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Historic Midrand Race Enters a New Era as the Midrand Striders Chamberlain Country Classic

Midrand, Gauteng: One of Gauteng’s longest-standing road running events is entering an exciting new chapter.

Dating back to the early 1980s, the race began as a 15km event and has evolved over the decades into the Midrand Striders Chamberlain Country Classic. While long-serving members differ on the exact inaugural year, all agree that the race has been a cornerstone of the Midrand running community for more than 40 years.

The race has continually adapted to meet the needs of South Africa’s growing running community while remaining true to the values of camaraderie, perseverance and community that have defined Midrand Striders since its inception.

The evolution of the race would not have been possible without the support of Kyalami Corner Shopping Centre, home of the Midrand Striders Chamberlain Country Classic. Over the past three years, Kyalami Corner has partnered with Midrand Striders and continues to support the event as it enters this exciting new era. While Chamberlain now joins as the title partner, giving the race its new identity as the Midrand Striders Chamberlain Country Classic, Kyalami Corner remains a proud and valued partner, reaffirming its commitment to community wellbeing, active lifestyles and the continued success of one of Midrand’s flagship sporting events.

The partnership extends far beyond race day. Together, Midrand Striders and Kyalami Corner have shared a commitment to developing the sport and creating opportunities for runners from disadvantaged communities. Proceeds from the previous two editions of the race have been used to purchase running shoes for development runners from Diepsloot, helping talented athletes overcome financial barriers and continue pursuing their running ambitions. The club’s broader development programme also supports underprivileged runners with race entries, club membership and essential running equipment, with beneficiaries giving back through volunteering and supporting club activities.

The 2026 edition of the Midrand Striders Chamberlain Country Classic will take place on Sunday, 30 August 2026, featuring 21.1km, 10km and 5km race distances through the scenic roads of Kyalami. The event promises a premium race-day experience while celebrating more than four decades of running heritage and community spirit.

Like many successful running clubs, Midrand Striders began with little more than a handful of members and a passion for running. In 1980, running partners Chris Meares and Steve Mann recognised the need for a club serving the growing Midrand community and established Midrand Country Striders. Over the past 46 years, the club has grown into one of Gauteng’s most respected running clubs, guided by its motto of Fun, Family, Fitness and a strong commitment to inclusion, volunteerism and community development.

“This race is about more than kilometres,” said Gabriel Mphahlele, Race Director of the Midrand Striders Chamberlain Country Classic.

“It celebrates our club’s heritage, honours the volunteers and partners who have supported us over the years, and creates opportunities for the next generation of runners. We are incredibly grateful to Chamberlain for joining us as our title partner and to Kyalami Corner Shopping Centre for their continued support and belief in our vision. Together, we are building a race that celebrates excellence, community and opportunity.”

Participants can look forward to:

  • 21.1km, 10km and 5km race distances
  • A scenic country-inspired route through Kyalami
  • Professional race organisation and official timing
  • Race Village entertainment and sponsor activations
  • Free official race T-shirts for the first 500 entrants in the 21.1km and 10km races
  • Exclusive finisher medals
  • A R200 Chamberlain voucher for every participant who completes the 21.1km or 10km wearing a traditional Scottish kilt

With a target of 3,000 participants, the Midrand Striders Chamberlain Country Classic is poised to become one of Gauteng’s premier community road races while continuing its legacy of supporting grassroots running and giving back to the communities it serves.

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Author: Kyalami Corner

Source – MyPR

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The World’s Largest Man-Made Urban Forest

One of the most surprising facts about Johannesburg is its status as a “green” city. When the first settlers arrived, the Highveld was a barren, treeless grassland (savannah). To support the mining industry, millions of trees were imported and planted to provide timber for mine underground supports. Fast forward to the present day, and Johannesburg is widely considered the largest man-made urban forest in the world.

There are an estimated 10 million trees within the city limits. This includes 1.2 million trees on sidewalks and in parks, and over 4.8 million in private gardens. This forest is so dense that satellite images of the northern suburbs often resemble a tropical rainforest. The most iconic of these trees is the Jacaranda, which was imported from South America in the early 20th century. Every October and November, the city turns a vibrant shade of purple as thousands of Jacarandas bloom simultaneously. However, this “forest” also highlights the city’s historical inequality; during the Apartheid era, trees were predominantly planted in wealthy white suburbs, leaving townships like Soweto as dusty plains. In the last two decades, “Greening Soweto” initiatives have seen hundreds of thousands of trees planted to bridge this “green divide,” emphasizing the role of urban forestry in social justice and climate cooling.