UPDATE: Local bodyboarders do the Bay proud

NORTHERN KZN, hosts of the Imperial Nissan Zululand SA Bodyboarding Championships, achieved their best ever result of second overall in the event held over five days last week, and have also produced another SA Champion in Boys’ rider Alex Nutt.

After 23 years of competing at national level, the team was able to better their previous best position of third overall on the backs of some impressive individual performances, which saw six of their team riders make the finals in various divisions.

What makes this achievement all the more special is that they were not even able to field a team to compete at last year’s event.

The team also took the Team Spirit Award in an event where most of the provinces could have taken it.

The passion, camaraderie and support seen down at the beach on each day was a highlight of the event.

Local riders making the finals were Rheinhard du Toit with a 4th place in the Pro Division, winning some cash as well as a second place in the Dropknee Division.

He also took a special award for the wave of the contest for a semi-final dropknee barrel ride.

Robyn Nutt took a second in the Ladies Division behind experienced former champion Olivia Donald (CKZN) and won the award for most improved rider.

The Men’s Division featured two local riders with Claudde Coetzer narrowly beaten into second place by Dune Barker (SKZN) and Giovann Muller, ending in 4th place.

Claudde was leading the heat with a good air roll spin until Dune landed a big invert, which won the judges over.

Top performance from a local perspective was that of Alex Nutt, who won the title of SA Champion in the Boys’ Division, an incredible achievement.

He was also awarded the South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) Circuit award for the Boys’ Division for consistently doing well in all the national events leading up to SA Champs.

In addition to the above performances, local rider Deon Jansen was awarded the Ivan Friedmann Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship adding to an impressive list of local results.

The national organising body SABA, sponsors and the eventual Pro Division winner Matthew Lombard from Boland were full of praise for the local committee for their being successful hosts of a memorable SA Championships.

Results

Pro Division – 1 Matthew Lombard (BOL), 2 Michael Ostler (CKZN), 3 Rory Fellow-Smith (SKZN) and 4 Rheinhard du Toit (NKZN).

Boys – 1 Alex Nutt (NKZN), 2. Liam Kavanagh (CKZN) and 3 Michael Robers (BOL).

Juniors – 1 Garryd Ensor-Smith (CKZN), 2 Ethan Nel (WP) and 3 Aedan O’Brien (WP).

Ladies – 1 Olivia Donald (CKZN), 2 Robyn Nutt (NKZN) and 3 Chantal Cremer (BOL).

Grandmasters – 1 Leon Nel (WP), 2 Michael van Huyssteen (CKZN) and 3 Ian Stansfield (WP).

Dropknee – 1 Dune Barker (SKZN), 2 Rheinhard du Toit (NKZN) and 3 Michael Ostler (CKZN).

Men – 1 Dune Barker (SKZN), 2 Claudde Coetzer (NKZN), 3 Bruce Donkin (CKZN) and 4 Giovanni Muller (NKZN).

Masters – 1 Ryno Turketti (BOL), 2 Jamie Rademeyer (SKZN) and 3 Shaun Haage (CKZN).

Top Judge – Francois Conradie.

Wave of the Event – Rheinhard du Toit (NKZN).

Move of the Event – Storm Prestwich (SKZN).

Most improved rider – Robyn Nutt (NKZN).

Ivan Friedmann Memorial Award for sportsmanship – Deon Jansen (NKZN).

Team Spirit Award – Northern KZN.

SABA Champions 2015 – Combined results of all national events

Pro – Tristan Roberts (BOL).

Juniors – Tristan Roberts (BOL).

Boys – Alex Nutt (NKZN).

Ladies – Skye Bothma (SKZN).

Mens – Dune Barker (SKZN).

Masters – Dave Camacho (SC).

Dropknee – Dune Barker (SKZN).

Grandmasters – Leon Nel (WP).

Top Judge – Riaan du Preez (BOL).

Team Results

1 Central KZN (Winning the Fishman Trophy), 2 Northern KZN, 3 Western Province, 4 Southern Cape, 5 Southern KZN, 6 Boland and 7 Eastern Province.

 

Written by: John Cawood