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Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg sal mik om Hoërskool Middelburg se puik momentum te stuit wanneer die twee spanne mekaar in die vierde ronde van Finsbury-reeks pak.

Die Volkies self het verlede naweek ‘n waardevolle sege behaal teen Merensky van Tzaneen. Dave Pelzer, die span van Heidelberg se voorste kolwer, is op sy stukke en het reeds twee vyftigtalle op sy Finsbury-kerfstok.

Die openingskolwers, Matthew Wentzel en Marko Hatkopf, is ook mooi op dreef en sal die Volkies vinnig van die merk af wil kry deur die sterk Middie-boulaanval vanuit die staanspoor onder druk te plaas.

Ivan Deale, die Middies se mees ekonomiese bouler tot dusver, sal die gevaarman wees, terwyl Volkies ook moet ligloop vir Gavin Genis . Genis is venynig met die bal, maar vervul ook ‘n sleutelrol in die Middies se middelorde.

Eduan Strydom behoort weer onophoudelik in te hardloop om die Volkie-kolwers te terroriseer.

Daar kan dus na ‘n titaniese stryd tussen die Volkies se sterk kolflys en die Middies se genadelose boulaanval uitgesien word.

Merensky smag nog na hul eerste oorwinning in vanjaar se reeks. Die span van Tzaneen sal Saterdag in Middelburg met HTS Middelburg swaarde kruis.

Die Plasies het verlede naweek so hittete oorwinning gesmaak teen Heidelberg Volkies in ronde drie. JP Botha, die Plasies se hoogs talentvolle kolwer en paaltjiewagter, het ‘n groot taak op hande indien die Tzaneeners hoop om suksesvol te wees.

Voorts sal die aanvangskolwer, Logan Janse van Rensburg, sy belowende vertonings met die kolf in ‘n werklike groot beurt wil omskep. Met die bal sal die aanvangsbouler, Luka Heinlein, se afwesigeheid ‘n groot leemte vir die Plasies laat. Sy plaasvervanger, Kyle Crous, is egter nie te versmaai nie, met sy swaaiboulwerk wat die lewe vir die Middelburgers kan bemoeilik.

Die Middelburgers se kaptein, Toy Engelbrecht, sal oudergewoonte van voor wil lei, vernaam na sy span se nederlaag met ses paaltjies teen Uplands College.

Ethan Dreyer sal saam met sy kaptein goeie waarde met sy knap boulwerk wil toevoeg. Die kolwers Anthoni Smuts en WJ Enslin sal verlede naweek se teleurstelling agter hulle wil sit, en vir Crous onder druk wil plaas om ‘n produktiewe begin vir hul span te verseker.

Hoërskool Dinamika sal hul onoorwonne rekord in vanjaar se reeks wil behou, wanneer hulle teen die gevaarlike Uplands College te staan kom.

Kaptein Dean van Onselen se kolf is huidiglik witwarm, en hy het nog in elke beurt geslaag om meer as vyftig lopies vir sy span op te stapel.

Sy boulers hou egter die grootste gevaar in vir Uplands, met verál Mark van der Berg en Jayden Smith wat skitterende vertonings met die bal gelewer het in die vorige twee rondes.

Vir Uplands sal Kai Naylor beoog om ‘n rat voor die Dinamika-kolwers se oë te draai, na sy uitstekende vertoning teen HTS Middelburg toe hy vyf paaltjies vir 15 lopies laat kantel het.

Marley Waspe behoort die gom in die Uplands-kolflys wees. Die voorslagkolwer sal op sy indrukwekkende spelpeil wil voortbou wanneer hy Saterdag sy verskyning in die middel maak.

 

Die derde-ronde stryd tussen die twee Pretoriaanse skole, Midstream College en Hoërskool Zwartkop, behoort toeskouers Saterdag op die punte van hul stoele vasgenael te hou.

Die onoorwonne Midstream sal die wedstryd as gunstelinge betree. Die span van Midrand is inderdaad uitstekend op dreef, met hul aanvangsbouler, Xander Senekal, wat oudergewoonte die boulaanslag sal lei.

Senekel, pas na sy vyftal paaltjies teen die Hoërskool Ben Vorster verlede naweek, sal sy verwoede ritme teen die Zwarries wil voortsit.

In die kolfdepartement kan dinge nie veel beter gaan nie. Meeste van die Midstream-kolwers is op vorm, met Jeandre Lourens wat uitstaan. Die voorslagkolwer se paaltjie sal ongetwyfeld in die Zwarrie-boulaanval se visier wees.

Aan die Zwarries-kant sal die bestendige Nicholas Conradie poog om Senekal en kie onder druk te plaas. Conradie het tot dus ver vuurwarm vertoon met die kolf, en is die span van Centurion se sleutel to sukses.

