History
The Irene Road Running Club was established in 1994 due to the initiative of employees from the Agricultural Research Council Irene Animal Research Institute. Freddie Basson and Sylvia Sutherland did the groundwork in recruiting potential members, enabling the new Irene Road Running Club (IRRC) to qualify for affiliation with Athletics Gauteng North (AGN).
Pieter Sutherland, was approached to take up the responsibility of getting the wheels in motion to officially affiliate a new club with AGN. Affiliation was granted on 1 February 1994. The first founder committee members were selected at the club’s first Annual General Meeting and a Constitution was drawn up at this meeting.
Club activities started with a few very enthusiastic members and the committee and club members designed the club clothing.
The founder committee members were:
During the first year of the IRRC existence some 60 members joined the club. Today the membership is in excess of 700.
Although the colour stayed the same the design of the attire changed a few times over the years. In 2012 the option of wearing blue shorts was introduced and in 2013 it was decided to do away with the traditional green shorts and to make the blue short official.
Initially only one discipline (road running) was catered for but over the years other disciplines like road walking, cross country and track & field became part of the activities. After a poll was done amongst members, it was decided at the AGM held on 12 November 2013 to officially change the name of the club to Irene Athletics Club.
Pieter Sutherland, was approached to take up the responsibility of getting the wheels in motion to officially affiliate a new club with AGN. Affiliation was granted on 1 February 1994. The first founder committee members were selected at the club’s first Annual General Meeting and a Constitution was drawn up at this meeting.
Club activities started with a few very enthusiastic members and the committee and club members designed the club clothing.
The founder committee members were:
- Pieter Sutherland - Chairman
- Frieda Basson - Secretary
- Ian Sutherland - Newsletter Editor
- Carl Zwiegelaar - Treasurer
- Hannes Viljoen - Club Captain
- Ishmael Mashiangako - Additional member
- Sylvia Sutherland - Social Member
- Gys Vermeulen - Statistician
During the first year of the IRRC existence some 60 members joined the club. Today the membership is in excess of 700.
Although the colour stayed the same the design of the attire changed a few times over the years. In 2012 the option of wearing blue shorts was introduced and in 2013 it was decided to do away with the traditional green shorts and to make the blue short official.
Initially only one discipline (road running) was catered for but over the years other disciplines like road walking, cross country and track & field became part of the activities. After a poll was done amongst members, it was decided at the AGM held on 12 November 2013 to officially change the name of the club to Irene Athletics Club.