CKS Athletics Club in Glenwood, is building a proud reputation of building athletes who have excelled in national teams for a variety of sporting codes.
Club member, Tyrone Pillay represented South Africa at the Paralympics, where he produced an African and South African Record to win a bronze medal in the F42 shot put, for athletes classified as single leg amputees. “This was a historic moment for our club as we have had world championship medals and continental medals, but this was the first Olympic medal. We are extremely proud of the efforts Tyrone has achieved in his athletics career,” said Clyde Kinloch from CKS.
He went on to say that in recent weeks athletes have prepared for a number of other competitions. Zandri Meyer (shot put and discus), Jan-Frederick van Zyl (javelin) and Wilhelm van Deventer (110m and 400m hurdles) will represent a KZN Invitation team at the Clover Top 10 Invitational Competition in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 15 October against some of the best in the country in age group athletics.
Recently, 23 of the club’s athletes competed at the SACSSA (South African Christian Schools) national championships in Sasolburg, representing KZNCSSA, after which a SACSSA team was selected to compete in two competitions.
The 14 to 19 year olds will be taking part in the PUKKE Top 30 in Potchefstroom on 21 and 22 October, where 30 of the best school teams in South Africa are invited to compete, making it a rather prestigious meet. Athletes from CKS club who will compete for SACSSA are Zandri Meyer (discus), Marilize Goosen (200m, medley and 4 x 400m relays), Jan-Frederick van Zyl (discus and javelin), Wilhelm van Deventer (110m and 400m hurdles) and Wynand Conradie (discus and hammer throw).
The seven to 13 year olds will take part in the ASA Primary Youth inter-provincials in Durban on 19 November, where the top primary youth athletes from around South Africa converge on the competition. Those from the club who will compete for SACSSA are Mbalente Risenga (60m and 80m) and Leshae Dicks (shot put).
“As coaches we (Clyde Kinloch and Kobus Blignaut) believe in the old fashioned way of training, managing and coaching our athletes. We train out of Port Natal School in Umbilo, on grass and limit the number of hours on the training ground to various sessions per week, due to the fact that children of today have so much on their plates, with extra mural activities and school requirements. We have been able to manage these kids to keep the sport fun and they come to training without fear of being drilled to the ninth degree and being over trained and exhausted by the time competitions come,” said Clyde.
He said the club is also one of the few clubs in KZN that incorporates IPC (disabled) athletes into the programme, who compete against able body athletes in competitions.
“We have a training squad in Durban of just over 20 athletes ranging in age from seven to 65 years of age, and everyone works together as a happy family. The club also has a road running squad that trains separately from the track athletes and bases its training on programmes supplied by CKS.
Contac CKS via email: clyde.kinloch@gmail.com.
