Above picture:  On the “podium”.  Anton is congratulated as the third Masters runner with a Gold Medal; photograph by Leigh Wolfaardt

Anton Wolfaardt, Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project Manager, ran the arduous Rhodes Trail Run in South Africa’s southern Drakensberg mountains over the past weekend on behalf of the project and raised the equivalent of 71 hectares.  His online appeal via GivenGain has reached the total of R 71 341, generously donated by his colleagues, family and friends, and by members of the concerned public around the world.

To help save Marion’s albatrosses and petrels from being killed by the island’s invasive House Mice, Anton set an original appeal target of R 55 000 – which he has now greatly exceeded.  He writes from his well-deserved annual leave: “Thank you all for supporting the Mouse-Free Marion Project, an ambitious and vital initiative to eradicate invasive mice from Marion Island.  Your donation will help safeguard the island’s extraordinary seabirds and other wildlife.  Together, we can make a significant impact in conserving this unique ecosystem and securing a living wonder of the world.  It was fantastic to return to Rhodes to participate in South Africa’s iconic breathtaking trail run.  We were treated to snow-covered mountain peaks and icy river crossings, aspects of which resemble Marion Island.”

Anton at the start of the 34th Rhodes Trail Run, holding the official buff of Marion Island’s 80th Overwintering Team (2023/24) that depicts displaying Wandering Albatrosses; photograph by Leigh Wolfaardt

Anton first ran the limited-entry Rhodes Trail Run in 2019 when he achieved an impressive 69th position out of 211 finishers in a time of seven hours, 36 minutes and 21 seconds – not at all bad for an arduous event run in winter with temperatures often below freezing at the start and snow along the route with includes 1600 metres of climbing.  Five years later and now running as a Master (50-60-year age class), Anton finished over half an hour faster in 7.02.48, moving up no less than 46 places to come 23rd overall.  This stunning improvement brought him a “podium position” as the third Masters Runner and the award of a coveted Gold Medal.

Snow, cold streams and rocks along the route: not your ordinary tarred road marathon; photograph by Anton Wolfaardt

The route profile: not for the faint of heart!

The MFM Project News Correspondent, himself once a participant in ultra running events (but now just a social runner), comments on Anton’s impressive achievement: “The best I have ever done was a fourth in my age category for an off-road half marathon, so I have never been on a winners’ podium.  I am in awe of Anton’s Gold Medal, earned while managing the MFM Project, which is much more than a full-time job – I will just have to stick to my collection of bronzes!”

Still looking strong: Anton crosses the finish line in just over seven hours of winter trail running and relaxes with a well-earned drink; photographs by Leigh Wolfaardt

 

You can congratulate Anton by making a donation and leaving a comment on his appeal, which stays open until 20 July, here. Let’s see if we can push the total to 75 hectares or R 75 000!

With thanks to Leigh Wolfaardt for her photographs and for her support of Anton and the MFM Project.

John Cooper, News Correspondent, Mouse-Free Marion Project, 02 July 2024

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Three young Wandering Albatrosses engage in mutual display known as a “gam” in front of the meteorological and research station on Marion Island; photograph and poster design by Michelle Risi

The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a registered non-profit company (No. 2020/922433/08) in South Africa, established to eradicate the invasive albatross-killing mice on Marion Island in the Southern Ocean.  The project was initiated by BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.  Upon successful completion, the project will restore the critical breeding habitat of over two million seabirds, many globally threatened, and improve the island’s resilience to a warming climate.  For more information or to support the project please visit mousefreemarion.org.