Conradie sal hoop dat Wihan Gelderblom ook sy goeie spelpeil van die vorige twee rondes kan voortsit. Wat die boulwerk betref, sal Rowan McLaren vroeg-vroeg sy klas wil tentoonstel en ‘n beduidende rol speel om die imponerende Midstream-kolflys onder druk te plaas.

Hoërskool Pietersburg pak Saterdag weer die langpad aan wanneer hulle teen Hoërskool Lichtenburg in Lichtenburg te staan kom. Albei spanne lek nog wonde na nederlae in die vorige ronde.

Die Pieties sou egter heelwat selfvertroue uit sy vertoning teen Zwartkop geput het. Die jongeling, Andreas Jansen, het lekker ritme gevind met die bal en sal Saterdag daarop wil voortbou.

Die Pieties se uitstaande bouler, Hanno van Zyl, beleef tot dusver ‘n indrukwekkende reeks met die bal. Die veelsydige speler sal egter graag ‘n bestendige bydrae met die kolf ook wil lewer.

Die kaptein, Nicholaas Oerlemans, sal die sukkelende begin tot die reeks agter hom wil plaas, en daarop uit wees om ‘n waardevolle bydrae met die kolf te lewer.

Die Liggies se vurige Ona Senokwane wag die Pietie-kolwers met hope selfvertroue in. Senokwane was die Liggies se keurbouler in die afgelope twee rondes.

Sy kollega, Lethabo Memani, het ‘n taamlike rol om te vervul met sowel die bal as kolf. Memani se boulwerk het deur die loop van die reeks beïndruk, en die alsydige speler sal sy kolf ook wil laat praat. Dit sal vir Douw Jacobs, die Liggies se topkolwer, heelwat ondersteuning bied.

Marais Viljoen reis na Tzaneen waar hulle vir die Hoërskool Ben Vorster die stryd aansê. Dit behoort ‘n taamlike toets vir die Tzaneeners te bied, aangesien Marais Viljoen na drie rondes steeds onoorwonne is en dit blyk nie of die span van Alberton enige planne het om spoedig te verloor nie.

Hul aanvangskolwer, Tyron Douw, het sy ritme gevind met ‘n uitmuntende honderdtal teen die Liggies . Die gevaarman, Nathan Coleske, het homself ook weer onder die lopies bevind.

Die Vossies se groot uitdaging sal kom wanneer die draaier, Declan Botes, die bal opneem. Hy behoort te brand om sy opponente op die stadiger, draaiende blaaie van Limpopo te fnuik.

Njabulo Maseko, die Vossies se voorste kolwer, sal geensins terugstaan vir die uitdaging nie. Die draaier, Anton Lourens, sal ook daarop uit wees om vroeë paaltjies teen die sterk Marais Viljoen-kolflys te laat kantel.

With the basketball season hitting its stride, many of the country’s leading teams are beginning to cast an eye towards the biggest boys’ basketball event in Southern Africa, the St John’s College Basketball Tournament.

From 22 to 24 February, 768 players, from three countries and four South African provinces, will gather on the courts to showcase their skills across three age groups. Among the teams travelling to St John’s College are Waterford Kamhlaba, from Eswatini, and Falcon College and St George’s College, from Zimbabwe.

Those teams will be competing in the u19 boys’ competition, facing tough opponents like Maritzburg College, from KwaZulu-Natal, and St Benedict’s College, from Johannesburg, who will be among the top contenders.

Towards the end of 2023, at Kearsney College’s Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament (ISSBT), Bennies beat College in the final, and both have been in impressive form this year.

Just last weekend, St Benedict’s won the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) Invitational High School Basketball Tournament, convincingly defeating St John’s College 54-30 in the final to keep their unbeaten tournament record intact.

Meanwhile, Maritzburg College’s high-pressure game has been producing highly entertaining and match-winning basketball. Most recently, College visited Michaelhouse, where they powered their way to a big 67-39 win. Their fast-paced play, especially their suffocating defence, makes them a difficult challenge.

Some other KZN schools could be in the running for the title, too. St Charles College is the defending champion. They have a rich pedigree in the sport, and it would be foolhardy to overlook the challenge they pose. In Taite Hendricks and James Wucherer, they have two extremely exciting talents.

Northwood School, meanwhile, can hang with the best of them, as they showed when they beat Maritzburg College 49-35 in the final of the Kearsney Invitational Basketball Tournament, which followed the ISSBT. They had previously gone down 71-81 to College in a regular season fixture.

If the Knights can find their rhythm and consistency, led by Chadley Hargreaves and Lusanda Hlongwane, coach Kent VanderYacht‘s team could pose a real problem for any opponent.

