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THE TEAM PAGE 2
WELCOME TO SMARTSPORTSA MAG
Goodday Smartsport members. No-one really reads these things but we going to write it anyway. How's the tennis player in the corner, that's Rory Beach(he's actually serious). He's one of the members responsible for putting this magazine together, he says, "the balls in your court now". Then Damien Lourens is the guy with the big smile and funny beannie, he's smiling because he has nothing to do with the magazine. He organizes events, tournaments, coaching clinics and hot dog eating competitions. I've been taking it easy for the last month, so... at the end of the day i have know idea how this mag ended up looking so BOSS. Enjoy!
CHECK OUT OUR AWESOME PRIZE WE’VE ORGANISED FOR THIS EDITION....PAGE 11, GO NOW...THEN COME BACK...SO MUCH TO CHECK OUT!
PAGE 3 I am fortunate enough to go to Glenwood High school, where we have a very professional approach to rugby. With 9 Natal Craven Week players coming from Glenwood, we had quite a good season. I will be honest and say that the level of the SA schools side was nothing compared to normal school rugby. At trainings every player did everything at a 100% because he’s got a springbok on his chest now, and no matter what the coach asks everything , from warm-up to ice baths.
Age Height Weight Position
18 1.9m 93kg Lock
Hobbies • Tennis • Badminton • Training
MEET RICKY SCHNETLER
That’s what I enjoyed the most from SA schools, the intensity and the winning spirit that everyone had. There was a lot for all of the players to take back and put into their school sides to try and improve then as well.
Goals • Get an A aggregate for Matric • Enjoy every moment of whatever I do • Get a hole-in-one in golf • To score my maiden century at cricket • Leave a legacy • Other sporting codes (I love all sports!!) • 5th team soccer • 5th team Cricket (AKA 1st team rugby)-goal- to hit the ball as hard as you can. Very successful. • 2nd team golf • 2nd team squash • 2nd team softball
Motto’s • Phil 4:13( You can do all things through him who gives you strength) • You regret the things in life you don’t do. • Your talent is God’s gift to you, what you do with it is your gift to God. • Vat Hom Tuis
With the Craven week trials starting early in the second term, it was a long, hard and physical few weeks building up to Craven week. Nevertheless, we were ready for a week that would either make us, or break us. Our first game was against the cheetahs and everyone said that they are going to run us to pieces
from the kick-off. We just kept our minds on the task at hand and knew that nothing is impossible when you believe and have faith. The night before our match we had some quiet time as a team and we decided that our motto for this week is going to be Phil 4:13. The guys were really into it and you could see that they were ready. Game day came and we were playing the main game of the day. For many of us it was our first televised match so the butterflies were flying around because the way we saw it was that if you have a bad game, the whole of South Africa sees you! We got stuck in from the first whistle and just put our bodies on the line and played! The halftime score was something like 15 - 3 to us. At the end we lost the game with a try in the last minute of the game, and I think the small Natal side impressed a lot of people who wrote us of. Our second game was against the SA Academy. On the 1st day they smashed the some side with 50 so they were quite highly ranked. Still a bit sore, we went into the game with a relaxed attitude, knowing that we have the potential to beat them even though they’re so good. After a very physical game we beat them comfortably and started to think of our next game against the Bulls. The night before I spoke to my dad on the phone and he told me that he thinks it’s time for me to play a bit for myself. Not stingy or a one-man-team, but just to try and really do what I do best and that is play rugby. The game against the bulls was an intense game and actually a very fun game to play in. Even though we broke each other at breakdown points, there was always time for a joke here or there. We lost the game 22 - 25 with a kick missed in the final moment of play. You win some and you lose some, but I think that even though we lost we gained valuable experience at Craven Week from our coaches and the teams we played against. As a small boy I used to sit at home in the July holidays and admire the guys playing Craven Week wishing that I will one day play there...
