownership, management and funding of the Murray & Roberts Running Club at the 2018 Jack Cheetham and Letsema Awards.

In September 2018, KPMG announced the end of its title sponsorship of the KPMG Running Club. Dana Coetzee, manager of the club, contacted Murray & Roberts to consider taking ownership of the club.

Commenting on the rationale for undertaking this journey, Henry said, “We are very excited to launch the Murray & Roberts Running Club. We are able to clearly identify with the athletes and the excellence they achieve through their physical and mental training. Seeing these athletes run in Murray & Roberts colours is symbolic of the Group’s philosophy of Engineered Excellence. Running is a sport that is practiced by a diverse community and through our support, we are looking forward to contributing to the development of running in South Africa.”

Murray & Roberts has also taken ownership of the Vorentoe Running Academy, which forms part of the running club’s development squad. This Auckland Park-based team of talented runners has produced multiple champions over the last few years.

“There is so much potential in this academy for the club to nurture and develop. We have a deep desire to fulfil our corporate citizenship ambitions and hope to achieve astounding outcomes, not just for the school but also for South Africa and eventually on the roads and athletic tracks across the world”, says Henry.

In January 2019, the club clocked up more than a dozen top three spots, making it the best ever club debut in South African road and track running.

“To say we are delighted is putting it mildly. On our launch weekend we provided podium finishers in every major road race in South Africa from the Central Gauteng Athletics track league meeting through to Gauteng’s biggest half-marathon, the Dischem. If this is the standard that we have at the start, look out for the black and gold at the majors later on this year”, says Ed Jardim, Murray & Roberts Group media and investor relations executive and club chairman.