St John’s College dominated the u16 competition at the recent AISJ Invitational, showcasing outstanding skills as they outplayed ESCA 57-39 in the final. One of their standout performers was Reza Creamer, their talented point guard, even though he had moved up an age group for the event. With terrific ball-handling skills and a silky-smooth shot, he will bear watching in the u15 competition.

For those unable to attend the event at St John’s College, the tournament will be broadcast on the SuperSport Schools App, the official media partner of the St John’s Basketball Tournament.

With an exciting and entertaining event anticipated, and the cream of South Africa’s young basketball talent in action, enthusiasts of the sport will be able to enjoy the action from the comfort of their homes.

Fixtures

Thursday, 22 February

Main Court

13:00                                  u13	Saheti	Mangaung
14:10                                   u19	St John’s	Parktown
15:20                                   u19	Maritzburg	St Alban’s
16:30                                   u15	Saheti	St John’s
17:40                                   u13	St John’s	St Benedict’s
18:30                                   u15	Michaelhouse	Sacred Heart
19:20                                   u19	Michaelhouse	Waterford

Court 2

13:00                                  u13	St Andrew’s	The Ridge
14:10                                   u19	St Charles	Pretoria Boys
15:20                                   u19	Jeppe	St David’s
16:30                                   u15	Kearsney	Clifton
17:40                                   u13	St Stithians	Soweto Academy
18:30                                   u15	St David’s	St Alban’s
19:20                                   u19	Michael Mount	Clifton

Court 3

13:00                                  u13	Michael Mount	St Peter’s
14:10                                   u19	Hilton	Northwood
15:20                                   u19	Kearsney	St Benedict’s
16:30                                   u15	St Andrew’s	King’s Linbro
17:40                                   u13	St David’s	Sacred Heart
18:30                                   u15	St Charles	Mangaung Knights
19:20                                   u19	St David’s	Maritzburg

Tennis 1

13:00                                  u13	Redhill	St John’s
14:10                                   u19	St Stithians	St Peter’s
15:20                                   u19	St George’s	Sacred Heart
16:30                                   u15	Michael Mount	Maritzburg
17:40                                   u13	Saheti	St Andrew’s
18:30                                   u15	Redhill	St Benedict’s
19:20                                   u19	Jeppe	St Alban’s

Tennis 2

13:00                                  u13	St Stithians	St Benedict’s
14:10                                   u19	Michael Mount	Michaelhouse
15:20                                   u19	ESCA	Falcon
16:30                                   u15	Pretoria Boys	Northwood
17:40                                   u13	Michael Mount	The Ridge
18:30                                   u15	Soweto Academy	Jeppe
19:20                                  u19	Pretoria Boys	Parktown

Long Walk

13:00                                  u13	St David’s	Soweto Academy
14:10                                   u19	Waterford	Clifton
15:20                                   u19	St Andrew’s	King Edward VII
16:30                                   u15	St Stithians	St Peter’s
17:40                                   u13	Pridwin	St Peter’s
18:30                                   u15	King Edward VII	Hilton
19:20                                   u19	St John’s	St Charles

Friday Fixtures

Main Court

08:00                                 u13	St John’s	St David’s
09:10                                  u19	Northwood	St Stithians
10:20                                  u15	Clifton	Saheti
11:30                                   u15	Northwood	St Stithians
12:40                                   u13	Michael Mount	Saheti
13:50                                   u19	St Alban’s	St David’s
15:00                                  u19	St George’s	Kearsney
16:10                                   u13	St Benedict’s	Sacred Heart
17:20                                   u15	Jeppe	Hilton
18:30                                   u15	St Andrew’s	Michael Mount

Court 2

08:00                                 u13	St Benedict’s	Redhill
09:10                                  u19	St Peter’s	Hilton
10:20                                  u15	St John’s	Kearsney
11:30                                   u15	St Peter’s	Pretoria Boys
12:40                                   u13	The Ridge	Pridwin
13:50                                   u19	Maritzburg	Jeppe
15:00                                  u19	Sacred Heart	St Benedict’s
16:10                                   u13	St John’s	Soweto Academy
17:20                                   u15	Soweto Academy	King Edward
18:30                                   u15	Maritzburg	King’s Linbro

Court 3

08:00                                 u13	Soweto Academy	Sacred Heart
09:10                                  u19	Falcon	St Andrew’s
10:20                                  u15	Michael Mount	King’s Linbro
11:30                                   u15	Sacred Heart	St David’s
12:40                                   u13	Mangaung	St Andrew’s
13:50                                   u19	Hilton	Stithians
15:00                                  u19	Falcon	King Edward VII
16:10                                   u13	Redhill	St Stithians
17:20                                   u15	Mangaung	St Benedict’s
18:30                                   u15	Kearsney	Saheti