You can ask any rugby playing school boy in South Africa and he will tell that you that rugby will always have preference above school work. Over all, I missed about 3 weeks of school work just before trials, but it was every science lesson missed worth it! There wasn’t really much else that had to be scarified for this tour. Actually I gained a lot more than what I had to give up, like experience, professionalism, friends and being roommates with ou Tolla, he was a great example for me, and even my religion grew stronger over this time. There are a few things that you can’t go without, playing rugby. No matter on what level you play, you always have to have a passion and love for the game. There’s a saying that goes: the hard work that you put in the dark when no one is looking, makes you who you are when you’re in the spotlight and everyone’s looking. Therefore hard work and determination are basic requirements for playing at the top level. Another thing is support, from your school, team mate and parents. It just makes it so much easier for you when you have a school like Glenwood pushing you to do your best and developing you from a young age to reach you’re true potential. One thing that stood out for me during my time with the SA setup was the professionalism! We had everything ready for us where ever we went, from meals, snacks, and training sessions. It felt like we were real Springboks. We had set times for everything and even compulsory feet up sessions on your bed every day! No junk food! No sweets! Nothing except what they told us to eat. They told us that if you want to play Springbok one day that’s the way to do it, by looking after your body. It was an amazing experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. Just follow your dreams and stop at nothing before you reach them!
PAGE 4 Twelve year old Matthew Kirkham is a grade 6 learner at Northlands Primary School. His love of sport and all-round ability has resulted in some wonderful achievements. 2008 North Durban Cricket U/11 KZN Stillwater Lifesaving U/12 Ethekweni & South Coast Swimming Team 2009 North Durban Cricket U/13 North Durban Hockey U/13 KZN Stillwater Lifesaving U/12 Central Natal Surf Lifesaving U/12 Northlands Primary school 1st XV Rugby (he’s still in Grade 6) Surf Lifesaving: Matthew is the 2009 U/12 SA Malibu Board Champion, was runner up in the Iron Nipper as well as a member of the Suncoast Pirates Lifesaving Club Taplin relay team who won the SA Champs. He was also awarded the “Most dedicated Nipper” trophy at the club’s annual prize-giving. Stillwater Lifesaving: He was a member of the KZN relay team which won the Malibu Board & Taplin relays as well as coming 2nd in the ball throw event.
Biokineticist Debbie Edwards, chiropractor Dr.Bruce Grant and physiotherapist Carmen de Lange, work together to counter these problems and get you back to normal.
poor posture can result in suboptimal performance, in other words, good posture can improve your sports skills. We are moving into a time where the emphasis is on healthy living and the great thing about that is we no longer have to wait for problems to start, you can take charge right now.” (Carmen de Lange) “Chiropractic is a health care discipline and profession that emphasizes diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system (nerve, muscle and skeletal conditions and injuries) especially the spine, under the hypothesis that these disorders affect general health via the nervous system. I am a diversified chiropractor which means I do not only treat spinal related conditions such as back and neck pain, I treat most of the body systems like the shoulders, knees, ankles etc using many different treatment procedures other than adjusting people’s spines. Conditions I treat include back and neck pain, spinal disc injuries (slipped discs), headaches, migraine headache, whiplash, sports injuries from ligament sprains, muscle strains to cartilage injuries. I believe that you need to
“During my first assessment with patients, I often find myself answering “I don’t know about you but it often this question more than actually makes me think of pain. Most people assessing the patient! Simply put, only visit a physiotherapist once they a Biokineticist is involved in the are already experiencing pain or have rehabilitation of muscle and/or joint injured themselves. Musculoskeletal injuries through exercise. For example, pain is the second most common if you’ve sprained your ankle, had a cause of pain in the world. As Debbie knee op, or are suffering from chronic mentioned, mechanical back pain back pain, I prescribe specific scientific affects 80% of us. exercises to correct and strengthen The thing is, often pain is preventable. muscular imbalances (or muscle Having your posture checked is wasting that occurs). The supervision just as important as going to the of these exercises is necessary in the dentist regularly. As you grow and rehabilitation process as too often become older, your body changes. If people return to normal life too soon you get your posture checked by a after an injury and do more damage! I physiotherapist, we can pick up things emphasise the correct biomechanics, like where you have weak muscles and and supervise your technique to avoid stiff muscles or joints. In