READING the sport pages in the ZO’s Weekender edition, the realisation dawned that Zululand sportsmen and -women are increasingly making names for themselves – not only at national level, but also internationally.
First is the announcement that local cyclist Heidi Dalton has been selected for the South African team to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Scotland from next month.
Then we read that our ‘golden girl’ and Olympic medallist, canoeist Bridgitte Hartley, claimed the South African K1 marathon title and has qualified for the SA squad to compete in the world championships in Oklahoma in September.
Next to that story was the news that swimmer Quinton Harris has qualified for the Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships in California in August, while mixed martial arts fighter Martin de Beer fougth his way to a third national title.
And it goes on. Mtuba’s Estiaan Steenkamp made some history by winning the Phirimane 200 off-road motorcycle race in the Free State, while at the KZN X-Country series event at Illovo, motorcyclist Calvin Hume claimed a podium finish – his third consecutive victory, putting him in line for a championship win later in the year.
Well done to all our sport achievers – and for the ZO for ensuring we stay informed.
P VAN DEN BERG
