Top sporting highlights of 2017

A round-up of sport making headlines in Germiston in 2017.

Germiston Simmer Rugby Club played their first home match in the Golden Lions Rugby Union Pirates Grand Challenge, at the Germiston Stadium, in May, against Alberton Rugby Club. Here Simmer scrumhalf Dario Bezuidenhout (with the ball) charges toward the try-line.

It is the first month of the new year and slowly the world of sport begins to turn.

As we eagerly wait to see what the year has in store we look back and shine the light on some of the great achievements our sports personalities produced in 2017:

• Local athletes on track:

The Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Youth and Junior Championships were held at Germiston Stadium in March. Tanya Ehrke (left) and Velmein Hendriks compete in the women’s u-19 100m hurdles, with Hendriks coming in first by seconds.

Germiston played host to several Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) events, in which athletes from across the country competed. “This successful athletics season has produced exceptional performances, all building up to towards athletes being selected to represent the province in the upcoming provincial championships, as well as a chance to represent South African in a number of international championships,” said Mandla Radebe on behalf of the CGA.

• Putting bat to ball:

The Elsburg Eagles Cricket Club in action at their home grounds in Dinwiddie.

Germiston is lucky to boast not one but two fantastic cricket clubs, namely the Elsburg Eagles Cricket Club and the Germiston City Cricket Club. The Eagles play their home matches at either their main oval, the Elsburg Eagles Oval in Dinwiddie, situated at 1 Malherbe Street, or their second oval at the Elsburg Sports Complex, situated at the corner of Heidelberg Road and Egret Street in Elspark. While Germiston plays their home matches at the Germiston City Sports Grounds in Vimy Ridge Road, in Delville and at Afrikaanse Hoërskool Germiston. Both clubs have celebrated highs in the new season which continues this year.

• Paddling:

Mike McGiddy (front) and Andy Ryan, members of the Victoria Lake Canoe Club, use the Victoria Lake Parkrun to train for the portage sections (running with the canoe) of the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon, which was held on February 16, 17 and 18, 2017, in Pietermaritzburg.

Paddlers from the Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC) found new ways to prepare for the 2017 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon, which was started in 1951 and remains one of the biggest canoe races on the race calendar. This included strength training through the Victoria Lake Parkrun and a Night Race on Germiston Lake, which is hosted annually by VLC.

• A thrilling season for Germiston Simmer Rugby Club:

Germiston Simmer Rugby Club played their first home match in the Golden Lions Rugby Union Pirates Grand Challenge, at the Germiston Stadium, in May, against Alberton Rugby Club. Here Simmer scrumhalf Dario Bezuidenhout (with the ball) charges toward the try-line.

It has been another successful and rewarding year for the Germiston Simmer Rugby Club. “Simmer had an amazing season with four of our five teams playing in the semi-finals and two teams making it to the finals. This year the first team walked away as winners of the Bailey Cup and the senior sevens team also won the plate final at the Lions Sevens Tournament, after beating the Pirates Rugby Club in the final,” said club president Rene Audier.

• Primrose Hill’s Ten10 founder gets ready to run for animals once again:

Hazel Möller, from Primrose Hill, prepared to take to the streets once again to complete the Ten10 in aid of animals.

She is an ultra-marathon runner of note and ready to tackle whatever the open road throws at her. And, when the Comrades Marathon was fast approaching, Primrose Hill resident Hazel Möller hit the road once again in the Ten10. “Over the last 20 years I have run practically every day of my life. I have completed hundreds of marathons and ultras, 15 Comrades and over 20 100-milers. On this journey, I have met the most amazing people and running has been a source of pleasure, camaraderie and inspiration to me and I wanted to use my love of the sport to help others,” said Möller.

• Thunder promised at EFC 61:

Elsburg resident, Pietie ‘Thunder’ Coxen, couldn’t wait to take on Tresor Boluwa at EFC 61 held at Sun City.

After 11 months of no cage action, Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) fighter, Pietie ‘Thunder’ Coxen was ready to get back in action. Coxen faced Congolese national Tresor Boluwa at EFC 61, held at Sun City on July 8. The Elsburg resident said it felt good to be back in action after a long break. “I was down due to an injury but I am healed and can’t wait to take on my opponent in my first fight in 11 months,” said Coxen. Coxen was thrilled to win his comeback fight.

• Cyclists go the extra mile for a good cause:

Claudio Melo (14) and Blake Coetzer (15) were the youngest cyclists on the Luso Africa Sports and Cultural Association’s Charity Tour.

Luso Africa Sports and Cultural Association’s Cycling Division took off for their annual Charity Tour last September. The annual event, which was in its 10th year, saw 76 cyclists gathering at Hattingh Park in Primrose East for the start of the tour and anniversary celebration. “Every year we host the race in aid of charity and this year we travelled to Maputo, Mozambique. The cyclists covered 685km over four days. The funds raised were donated to one charity in South Africa, St Francis de Assisi Portuguese Old Age Home, and two charities in Mozambique, Missão de São Roque (orphanage) and Sagrado coração de Jesus (psychological rehabilitation centre).”

• Dojo celebrates students’ achievements:

Having fun at the Tebbutt’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy year-end prize-giving are Juhann Duarté (14), Cole Pretorius (11), LK van Coller (9) and Luan van Coller (5, being picked up).

The students and parents from Tebbutt’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy came together recently to celebrate an excellent year. The year-end prize-giving, held at the Germiston City Sports Club, saw students honoured for their hard work and dedication throughout the year, which included wins at both national and international competitions. Owner of the academy Kanchu Alex Tebbutt thanked everyone for making the year a great success.

• Top accolade for talented Maria:

Maria Combrink from Delville scooped the Disabled Sportswoman of the Year award at the Gauteng Sports Awards.

Local athlete Maria Combrink (GCN, September 29) was named Disabled Sportswoman of the Year at the Gauteng Sports Awards ceremony. The ceremony, in October, saw Maria come up against two other extremely talented sportswomen Kgothatso Montjane (wheelchair tennis) and Sandra Khumalo (para-rowing). After the win, an elated Maria said: “I am honoured and humbled to have won; the other two finalists are wonderful sportswomen.”