sportsmen, serious compensations. Biokineticists ‘Play fair’: By actively participating in sportThe physical benefits of sport for children ing events, kids develop a healthy underand teens are commonly known; exercise standing of peer relations. Sportsmanship helps kids to maintain their weight, burn and camaraderie help children feel acceptcalories and establish healthy sleeping ed. They also gain an understating that rules patterns. In addition, endorphins and other are both important and necessary. Conse‘feel-good’ chemicals released via physical quently, by participating in extra-curricular exertion aid in balancing mood and managactivities, children and teens will learn how ing hyperactivity. However, sporting activito ‘play fair’. ties also provide the ideal arena for teaching ‘You can do it’: Engaging in an activity children crucial life skills which ultimately independently of parents and/or significant enhance peer relations, self-esteem, adjustcaregivers usually promotes a sense of ment and overall psychological well-being. autonomy, empowerment and achievement A sports game or event is a microcosm of life; there are rules to abide by, opponents to in kids. As such, sport is a great self-esteem be faced, team members to work with, men- booster; giving kids a sense of ‘I can do it on tors to listen to, talents to be recognized and my own!’ which can foster a unique sense of mastery. hard work to be done! Here are a few life ‘Win some, lose some’: Through sport kids lessons that are actualized through sport: also learn that both winning and losing are ‘Let it out’: Kids usually demonstrate and a reality. It is just as important that kids manage emotions behaviorally. Sport and engage with their success as it is with their exercise facilitate the release of pent-up disappointment. Behaving graciously both energy associated with emotions and hyperactivity syndromes. These include feelings of in victory and defeat will equip them to deal with the ‘ups and downs’ of daily life. anger, sadness, anxiety, agitation and even ‘Hard work pays off’: One of the most joy or pride.
treat the cause of a problem to truly fix someone and focus on postural changes in the spine, educating people on how to prevent the same condition from happening again and to make better lifestyle choices. “ (Dr Bruce Grant) We have done many postgraduate courses and offer a wide range of treatment options and integrate our treatments with exercise rehabilitation and postural correction which is why we form a great team of medical professionals which are extremely well equipped to treat the majority of neuromusculoskeletal injuries, and prevent their recurrence.
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guide you through the different stages of exercises and make sure that you are 100% ready to return to life and sport. Mechanical back pain affects 80% of the population and can become extremely debilitating. However, it can be managed through maintaining core strength, so many of my patients opt for regular Pilates sessions that I teach at my practice.” (Debbie Edwards)
Debbie Edwards, Registered Biokineticist (HPCSA) 072 329 2393 or 031 573 1637 Bruce Grant, Chiropractor 084 707 7789 or 031 573 1637 Carmen de Lange, Physiotherapist 074 117 1882 63 Adelaide Tambo (Kensington) Drive, Durban North.
important life lessons is that of striving to achieve goals. The sporting arena is an ideal training ground for kids to reap the rewards of their commitment, perseverance and hard work. ‘I am worthy’: Kids who are supported and encouraged from the sidelines by enthusiastic parents or caregivers will learn that they are worthy of praise, attention and support. This is can boost individual self-esteem as well as enhance the quality of child-parent relationships. Extracurricular activities also provide parents with the perfect opportunity to show their children how much they care! In short, sport is a great way to learn valuable skills that will equip children, and indeed their parents, for the ever changing ups and downs of modern living, and what’s more, it’s fun to boot! By: Lisa Grant-Stuart and Donna Page, both of whom are psychologists with a special interest in child and teen development.
The annual Mr Price DPHS Primary Schools National Rugby Festival has become a highlight on the calendar for all the schools taking part and has firmly established itself as one of the country’s top primary school sports festivals. This year DPHS will host four out-of-province schools – SACS, Trinityhouse, Bishops and WPPS and Pelham and Merchiston from Pietermaritzburg, as well as a Durban Development team. The matches between the eight First XV teams form the highlight of the three-day festival, but games involving various Durban teams against the SACS 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams as well as DPHS under 11s will ensure more than 28 teams are in action during the tournament. As with the current Rugby Festival, DPHS has its own Cricket Festival. Held in February this year, it brought together old and new friends and competitors from Dale College (King Williams Town) Grey College (Bloemfontein), KEPS, (Gauteng), Trinityhouse Preparatory (Gauteng), Pelham (PMB) as well as from Durban-based Northlands Primary and Virginia Preparatory.
