Sports year in review 2014 (July to December)
A number of Brakpan sports people performed well in their various sporting codes in 2014. These are some of the year’s most memorable sporting achievements and events.
July
United Cricket Club’s Hosking Park was one of the venues for the annual Eastern Junior Club Cricket Association’s u-13, u-16, u-17 and u-19 Carnival City Cricket Festival, with 20 teams in action from as far afield as Botswana.
Brakpan Rugby Club’s first XV defeated rivals Boksburg 47-16 at Bosman Stadium in the Valke Peregrine League on July 12.
The Eastern Gauteng Hockey Union announced that they were set to commence with the construction of the first artificial surface hockey pitch in the region, at Benoni Northerns Sports Club.
Brakpan Wrestling Club hosted 17 clubs from around the country with great success at their annual Interclub Competition, at the Brakpan Indoor Sports Centre.
August
Brakpan Mines Bowling Club’s Thinus Oelofse became the fourth member in the history of the club to earn selection to the Protea national team.
JP Kruger made his return to the hexagon at EFC 32, at Carnival City, and defeated Liam Cleland.
Despite failing to automatically qualify for the 2015 edition of the Cell C Community Cup, after finishing as runners-up in the league section, Brakpan Rugby Club completed a fourth successive Valke Peregrine League win in the cup final, against Springs, at the Barnard Stadium, in Kempton Park, with an 18-14 win.
September
Former Brakpan Nomads Football Club player Ryan Chapman completed a loan move to Premier Soccer League (PSL) team Supersport United from Bidvest Wits.
A total of 112 golfers, from 28 different clubs throughout the Central Gauteng area, took part in State Mines Country Club’s PGA of SA Pro-Am. The Pro Division was won and shared by Michael du Toit and Gavin McCarthy.
Brakpan Rugby Club’s first XV failed to qualify for the Cell C Community Cup after losing to Wanderers in a play-off encounter.
Brakpan Rugby Club’s Golden Oldies hosted an Oldies Rugby Competition at the Bosman Stadium on September 27.
October
Aidam Justus played a sublime innings of 108 runs to set up United Cricket Club’s Premier XI’s first win of the 2014/2015 Eastern Premier League, against Tembisa, on October 12.
Brakpan’s Elise Havenga took the overall win in the modified street class of the Regional Drag Racing Championship, in her V8-powered BMW.
The Masters Gymnastics Club’s women’s pair of Charma du Plessis and Zahndri van Greune, as well as the men’s group of Jezri Krinsky, Keelan Krinsky, Gryphon Krinsky and Bongani Zim, took part in the annual South African Gymnastics Games in Belville, Cape Town and won their categories to become South African champions.
November
Brakpan Rugby Club were announced as joint winners, with Boksburg Rugby Club, of the Valke Rugby Union’s Club of the Year on November 14. This came after they won the Valke’s First and Second leagues.
Marthinus Steyn wins the Transvaal Galvanisers Mountain Bike Race, at the Van Dyk Dam, opposite Carnival City on November 23.
December
United Cricket Club’s Premier XI enjoyed back-to-back victories in the Eastern Premier League for the first time ever, with consecutive wins against Springs Old Boys and KwaThema Windies respectively.
