Richmond Hill will come alive on Saturday morning when guys and girls take to the street in their fancy clothing and high heel shoes, all to support local charities.

The last weekend of Woman’s month will be ended in style when Zports team up with the 2010 Motorland Mrs Port Elizabeth pageant to host the 2nd annual Retrovibe Stiletto Race in Richmond Hill at 12 noon on Saturday.

This glamour event is open to ladies, men (in-drag) and children of all ages as the organisers raise funds for the Algoa Bay Council for the Aged and Touch Africa. Entry fee is just R50 with the winners standing to win prizes valued in excess of R3000. Total prizes on the day exceed R20,000 in value with numerous lucky draws to boost the winners prize haul.

Street vendors selling their wares will add to the retro vibe of the event, which kicks off at 11h30 with a street fashion show and leads into the 4 races. All races will take part over the 100m stretch of Irvine Street between Stanley and Raleigh Streets and  will start with the Kids toy run for children 12 years and under.

All kids are asked to run with a toy, which they are to donate to Touch Africa after the race. This will be followed by the waiter's race where local waiters can race off against each other.

Waiters to be in uniform and provide their own trays, which they organisers will weigh down with a challenge or two. The Men's drag race follows before the main event of the day, which will be the ladies stiletto race.

Entries will be taken on the morning at the corner of Raleigh and Irvine Street from 10am, with more information being available on the Run in Heels website, or from Zports on 041 484 7860.

gsport… for Girls! founder Kass Naidoo has called on women from all sectors to make a concerted effort to support each other in the pursuit of success.

She was speaking on Women’s Day, which is celebrated annually in commemoration of  9 August 1956, when women participated in national march to petition against pass laws (legislation that required African persons to carry a document on them to ‘prove’ that they were allowed to enter a ‘white area’).

“Today is a day that allows us to take stock of how far we have come, and encourages us to recommit ourselves to the further empowerment of women.

“Last week, we held the 2010 gsport Awards, where we recognised efforts by individuals dedicated to the promotion of women’s sport. There are many great success stories out there for us to celebrate, and today is a good day to reflect on the good work being done.”

The gsport… for Girls! initiative was launched in August 2006 to support women in sport. It is an online initiative aimed at raising the profile of women in sport and showcasing vibrant South African women as role models.

Support women in sport by telling their stories and bringing attention to their good work.

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Van Dyk, who played for SA between 1994 and 1999, emigrated to New Zealand in 2000 and currently represents her adopted country at the highest level.

Van Dyk, who at 1.90m stands almost as tall as the Bok backrow, said that although she remained a loyal All Blacks supporter it was an "absolute honour" to present the jerseys.

"When I got the call asking me to be here I immediately said yes. It's very special for me to be here. Van Dyk is the first woman to make the presentation.

Instead of giving advice she shared a few anecdotes from her career spanning over 20 years and 175 international matches to date.

She told the team: "You are the best in your country and have achieved so much - what more can I say to you guys to motivate you. You know what you have to do. Good luck for the game".

We love this video, an inspirational illustration of what can be achieved when a woman’s mind is made up.

But back home, in a depressing call to a regional radio station, a woman public speaker said that the media’s focus on the International Women’s Day was a farce. “How many people can say the name of the 2009 Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year?” she asked, emphasizing her opinion that the media just isn’t interested in showcasing women’s issues from a women’s perspective.

“Ask them who owns 600 pairs of shoes, and everybody knows that woman’s name,” the caller continued, saying that the media is only interested in portraying women as commodities, as objects of a celeb craze gone mad.

One of the problems, of course, is that there wasn’t a 2009 Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year award event (though a bright and breezy website is calling for nominees for their 2010 awards).

Are we quick to criticize and slow to contribute, or is a male-dominated world simply not interested in today’s women?

What is your opinion? Leave your comment to start this discussion on gsport!

Comments submitted here, and at gsport’s facebook page, will be used for an editorial on the value of the International Women’s Day, and initiatives (like gsport), which aim to promote women’s interests.

Happy Spring Day Ladies! This is gsport’s fourth Spring Day we’re glad to be celebrating with you, and the time we’ve been privileged enough to share with you has been truly amazing.

From gsport’s side, we’ve started the process of creating a record of a very small segment of the amazing women and men who create in women’s sport a place for learning and personal development for so many of South Africa’s young women.

The most significant thing we’ve learned is how much there really is going on, and sadly also how much more there is to be done.