Tennis 1

08:00                                 u13	Pridwin	Saheti
09:10                                  u19	King Edward VII	ESCA
10:20                                  u15	Maritzburg	St Andrew’s
11:30                                   u15	St Alban’s	Michael House
12:40                                   u13	Redhill	St David’s
13:50                                   u19	St Peter’s	Northwood
15:00                                  u19	St Andrew’s	ESCA
16:10                                   u13	Pridwin	Mangaung
17:20                                   u15	Redhill	St Charles
18:30                                   u15	St John’s	Clifton

Tennis 2

08:00                                 u13	St Andrew’s	Michael Mount
09:10                                  u19	Sacred Heart	Kearsney
10:20                                  u15	Jeppe	Edward VII
11:30                                   u15	St Benedict’s	St Charles
12:40                                   u13	St Stithians	Sacred Heart
13:50                                   u19	St Charles	Parktown
15:00                                  u19	Michaelhouse	Clifton
16:10                                   u13	The Ridge	Saheti
17:20                                   u15	St Peter’s	Northwood
18:30                                   u15	St Alban’s	Sacred Heart

Long walk

08:00                                 u13	Mangaung	St Peter’s
09:10                                  u19	St Benedict’s	St George’s
10:20                                  u15	Hilton	Soweto Academy
11:30                                   u15	Mangaung	Redhill
12:40                                   u13	St Benedict’s	Soweto Academy
13:50                                   u19	Pretoria Boys	St John’s
15:00                                  u19	Waterford	Michael Mount
16:10                                   u13	St Andrew’s	St Peter’s
17:20                                   u15	Pretoria Boys	St Stithians
18:30                                   u15	Michaelhouse	St David’s

 

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Live views totalled 121 270 483 at the close of the year, showcasing 41 different sporting codes, with 1000 plus school festivals, and events across the SuperSport Schools App and DSTV Channel 216. This platform provides exposure for over 14,500 teams from all walks of life and gives families, communities, and alma maters access to watch the sport they care about most.

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Rate Codes:

Hoërskool Eldoraigne het ‘n groot taak op hande wanneer hulle Saterdag teen ‘n kookwater Hans Moore-span in Benoni te staan kom.

Die stryd tussen bal en kolf sal ‘n interessante een afgee. Eldoraigne beskik oor ‘n vurige boulaanval, met Ruan Boshoff en Ruwan Oliphant, wat die boulaanval sal lei.

Die twee kranige boulers het verlede week in die Pretorianers se oortuigende sege oor Hoërskool Montana ‘n beduidende rol gespeel.

Hans Moore se kaptein, Warren Minnaar, is egter, na ‘n ietwat sukkelende begin tot die reeks, nou stewig op dreef, en sal saam met Stephan Vermaak en Xavier Coetzee oorgehaal wees om hul stempel, op tuisbodem, af te druk.

Die Eldo’s se kolflys is egter nie te versmaai nie. Johan Broekman het oor die afgelope twee rondes bewys hoekom hy so hoog onder die Eldo’s aangeslaan word. Kyle de Bruin het ook beïndruk en sal wil voortbou op sy waardevolle 70-tal teen Montana .

Die twee sal ingewag word deur die witwarm, Adrian Watson. Watson is huidiglik die Hansies se voorste paaltjievraat in die kompetisie, en kon tot dusver reeds agt paaltjies in twee wedstryde op sy kerfstok plaas.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium reis na Kemptonpark waar hulle teen die Afdeling B se enigste onoorwonne span, Hoërskool Kemptonpark, te staan kom.

Die Kempies se Martin Williams sal die tuistoestande optimaal wil benut, nadat hy ‘n vyftal paaltjies geneem het in sy span se oorwinning oor Hoërskool Monument, en hy hou beslis groot gevaar in vir die Gimmie-kolwers.

Williams is egter nie die enigste gevaarman nie. Wian Pieters is ook witwarm met die bal en sal saam met Williams poog om amok onder die Potchefstromers te saai.

Gimmies lek nog hul wonde na ‘n reuse nederlaag teen Hans Moore in die vorige ronde. Kaptein en keurbouler, Tommie Botha, sal sake hierdie week wil regstel.

Botha is ‘n sleutelspeler vir die besoekers met die kolf . Margeo Joubert behoort sy kaptein goed by te staan, en was ook die enigste Gimmie-bouler wat die Hansie-kolwers op hulle tone gehou het.

Die twee sukkelende spanne tans in die afdeling, Hoërskool Montana en Hoërskool Monument, spook sake om die laaste plek in die Jakarandastad uit. Dit wil egter voorkom asof Monnas oor die laaste paar wedstryde belowende momentum begin opbou het.

Die span se boulwerk teen die Kempies, alhoewel steeds aan die verloorkant, was indrukwekkend. Hier het André van Niekerk en Werner Durheim die voortou geneem.