THE Durban Preparatory High School (DPHS) motto, From Small Beginnings Better Fortune Follows, is closely mirrored in the school belief of participation for all in sport. Regardless of ability, all boys at DPHS, from Grade 0 through to Grade 7, are encouraged to take part in a wide-range of sporting activities offered at the school. A lot of schools encourage participation, but what makes the 99-year-old school stand out is its commitment to the philosophy, and its ability to draw on the large DPHS family to achieve the goal of giving every boy a chance to be part of a sports team. From Grade 0 pupils are encouraged to take part in exercises, swimming and ball skills activities, all of which provide a foundation for proficiency in a wide variety of sports later in life. In Grades 1 and 2, the hugely successful “mini sport” concept ensures pupils are given a carefully controlled grounding in rugby, cricket and hockey when they are coached by an army of enthusiastic parents. Having 40 parents each term assisting the Junior Primary staff with the coaching duties on Friday evenings or Saturday mornings brings many benefits, not least of all a multifaceted bonding between the parents, their children, other parents and the school staff. The emphasis on having the parents participate in the coaching process also goes hand in hand with Headmaster Richard Neave’s stand against parents, coaches and spectators who put unreasonable expectations on players or offer disparaging remarks against officials.
“For many years the mini sport coaching has been a very simple way to have parents and spectators appreciate that every DPHS boy, allowing for his individual talent or limitations as a sportsman or athlete, is doing his utmost not to let the team down,” said Neave. “It’s a win-win solution that not only ensures a good coach-to-player ratio, but also allows parents to grasp just how difficult it is for young boys to fully succeed at games like cricket, rugby and hockey.” Neave has been outspoken in his desire to have the pupils at DPHS play sport in the spirit in which it is intended. “We view sport as more than simply competition between two teams,” he said. “It is a vehicle for education, life skills, discipline and leadership and the mini sport concept allows us to instil these values before they get involved in the more competitive inter-schools matches.” Once the pupils reach the under 9 age group they are exposed to competition with other schools and the benefits of the early coaching ensures good results, but more importantly a large pool of confident boys are keen to represent their school each weekend and enjoy sport with the right attitude. And those are the pillars on which DPHS and its sport hope to make sure its alumni enjoy better fortunes, long after they have moved to high school and into the working environment.
INFO BOX Durban Preparatory High School 99 Gordon Road Morningside, Durban, 4001 Tel: 031- 3122154
MICHAEL DICK DIRECTOR OF SPORT Tel: 031- 3122154 Cell: 082 560 1224 Email michaeldick@dphs.co.za
The desire to provide a complete pupil has driven DPHS to enthusiastically pursue away fixtures, tours and festivals. Highlights of every year are the sports tours that are undertaken. Each year Prep takes a selection of open and under 11 teams to play against school in Cape Town, while cricket teams from under 10 up to the open age group participate in a tour to Johannesburg every second year and host in the year when they do not travel. In addition they receive invitations to attend numerous festivals for a number of codes from schools around the country. “For a primary school, we engage in more trips than most but we believe that this gives the learner more in return,” say Michael Dick, DPHS Director of Sport. “Travelling educates the players on a range of different levels. Not only do they benefit from the sporting experience, but they also gain valuable life skills from being exposed to different environments, and from being out of their comfort zone. It’s a great way to meet and learn about people, and places, and it makes for greater understanding, even at younger ages.” Gaining experience through sport, particularly by playing away from home, is a practice that is encouraged across all team sports and one that saw tennis, water polo and hockey all make expeditions throughout South Africa to play against the best.
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Pre-2010 excitement pulsated audibly and physically on Crawford North Coast College’s campus recently, as they hosted an incredibly successful Girls’ Six-A-Side Soccer tournament. This annual event efficiently organized by Mr Rowland Whitehead (CNC Sport Coordinator), has grown significantly to include 72 teams across three age groups (U14, U16 and U18). Thanks must go to our major sponsors notably the Life Style Centre Ballito and Crawford Marketing Department. The total of 165 games were played during this competitive and yet funfilled day. It was obvious that the players were talented, skilled and well drilled in preparation for the rigors of this type of tournament, as a high standard of play was on display. The cream of the competition proved their mettle with Hillcrest High tying with Westville Girls’ High in the U14 division. While Queensburgh High tied with Westville Girls’ High in U16. The U18 division was also tied by Scottburgh and Hillcrest High schools. Congratulations to these teams on their consistently high level of performance throughout the demandingly competitive day.