But when we focus on what has been done in the past, and what is being done right now, we are encouraged by the fact that we really can change our circumstances for the better, that we can change how we deal with circumstances for better outcomes.

We are encouraged to learn of women who refuse to be drawn in by those who only have negative things to say, and instead focus on improving themselves in defiance of all those who lack belief.

We are encouraged by women who give so much of their precious time to help other girls and women realise that the ability to change ourselves is one key to personal success.

We are encouraged by women who shine the light of South Africa around the world, and we are encouraged by the many more women who do ‘small’ things, those whose efforts are never noticed by the world at large, but whose dedication may change the life of one small child.

We are encouraged by the fact that, despite what prophets of doom may suggest, South Africa is a place where any woman has the right to stand up and be counted, to let the world - or even her own small community - see what she has to offer.

Let’s take this wonderful energy of Spring Day, and let’s make a promise to never let ourselves down. Let’s make a promise to stand up every time we fall down.

Let’s make a promise to open our eyes to the abundant opportunities that surround us, and lets pray for the courage to grab it and run.

For we are South African women! Bless you!

gsport… for Girls! editor Kass Naidoo has called on South Africans to continue their efforts in raising the profile of women’s sport. Speaking as the country celebrated National Women’s Day on Sunday, Naidoo said: “There have been many notable successes since unity but the road is long and there is much to do before we can really celebrate.

“There is such richness in women’s sport, we just need to shine a light on these successes and support the efforts of our female athletes who proudly fly the South African flag around the world.”

She commended companies who are supporting women’s sport and challenged other companies to get involved. “It is heartwarming to see the efforts of Sasol who have invested significantly in women’s soccer, SPAR, who are long-time supporters of women’s hockey and netball and MTN, who have shown that our female cyclists can succeed with the right backing.”

Naidoo launched the gsport initiative in August 2006 with her husband, Ryk Meiring, to raise the profile of women in sport significantly to encourage Corporate South Africa would back our female athletes, and gsport celebrated its 4th Annual Awards on 30 July 2009 at the prestigious Wanderers Club in Johannesburg, attended by influential women across sport, business and entertainment,

The Awards is held annually to celebrate the best of South African women and laud the contributions of individuals who promote women in sport.

Former Banyana Banyana captain and 2010 FIFA World Cup ambassador Desiree Ellis was inducted into the gsport Hall of Fame the breakfast. Ellis joined the illustrious trio of Penny Heyns, Hazel Gumede and Elana Meyer in the gsport Hall of Fame.

There was double reason to celebrate for women’s boxing when Mbali Zantsi, South Africa’s first female boxing promoter, won the gsport Woman of the Year Award while Noni Tenge, the country’s first-ever women’s professional boxer, was crowned gSTAR (Sportswoman) of the Year.

Beverly Maphangwa, producer of the award-winning Discovery Sports Centre on Metro FM won the gsport Woman in Media award while socialite and businesswoman, Uyanda Mbuli, won the 2009 gsport Style Star Award.

KwaZulu-Natal sports science final year student, Lunga Ntuli walked away with the gsport Volunteer of the Year award for his promotion of women’s sport in his community while South Africa’s first-ever woman racer in the Wesbank series, Clare Vale, won the Clinique Personal Account Writer award for using sport to change her life.

SA Woman Golfer magazine will be distributed for the first time as a stand-alone publication from its March/April/May issue, and is due on the shelf on the 3 March 2008.

Cricket South Africa is proud to announce the appointment of Kass Naidoo as its new Commercial Manager, following the departure of Steve Elworthy in January, on his decision to take up the role of Tournament Director of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 Competition with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

In addition to the physical benefits, playing sport improves your mental and emotional strength, it enhances self-esteem and provides a social platform amongst friends. These are some of the insights from an independent consumer research by Nike. 

gsport Editor Kass Naidoo was a guest on CNBC Africa's Business AM show on Monday morning, to discuss the business of women's sport.

After a year that saw South African women succeeding on and off the sporting fields, as women reached above their expectations and achieved things they thought they'd never experience, gsport would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a great Old Year's Eve, and a gr8 2008!

Saturday 24 November marks a day which the 1400 patrons of the 1st for Women Jacaranda 94.2 Sisters with Blisters patrons will never forget, and the grey clouds couldn't even damper the spirit of these walkers, when they each took to the streets around Montecasino for a 4.5km high-heel walk in support of victims of women and child abuse. 

As gsport … for Girls! celebrates our first birthday today, we are also delighted to announce that gsport has signed on Clinique as its first commercial partner.