Aan die kant van Montana, lyk dit of die jong span se kolwers uiteindelik hul voete begin vind. Luca Bairos sal weer ‘n sleutelrol vir die Monties vertolk, en sal hoop dat Schalk van Jaarsveld sy goeie spelpeil van die vorige ronde kan voortsit.

Altwee spanne is uitgehonger vir ‘n eerste sege.

One of South Africa’s longest-running and most prestigious schools’ squash events, the Saint Andrew’s Squash Festival, takes place in Bloemfontein from 9-11 February, and celebrates its 30^th anniversary with a jam-packed programme featuring top teams from around the country.

The hosts, St Andrew’s School, traditionally one of the powerhouses of the game, are overseen by SA Schools’ selectors Margo Morgan and Calvin Deutschmann, who are also the organisers of the event. Deutschmann, one of the country’s leading coaches, is a junior men’s national selector, too.

The Saint Andrew’s A team will be thrown straight into the fire in their opening fixture when they face off with Hoërskool Zwartkop. Last year, Zwartkop won the Top Schools Tournament, which brings together the champion schools from the different provinces. St Andrew’s finished second.

However, during the 2023 St Andrew’s Squash Festival, the hosts were victorious against Zwartkop, beating them 4-2. They also beat Selborne College, third at the Top Schools event, 6-0. It should be noted, though, that no winner of the event is declared, thus its designation as a festival.

However, 2024 is a new year, and the teams’ personnel have changed, so there is much to be learned about the schools participating in Bloemfontein.

The strength in depth of St Andrew’s is reflected in the fact that their 2^nd team will also be in action. In 2023, they were unbeaten at the festival, sweeping the Michaelhouse and St John’s College 2^nd teams, drawing with the Maritzburg College 1^st team, and beating the Kingswood College and Queen’s College 1^st teams.

Only two other schools will field 1^st and 2^nd teams this year: Pretoria Boys High and St John’s College.

From Gauteng, the representatives are St John’s, Zwartkop, Parktown Boys’ High, King Edward VII, Pretoria Boys High, and St Stithians College.

The Western Cape’s sides are Diocesan College (Bishops) and Paul Roos Gimnasium.

Queen’s College, Grey High School, Kingswood College, St Andrew’s College, and Selborne College fly the flag for the Eastern Cape.

The hosts, St Andrew’s, represent the Free State, along with Grey College and St Dominic’s College.

Westville Boys’ High, Michaelhouse, Glenwood High School, and Kearsney College carry the hopes of KwaZulu-Natal.

A number of returning coaches have been long-time supporters of the festival, with Calvin Deutschmann attending all 30 editions of the event.

Winston Paxton (Selborne) attends for the 29th time and Andrew Morgan (Kearsney College) for the 20th time, while Mike Bester (St Stithians), Des Alcock (St Andrew’s College), Craig Stephens (Pretoria Boys High), Richard Fietze (Queen’s College) and Mark Johnston (St John’s) have all spent more than a decade bringing their teams to the festival.

FIXTURES

Friday:                     9 February 2024                               Time:             14:15

Fixture			Venue
St Andrew’s A	VS	Zwartkop Hoërskool	St Andrew’s 1 & 2
St Andrew’s B	VS	Parktown Boys’ High	St Andrew’s 2 & 3
Selborne College	VS	St John’s College A	St Michael’s 1, 2 & 3
Grey High A	VS	King Edward VII	Varsity 1 & 2
Maritzburg College	VS	Queen’s College	Varsity 3, 4 & 5
Michaelhouse	VS	Pretoria Boys High A	Ramblers 1 & 2
Kingswood College	VS	Pretoria Boys High B	Ramblers 3 & 4
Kearsney College	VS	Grey College	Grey College 1 & 2
Westville Boys’ High	VS	Bishops Diocesan College	Oudstudente 1 & 2
St Dominic’s College	VS	St Stithians College	Eunice 1 & 2
St Andrew’s College	VS	Paul Roos Gimnasium	Municipals 1 & 2

Friday                        9 February 2024                               Time                  15:30

Glenwood High

VS

St John’s College B

St Michael’s 1, 2 & 3

Friday:                       9 February 2024                               Time:                 19:15

Fixture			Venue
St Andrew’s A	VS	King Edward VII School	St Andrew’s 1 & 2
St Andrew’s B	VS	Bishops Diocesan College	St Andrew’s 2 & 3
Kearsney College	VS	St John’s College A	Varsity 4 & 5, share crt 4
Pretoria Boys High B	VS	St John’s College B	Varsity 3 & 4, share crt 4
Pretoria Boys High A	VS	Selborne College	Varsity 1 & 2
Grey High	VS	Michaelhouse	Oudstudente 1 & 2
St Andrew’s College	VS	Glenwood High	Eunice 1 & 2
Paul Roos Gimnasium	VS	Kingswood College	Municipals 1 & 2
Westville Boys’ High	VS	Grey College	Grey College 1 & 2
Zwartkop Hoërskool	VS	St Dominic’s College	Ramblers 1 & 2, use Crt 1 only till 20h00
Maritzburg College	VS	St Stithian’s College	Ramblers 2, 3 & 4, use court 2 till 20h00 only, then use Crt 3 & 4
Parktown Boys’ High	VS	Queens’ College	St Michael’s 1, 2 & 3, if loadshedding @ 20h00, move to Grey College 3 & 4

