Sports year in review 2014 (January to June)

January

United Cricket Club started the year off on a positive note by winning the Benoni Northerns Cricket Club’s annual six-a-side tournament on Saturday, January 11.

Riding for the all-South African Broadlink KTM Rally Team, Brakpan’s Riaan van Niekerk successfully completed the daunting 2014 Dakar Rally. He managed to achieve an excellent 12th position on his Broadlink KTM.

United Cricket Club’s Premier XI registered their first win of their first ever campaign in the Eastern Premier League at home to Tembisa on January 26.

February

Brakpan-based businessman Brian Bader was one of the East Rand Kayak Club’s paddlers who completed the 2014 Dusi Canoe Marathon from February 13 to February 15.

World Cycling Africa’s (WCCAfrica) Eritrean cyclist Metkel Eyob, held off a challenge from three Bonitas Pro Cycling team riders, to win the elite 160km race of the 2014 Carnival City Macsteel Classic Cycle Race on Sunday, February 24.

Brakpan-based Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies (XKT) Pro League’s fighters Francois Groenewald and Cedric Doyle recorded victories at EFC 27, at Carnival City.

March

Former Brakpan resident Heugene Murray, an above-knee amputee reached Africa’s highest peak, Uhuru Peak, at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Brakpan Rugby Club’s first XV is defeated 27-26 in their opening fixture of the 2014 Cell C Community Cup to Roses United, in Boland.

Brakpan kick boxer Ryan Phillips, who represented South Africa at the World Combat Games in Russia, wins the Ekurhuleni Sportsman of the Year award at a glitzy awards ceremony held by the Ekurhuleni metro. Ringball official, referee and Brakpan resident Peet Aucamp was nominated in the Outstanding Sport Administrator category.

Brakpan Rugby Club’s first XI defeat East Rand rivals Boksburg Rugby Club 48-23 in a televised Cell C Community Cup derby match at Bosman Stadium on March 20.

April

Brakpan-based Xtreme Technologies Kickboxing (XKT) Pro League middleweight fighter JP Kruger is defeated in the title fight with Gareth “Soldierboy” McLellan at EFC 28.

Brakpan Wrestling Club’s talented Matthew Bartlett was included in the South African Cadet Team that represented the country at the Africa Cadet Championships in Alexandria, Egypt in the 54kg to 58kg category.

Brakpan Rugby Club’s First XV were knocked out of the 2014 Cell C Community Cup on points difference after a 35-35 draw with Centurion.

May

Tebello Mohanoe became the first ever black member of the 102-year-old Brakpan Mines Bowling Club.

United Cricket Club’s Premier League skipper leads the u-18 Rowlin National Cricket Academy team to victory in the Johor International u-18 T20 Cup in Malaysia. He was also the player of the tournament.

Local XKT fighter Francois Groenewald defeats rival Leo Gloss via TKO at EFC 29 at Carnival City.

Brakpan resident and kick boxer Ryan Phillips overcame illness to win the semi-contact and light-contact divisions at the South African Amateur Kickboxing Association’s (SAAKA) South African Championships in Pretoria.

Matthew Bartlett, of Brakpan Wrestling Club, won a silver medal for South Africa in the 54kg to 58kg category at the Africa Cadet Championships in Alexandria, Egypt.

June

Nineteen Carnival City runners finished the famous Comrades Marathon on June 1. Petros Mbokazi and Lerato Motaung earned the club’s only silver medals.

United Cricket Club’s Directors’ League team were awarded at the Eastern Cricket Union’s prize-giving for winning their league,

The Bobbies Youth Rugby Club celebrated the club’s 10th anniversary.

Brakpan Rugby Club’s first XI smash NWU (Vaal-Pukke) 103-0 in a Valke Peregrine League match at Bosman Stadium on June 21.

The Dan Triangle Karate Club’s Laura Beamish and Christopher Anthony were awarded their Protea national colours for all styles kumite (fighting) and won medals at the Zone Six Sub-Saharan Africa Tournament in Lusaka, Zambia later in the month.