It started as just another post-race controversy, but it’s now turned into a courtroom bombshell.
The drama surrounding this year’s Two Oceans Marathon has taken a legal turn — and it ended with a brutal defeat for the organisers and a big win for transparency and runners who’ve long raised red flags.
On Thursday, the Gauteng High Court handed down a scathing judgment in a case involving Two Oceans chairperson Toni Cavanagh and the Two Oceans Marathon NPC, who had taken on well-known running blogger Stuart Mann.
The verdict? The court ruled strongly in Mann’s favour — and slapped Cavanagh and the NPC with a massive bill, reportedly around R400,000.
The Case That Blew Up in Court
Cavanagh and the Two Oceans Marathon NPC filed legal action against Mann after he publicly exposed alleged falsehoods and mismanagement in the organisation of this year’s race.
But the judge didn’t just dismiss their claims — he did so emphatically, ordering the most severe costs penalty available (known as Scale C).
Basically, this means the court saw the case as so meritless, Cavanagh and the NPC now have to cover almost every cent of the legal fees involved.
Now the big question: Will Cavanagh personally pay up, or will the marathon NPC have to foot the bill?
A Race Already in Crisis Mode
This year’s Two Oceans Marathon was already under fire long before the court case made headlines.
The City of Cape Town had pulled its sponsorship after the event organisers broke several permit conditions — including allowing thousands more runners into the half marathon than was legally allowed.
From the start, runners complained loudly on social media about a lack of communication, poor race signage, empty water tables, and even missing medals at the finish line.
Many were left angry and disappointed, saying the event didn’t live up to its iconic status.
The Bronze Medal Blunder That Sparked It All
One of the flashpoints came from race director Hilton Kearns, who claimed they had overestimated how many silver medals would be needed and underestimated the need for bronze.
But Stuart Mann did the math and exposed that this simply wasn’t true.
His blog, The Running Mann, revealed that the percentage of silver medalists has remained consistent over the years — only 1.3%.
The real problem? Organisers accepted far more entries than they had permission for, and then ran out of medals as a result.
Out of over 17,600 finishers, just 234 received silver medals.
Everyone else, expecting bronze, went home empty-handed.
City of Cape Town Confirms Permit Violations
The City of Cape Town didn’t stay quiet. In an official statement, the City confirmed that the Two Oceans Marathon exceeded their approved participant numbers, which directly violated their event permit.
That’s not just a technical issue — the City pointed out that breaking the permit rules risked runner safety and undermined months of planning and logistics.
As a result, they officially pulled their sponsorship and support — a huge blow, considering the City usually provides vital municipal services to help the race run safely and smoothly.
Organisers Admit Financial Struggles
Adding to the chaos, Cavanagh herself admitted that the event has been struggling financially since COVID-19 hit.
Despite backing from headline sponsor Totalsports and entry fees from thousands of runners, she claimed they’re still well short of the nearly R27 million needed to put on the race.
With no City support, the financial future of the marathon is now in question.
The Ironic Twist No One Saw Coming
Here’s the kicker: Just two years ago, before becoming chairperson, Toni Cavanagh was one of the loudest critics of the marathon.
She took to social media to rant about what she called a “fudging ridiculous” experience at race collection in 2023.
Fast forward to now, and she’s at the centre of the very controversy she once condemned.
Blogger Won’t Back Down Despite Legal Threats
Before Thursday’s ruling, Mann had received a cease-and-desist letter from Cavanagh and the Two Oceans NPC.
But according to reports, Mann had no intention of backing down — and the court’s decision seems to have vindicated his stance.
What Happens to the Race Now?
The big question is whether the Two Oceans Marathon can survive this level of backlash.
Without the City of Cape Town’s support and already struggling to raise enough funds, the future of one of South Africa’s most beloved races hangs in the balance.
Sponsors may think twice before jumping in.
Even the race’s original founding club, Celtic Harriers, has now stepped forward, expressing serious concern and asking to meet with the current board.