FIXTURES

Saturday:                           10 February 2024                             Time:                09:30

Fixture			Venue
St Andrew’s A	VS	Grey High	St Andrew’s 1 & 2
St Andrew’s B	VS	St John’s College B	St Andrew’s 2 & 3
Michaelhouse	VS	St John’s College A	Varsity 1 & 2
Zwartkop Hoërskool	VS	King Edward VII School	Oudstudente 1 & 2
Kingswood College	VS	Parktown Boys’ High	Municipals 1 & 2
St Andrew’s College	VS	Maritzburg College	Varsity 3, 4 & 5
Kearsney College	VS	Pretoria Boys’ High A	Ramblers 1 & 2
Glenwood High	VS	Pretoria Boys High B	Ramblers 3 & 4
Grey College	VS	St Dominic’s College	Grey College 1 & 2
Selborne College	VS	Bishops Diocesan College	Eunice 1 & 2
Westville Boys’ High	VS	St Stithian’s College	St Michael’s 2 & 3
Paul Roos Gimnasium	VS	Queens College	St Michael’s 1 & 2

Saturday:                    10 February 2024                             Time:          14:30

Fixture			Venue
St Andrew’s A	VS	Michaelhouse	St Andrew’s 1 & 2
St Andrew’s B	VS	Glenwood High	St Andrew’s 2 & 3
Maritzburg College	VS	Grey High	Eunice 1 & 2
Paul Roos Gimnasium	VS	St John’s College A	St Michael’s 1 & 2
Kingswood College	VS	St John’s College B	St Michael’s 2 & 3
Grey College	VS	King Edward VII School	Grey College 1 & 2
Kearsney College	VS	St Stithians College	Ramblers 1 & 2
Selborne College	VS	Zwartkop Hoërskool	Oudstudente 1 & 2
Parktown Boys High	VS	Bishops Diocesan College	Municipals 1 & 2
St Dominic’s College	VS	Queen’s College	Ramblers 3 & 4, move to Varsity 5 if there is load shedding
Westville Boys’ High	VS	Pretoria Boys High A	Varsity 1 & 2
St Andrew’s College	VS	Pretoria Boys High B	Varsity 3, 4 & 5, use all three courts to start – courts will be needed if there is load shedding@ Ramblers.

FIXTURES

Sunday:                     11 February 2024                             Time:               08H30

Fixture			Venue
St Andrew’s A	VS	Selborne College	St Andrew’s 1 & 2
St Andrew’s B	VS	Maritzburg College	St Andrew’s 2 & 3
St John’s College A	VS	Westville Boys’’ High	Ramblers 1 & 2
St John’s College B	VS	St Andrew’s College	Ramblers 3 & 4
King Edward VII School	VS	Michaelhouse	Eunice 1 & 2
Kingswood College	VS	Glenwood High	Varsity 3, 4 & 5
Grey College	VS	Pretoria Boys High A	Grey College 1 & 2
Parktown Boys’ High	VS	Pretoria Boys High B	Grey College 3 & 4
Grey High	VS	St Stithians College	St Michael’s 1, 2 & 3
St Dominics College	VS	Paul Roos Gimnasium	Municipals 1 & 2
Queens College	VS	Bishops Diocesan College	Varsity 1 & 2
Kearsney College	VS	Zwartkop Hoërskool	Oudstudente 1 & 2

Hoërskool Menlopark se dinamiese duo, Menike van den Berg en Colene Scheepers, het onlangs hul stempel by die Interhuis-atletiekbyeenkoms afgedruk deur jarelange rekords te laat spat.

Op skaars 17 jaar oud maak beide Menike en Colene met trots aanspraak op die 100 m-rekord, ‘n prestasie wat 53 jaar lank onaangeraak gestaan het – sedert Claude van Straaten die merk in 1971 gestel het met ‘n tyd van 11.80 sekondes.

Colene het dit aanvanklik tot 11.78 verbeter, maar Menike het daarna die rekord verder vermorsel met ‘n merkwaardige 11.74 sekondes.

Dit het nie daar opgehou nie, met Colene wat ook die 400 m-rekord, wat sedert 2003 deur Tihanna Vorster gehou is, met ‘n tyd van 56.08 laat spat het. Sy het met ‘n tyd van 56.07 die rekord, wat 12 jaar lank gestaan het, gebreek.

