Tomorrow – for the 37th time already – Breda will be all about the Singelloop. Thousands of runners will compete for a place on the podium, a new PR or enjoy a fun run through the city center of Breda, encouraged by many enthusiastic spectators and musicians along the course.
We owe all this to Bert van de Noort – who together with Cees Evers, Marlice Smits, Pierre Engelen, Matty Vrencken, Toon Simons, Antoon Jonkers, Kees Maas and Frans Jacobs and in cooperation with athletics club Sprint – organized the very first edition of our event on October 5, 1986. Marieke van de Noort tells me about her father Bert, one of the founders of the Breda Singelloop. She shares stories about the creation of the event, what kind of father he was and what she learned from him. In short: we dive into the Singelloop history!
ONE AND ONE IS TWO
As civil servant for Cultural Affairs at the municipality, Bert loved Breda immensely. He not only organized the Singelloop, but also did a lot of other (volunteer) work for the city. “What didn’t he actually do, you’d better ask. My mother and I once tried to make a list, but we couldn’t get started,” says Marieke. In addition, her father loved running very much and was an avid member at Sprint. He was an indoor eater and running was his outlet. One and one is two: from these two passions together the Singelloop was born.
For months before the first Sunday in October, he could only talk about one thing, and a few weeks beforehand it was best not to nag or ask too much, because the stress was mounting. “The Singelloop was really his (third) child. He had a son, a daughter and the Singelloop. I used to curse that at times, but as you get older, you see it in a different perspective. Now he is my positive role model and I am proud of what he has accomplished. Every year I think “gosh, how do you pull this off?!” and continue to be impressed by the amount of people involved. I do understand my father’s feelings and passion.”
Bert van de Noort in BN de Stem, Wednesday, July 28, 1993
FATHER WITH CHARACTER
Bert was a real people person. ”A kind of natural gift, because I didn’t feel that he was doing ‘tricks’ to bring in new sponsors, for example,” Marieke says. ”He was also very socially involved, so the favor factor definitely played a role as well. That made him very powerful within the Singelloop.
In addition, her father was dedicated and a man of vision. Every year he wanted to surpass himself and was always thinking about how to do better. Even the Singelloop started “small and gnarly” and that’s exactly when you have to persevere. “I learned that perseverance from him, just as he taught me, my brother and my children that you don’t do everything in life for money and it is also good to do things voluntarily.” Bert was always very proud of all the volunteers, because (as our current chairman Willem Butz emphasizes to this day): “without volunteers no Singelloop”!
Finally, Marieke says her father taught her that everyone matters. “From toilet attendant to mayor, everyone is equally important. You do the Singelloop together and you need everyone. Status was absolutely not interesting to him and I try to give that to my children now.
Mariekes version of ‘Breda, city with character’
THE SINGELLOOP THROUGH THE YEARS
Every year Marieke got involved in the event in whatever way she could. “For example, one year I handed out orange segments and cups of water, or did grimacing in the Veemarktstraat, because I had just done a grimacing course for children. He also tried to infect me with the “running virus,” but that proved unsuccessful. I did participate once, but I really did that for him”. He is delighted that his granddaughters Puck and Daan are participating.
What also recurred every year was the discussion about the fact that no people in wheelchairs could participate. For Marieke a no go, from her work as an occupational therapist. “So that there is now room for disabled participants, I think is a very good development. In addition, it has become more of an “atmosphere event. In the early years, the focus was mainly on the competition element and internationalization. “About the ‘Africans barefoot’ my father couldn’t stop talking”. Components such as the Family Run were added later.
Singelloop merchandise of yesteryear
There are several Singellopen in the Netherlands, but the first one was in Breda and Bert was incredibly proud of that. At the same time, he was a modest man and that was to his credit. “He did everything for the Singelloop from his heart and from his love for Breda. I could always enjoy his enjoyment immensely,” Marieke says with a smile. “My father also lives on in the Singelloop. He helped lay the foundation for what the event is today. That makes me a very proud daughter!”
Marieke, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful stories with us. We are lovingly building on the great foundation laid by (among others) Bert!
Written by: Ancilla Antens, Communications & PR