14 enthusiastic people responded to a notice in the South Coast Herald calling for potential members to meet at the Margate Hotel on 11 March 1977. They seized the day and got right down to matters. Brian Gibson-Taylor took constructive control as he was to do for the next 12 years and read out the proposed constitution, which was accepted. This was sent to the Natal Amateur Athletics Association. A committee was formed: Brian Gibson-Taylor, Mike Gird, Dave Kinsey, Aubry Cowan, Bill Chivell and Frank Honey.

 

Bill Chivel who had represented South Africa in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics was elected the first chairman, Brian vice-chairman, Mike Grid the treasurer and Frank Honey the Secretary.

 

The first time trials were held on 30th March 1977. Everyone knew where the Margate police station was and so it became the start straight up the hill to the airport with the first 2km to be a “breath sucker” to test the boys, after reaching the highest point one had to go down and in doing so more hills had to be found and the course consisted of many turns and twists taking you past the Village of Happiness down to Margate Caravan Park and up to the finish a block away from the Police Station. It was no surprise in retrospect that half the field took a short cut and recorded marvelous times, as the South Coast Herald reported only 3 people appeared to run the full course which was “a little more than 5 miles” 14 runners participated.

 

The club built it’s foundation on the time trial and it was published every week in the South Coast Herald. In Between TT and racing the committee attended the NAAA AGM 0m 25 June 1977 to hear that the club had been granted official status. At the same meeting Bill and Cobie Chivell were presented with their Natal colours for their roles as officials.