Menike se atletiek-reis strek terug na haar laerskooldae by Laerskool Generaal Hendrik Schoeman, waar sy in gr. 3 rekords begin breek het. Ten spyte van terugslae, weens Covid-19 en ‘n ernstige rugbesering, het Menike ‘n skitterende terugkeer gemaak tydens Menlopark se Interhuis.

Danksy haar ooglopende talent, het sy elke jaar die Suid-Afrikaanse Kampioenskap bywoon en nog elke keer met medaljes teruggekeer.

Sy het ‘n ernstige rugbesering in 2021 oorkom met die ondersteuning van haar ouers, terapeute, fisio’s en afrigters. Menike poog om ten minste vyf keer per week te oefen, aangesien haar doel is om die hele jaar ‘n tyd onder 12 sekondes te handhaaf – met die oog op nasionale erkenning .

Menike is opgewonde vir die jaar wat voorlê en, hoewel daar heelwat trane en sweet met haar loopbaan gepaard gaan, weet sy dat dit op die ou einde die moeite werd is.

Vir Colene is dit niks nuuts om rekords te breek nie. In 2020 het sy die 400 m-rekord by die A-Bond Interhoër verbeter. Verlede jaar het sy Interhoër oorheers en nuwe rekords in die 100 m (12.07), 200 m (24.08) en 400 m (55.04) in die o.17-kategorie opgestel, terwyl sy vanjaar haar indrukwekkende vorm voortgesit het met nog twee Interhuis-rekords.

Colene se atletiek-reis het in gr. 1 begin waar haar natuurlike talent spoedig na vore getree het. Vandag hou sy met trots die titels van die SA en Afrika 400 m-kampioen.

Colene oefen vyf tot ses dae per week en mik om vir Suid-Afrika in die 400 m by die Wêreldbyeenkoms vir Juniors in Peru te verteenwoordig. Boonop is sy voorlopig deel van die 4 x 400 m-seniorspan vir die Wêreldaflosse in Mei, in die Bahamas.

Colene beskryf atletiek as ‘n sport met daaglikse uitdagings. Sy floreer egter wanneer sy haarself tot die uiterste druk, en sy weet dat dit belangrik is dat daar konstante groei moet wees – wat heelwat dissipline verg.

 

Tydens die Noordheuwel Top 15-atletiekbyeenkoms was Hoërskool Randburg se Kaili Botje en Chane Vermeulen kop-aan-kop met die 100 m en 200 m, en albei atlete het ook met nuwe rekords weggestap.

Vermeulen het die 100 m gewen in ‘n rekordtyd van 11.73 sekondes, terwyl Botje kort op haar hakke was met 11.87 sekondes.

Botje het die bordjies verhang in die 200 m, deur ‘n nuwe rekord met 24.05 sekondes op te stel, terwyl haar spanmaat, Vermeulen, tweede geëindig het met ‘n tyd van 24.34 sekondes.

Tebogo Mammathu van Monument het die vorige 200 m-rekord in 2013 opgestel met ‘n tyd van 24.15 sekondes.

Die spanmaats sit hul tweestryd op die baan voort by die Randburg Prestige-byeenkoms, wat Vrydag by die UJ-stadion in Johannesburg aangebied word.

Minke Dekker van Zwartkop het nie net die 3000 m vir dogters o. 15 gewen nie, maar ook ‘n nuwe rekord met ‘n tyd van 09:54.68 opgestel.

Menlopark se Janelle Kirkpatrick spog ook met ‘n nuwe rekord langs haar naam, nadat sy die 90 m-hekkies vir meisies o. 14 met 13.21 sekondes gewen het.

Noordheuwel se Chane Fourie het twee keer die wenstreep oorgesteek en ook ‘n nuwe rekord in die o. 14-meisies se 400 m met ‘n tyd van 0:57.58 behaal, wat ook in 2013 deur Mammathu opgestel is.

Fourie het ook die 200 m met ‘n tyd van 25.55 sekondes gewen.

Tumi Ramokgopa van Prestige College, wat reeds op internasionale vlak deelgeneem het, het weer gewys waarom sy as een van die topatlete beskou word, en het die 100 m vir  dogters o. 17 met 13.60 sekondes gewen.

Izandri Jacobs van Montana het haar slag in die 1500 m en 800 m gewys, deur die wedlope met tye van onderskeidelik 04:52.84 en 2:09.27 te wen.

Menlopark se Line de Villiers het die 400 m (0:57.51) en die 800m (2:15.49) gewen in haar o. 15-kategorie.

Hannah Hope Vermaak van Hoërskool Noordheuwel het die 100 m in die o. 17-dogterskategorie met ‘n tyd van 12.09 sekondes gewen. In 2023 het sy die 100 m in ‘n rekordtyd van 11.69 sekondes gehardloop.

