The Natal Carbineers Athletic Club met for their first training session in April 1865, at Scottsville Race Course. Despite the name, many of the events in which the members then participated, were equestrian.

In 1930, a young Carbineer, Phill Masterton'Smith, aged 17 years, took part in the Comrades Marathon. That year, he finished a mere 200 odd metres behind the great Wally Haywood in the first of his five wins. Wally's comment 'If I have to run so hard to win this race, I'll never run it again' (and it was some years before he did run it again) could probably be attributed to the strength of the chasing Carbineer.

In 1932, then 18 years old, Phill ran his second Comrades and became the youngest ever winner of this great race, beating another Carbineer, Noel Burrey (who ran in the colours of his home town, Colenso) by the narrowest of margins. The only recorded photograph of this feat is an old bromide from the Natal witness of that time. The split was a couple of metres at full sprint. The recorded split between the two is TWO SECONDS!

During World War II, Phill Masterton Smith was killed in a mortar attack, serving with the Royal Natal Carbineers.

The badge we wear on the back of our vest is the same size and badge as worn by Phill Masterton Smith in his epic races.

During and after the War, the Natal Carbineer Athletics team acquitted themselves with great distinction, in the Eighth Army games and various inter Regimental meetings. The Club lapsed again during the 1960's as the volunteers found themselves spread amongst clubs such as Collegians Harriers and many others around the Province.

In 1991, as part of the Regiment's community outreach programme, the Natal Carbineers Athletic Club was re-constituted, under the leadership of the then Regimental sergeant Major, John Hall, and affiliated to the Natal Marathon Runners Association and Natal Athletics.

Since then, members of the Club have been active in participation in Road Running and Cross Country as well as organisation of events and assisting with the Comrades Marathon. Many of the members are members of Comrades Marathon Association and serve on various portfolio and the Board of CMA. Members of the Club are also actively involved in Provincial Athletics, serving on committees and/or officiating at events.

The Club's first event of the new era was the 10 Km 'Race of the Dekade' (a play on the sponsor's name ' Dekade Paints). This race was discontinued after 10 years and 'retired' as the BEST ORGANISED RACE in the old POLY SHORTTS competition for KwaZulu Natal. Nowadays, the Club successfully hosts the Midlands 100 Miler (www.m100m.co.za), the Maritzburg Marathon (www.pmb42.co.za) and the original Pietermaritzburg Spar Ladies Race (www.ladiesrace.co.za).

The members of the Natal Carbineers Athletic Club live by family values and pride themselves in being the friendliest famliest club.