St David’s slings ahead in water
INDANDA – Support structures and enthusiasm for canoeing are key to success on the water for St David's Marist Inanda.
St David’s Marist Inanda Preparatory School can relax in still waters, after surging ahead of the canoeing pack this year.
The school finished top at the annual SA Schools Sprint Kayak Championships in April, which was followed by an overall win in the Gauteng Canoe Union School League Series over the course of the year.
Reflecting the success of the team as a whole, seven of the school’s canoeists finished in the top three overall in their age groups at the end of the league.
“The success of our prep team is really the fruit of support from our headmaster, Graeme Edwards, director of prep sport, Grant Ramsey, and master in charge, Tyron Horne,” said canoeing administrator, Jodie Ellinor-Dreyer.
She said the canoeists themselves had shown dedication and camaraderie and trained hard together throughout the year.
Furthermore, the impact and support of coach Phineas Zulu, the school teachers, Dabulamanzi Canoe Club in Emmarentia, and the families of the boys, helped the youngsters achieve everything they were able to this year.
“Our team has really become an extended family,” she added.
For Zulu, coaching the youngsters is easy because the support structures are strong, and the canoeists themselves are so committed. “St David’s has been canoeing for a very long time,” he said.
“Some of our best old boys are about 35 years old now. Our canoeing has been successful because the school takes the sport very seriously, and enthusiastic parents play a huge role.”
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