Vermaak het ook die 200 m gewen met ‘n tyd van 24.60 sekondes.

Colene Scheepers van Menlopark, rekordhouer van die 400 m wat sy skaars ‘n week gelede by die Interhuis-atletiekbyeenkoms opgestel het, het die 400 m met ‘n tyd van 0:56.23 gewen.

Helpmekaar Kollege‘s Kyle Swanepoel played an integral role in his side’s comprehensive victory over Cornwall Hill College in a 50-over clash on Wednesday.

The opening batsman led the way for his team, top scoring with a mature 86 runs from 99 deliveries, while Swanepoel and his opening partner, Anrich Liebenberg (37), combined well for a 69-run partnership for the first wicket.

Anthony Stone was also impressive, anchoring the innings through the middle overs, with a 31-run contribution.

It was, Waldo Haasbroek, however, who set the Helpie innings alight, with a blistering 44 off just 20 balls, which helped propel Helpmekaar to a big 288/8 from their 50 overs.

Obakeng Mokonyane (3/65) and Jon-Maron de Jesus (3/57) did the bulk of the damage with the ball for Cornwall Hill, claiming six wickets between them, albeit it at a cost of 122 runs.

In the batting department, however, there wasn’t much for Cornwall Hill College to write home about.

Juan Minnaar underlined the Helpies’ dominance by knocking over three batsmen for just 19 runs. His colleagues Henno Steyn (2/18) and Dihan Janse van Rensburg (2/20) provided valuable support, and Anrich Liebenberg rounded off a very good Helpies’ bowling performance by chipping in with two wickets, to go along with his innings of 37 runs.

The best that Cornwall Hill was able to muster was an unbeaten 15 by Mohale Pitson as the Pretoria school endured a forgettable day, stumbling to only 81 all out and a massive 207-run defeat.

Summarised scorecard 

Helpmekaar 288/8 (Kyle Swanepoel 86, Waldo Haasbroek 44*, Anrich Liebenberg 37, Anthony Stone 31; Jon-Maron de Jesus 3/57, Obakeng Mokonyane 3/65); Cornwall Hill College 81 (Mohale Pitson 15*; Juan Minnaar 3/19, Henno Steyn 2/18, Dihan Janse van Rensburg 2/20, Anrich Liebenberg 2/21). Helpmekaar won by 207 runs.

The outstanding performer during Wednesday’s annual Noordheuwel Top 15 athletics meeting was, without a doubt, Heidi Booysen of the Crawford Christian Academy.

Booysen produced two of the four performances during the meeting in Krugersdorp that accumulated the maximum possible 1 000 points on the Athletics Performance Evaluation (APE) Table.

Booysen had the crowd on the edge of their seats during the girls’ u16 shot put as she easily bettered the meeting record. Her longest put measured 17.50 metres, which improved on the previous mark, set by Alicia Khunou (Menlopark) in 2022, by a massive 99 centimetres.

Booysen’s attempt is also the best by a youth (u18) athlete worldwide so far in 2024. The second-best distance, achieved by Nafy Thiam (Belgium), is some way off Booysen’s monster distance, at 17.10m.

The world record (u18) for the event belongs to Corrie de Bruin of the Netherlands, who set an astounding mark of 20.52 m way back in 1993. Booysen will still be able to compete in the u18 age group next year.

She achieved 1 000 points in another discipline, the discus, with a 46.08 metre effort. That places Booysen fourth in the world this year. It was, however, not enough to break Alicia Khunou’s meeting record of 46.64m, which survives another year.

Menlopark’s Merle Janse van Rensburg also enjoyed a strong discus competition, capturing second place with a best of 43.15m.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Alicia Khunou also produced a 1 000-point performance for her winning throw of 50.44 metres in the u19 girls’ discus. Liandri de Wet, from Hoërskool Rustenburg, took second with an excellent throw of 47.08 meters, which still left her more than three metres adrift of Khunou.

Khunou added another gold in the shot put, within a winning distance of 14.80m. Mignon la Grange (Randburg, 13.47) and Kyla Nienaber (Noordheuwel, 12.39) took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

In the high jump for girls’ u19, Garsfontein’s Mia Janse van Rensburg (1.73m) edged closer to her personal best of 1.76m, which she achieved during last year’s Super Inter-High. Janse van Rensburg has already represented South Africa at senior level in the African Championships.

Affies’ Anje Bezuidenhout will also feel happy after her clearance of 1.70m in the u16 age group.

Janelle Kirkpatrick (u14) of Menlopark showed off her versatility once again, winning the 90m hurdles and capturing gold in the long jump with a best of 5.52m.

Potchefstroom Gimnasium’s Stephane Hook produced a superb performance in the u16 javelin for girls, launching her winning throw 43.06m.