My top local sports stars of 2020

Sports stars have had a tough time in 2020 with so many events postponed, cancelled or merely hosted virtually with little to no prize money.

But the year has not been without its achievements, and those should always be celebrated.

As sports editor for six of Caxton Local Media’s Joburg North newspapers, I have named one sports star for each distribution area that has shone bright in 2020.

Bryce Parsons (Rosebank Killarney Gazette)

Bryce Parsons not only captained the South African U19 cricket team at the U19 Cricket World Cup this year, but also top scored for South Africa in the tournament with 265 runs in six matches. The former King Edward VII School learner is also an Old Edwardians Cricket Club player and helped his club win the the Premier League back-to-back earlier this year. This led to him being awarded the U19 player of the year at the Centreal Gauteng Lions annual awards, and helping his club win club of the year.

Akani ‘Prime’ Phuzi (Northcliff Melville Times)

This cruiserweight boxer from Linden’s Alan Toweel Boxing Gym holds the World Boxing Association Pan African cruiserweight title, having defended it multiple times despite the past three years being choc-a-bloc full of fights. The year 2020 did not slow him down and he added to his tally at the Young Gladiators events at the beginning of the year. He has won all 11 of his fights, five of them by knockout.

Siobhan Records (Fourways Review)

This dressage rider makes podium at every show she attends in the mink and manure belt. This year, Records won the inter B division at Kyalami Park Club’s dressage championships and won a handful of medals at the Pre-Easter Festival (including wins in inter A, A4 and novice divisions, as well as her horse being awarded horse of the year). During hard lockdown, Records did her part for the community by making videos to help riders train at home.

Karen Woest (Sandton Chronicle)

Sandton Cricket Club star, Karen Woest (20) was selected for the national U21 action cricket team for the World Cup in Australia this year. This after she represented her country at the action cricket world cups in 2015 and 2017. In January, Woest scored a double century in an outdoor game for Sandton Cricket Club, for which she is the women’s team captain, against Dalikay Cricket Club. Her 201 not out came off 118 balls and was a club record for the highest individual score.

Arina Niyaki (Midrand Reporter)

Arina Niyaki (17) is an equestrian star who also shines in road cycling and triathlon. The Beaulieu College learner is a regular on the podium in the eventing world and is a South African National Equestrian Schools Association Eventing Nationals winner for three years straight. But after getting her own bicycle just months before, Arina earned a podium finish at the Cape Town Cycle Tour this year. She finished the 109km race in just 3:45:47 to finish in third place in the U19 division. Recently, Niyaki joined the Pure Symmetry Multisport triathlon club, where she has been training hard for races.

Deirdre Larkin (Randburg Sun)

This 89-year-old runner from Fontainebleau holds the 10km world record for her age category and is not even slowing down. This year her home running club, Randburg Harriers, named an annual race after her. She is also a life time member at her running club, meaning she does not have to pay membership fees. Larkin is somewhat of a celebrity in the running world and inspires others to greater feats.