AT CRAWFORD NORTH COAST COLLEGE
We were finally off, O.R Tambo was a mere blib on the radar before we were strapped into our international flight ready to embark on this long awaited tour. Netball players, hockey players and water polo players all dotted amongst the people on the flight only recognizable by their St Mary’s ‘hoodies’ and the obvious look of excitement of flying far over the seas to unvisited countries to play the sports they love, and experience different countries, with different cultures and a whole different way of life. Landed early Saturday morning in Singapore and was greeted by a sweltering 32 degree fresh morning!! This was definitely going to be an experience. Fortunately for us we had planned a whole afternoon on Sentosa Island, the clear ocean, white sands and various activities such a luge riding, pink dolphins, the aquarium and the famous Merlion was such a great start to what was an amazing tour experience. Singapore was filled with shopping and sightseeing. Singapore is an amazing country, what a different cultural experience for the girls. We started off by playing the Singapore National Squad. This was a hard game, but the girls played very well against a team that are gearing up and preparing for the 2010 Commonwealth Games that are to be held in Singapore. This was a good start and even though it was a loss, the girls had
the opportunity to get over any jetlag and get prepared for the rest of the matches that they had to face. Our second match was against an international school in Singapore that boasted amazing facilities and a very big water polo pool; after the physicality of the previous game against the Singapore National Team, our girls were dominant from the start and ended our Singapore matches off with a very convincing win. Back to the airport and feeling like seasoned travelers already we boarded another international flight that took us all the way to the New Zealand. Water polo in New Zealand is very popular amongst the girls’ schools, and the level of the water polo is much higher than in South Africa, these girls were much more physical and faster. The week that we spent in New Zealand playing against these schools ended up being an amazing learning experience. Our water polo team became faster, stronger and much more physical. All attributes that would make them better players back home. It was an amazing experience seeing these very young water polo players growing strength by strength every game. We ended our tour with amazing memories of sheep, Luge rides, Zorbing, Huka Jet Boat Riding, and for the brave Bungee Jumping. What an amazing experience and a wonderful opportunity, a big thank you to everyone behind the scenes.
PAGE 8 Professor Tim Noakes, the internationally respected authority on sports medicine who officially opened the SportZone, Kearsney College’s multi-functional indoor sports facility, said the College had set a new standard for other South African schools to follow. The SportZone was a world-class facility, he said, and one which could be expected from a sportsorientated college in America, rather than a school in South Africa. He stressed the importance of sporting excellence, participation and fun - key philosophies of Kearsney’s approach to sport, high performance and wellness programmes promoting a healthy lifestyle. “If South Africa is to succeed globally, we have to have excellence. And this facility is about excellence,” Noakes said. A number of sports celebrities also joined in the festivities at the opening in February 2009, including cricket stars Shaun Pollock and Dale Benkenstein, World Marathon champion paddler Cam Schoeman, rugby heroes Jeremy Thomson and Trevor Halstead, Olympic swimmers Melissa Corfe and Jasper Venter, as well as Comrades veteran Dave Rogers. Kearsney College provides a dynamic environment to promote sporting excellence, sportsmanship and healthy competition for all The strategy to achieve Kearsney’s vision for sport is part of a broad and integrated approach to Wellness. Kearsney believes that participation in sport is integral to a boys’ personal development and has a policy of “sport for all”. The College promotes a culture of fair play and respect. Kearsney’s world-class indoor SportZone complements the High Performance Sports Programme (HPP) offered by the College and allows for coaching to take place whatever the weather. Kearsney consulted widely with experts in relevant fields and partners in the project include the consultants involved in the HPP. A design feature of the SportZone was to allow as much natural light and ventilation as possible.
and an Astroturf hockey field. The varieties of sports on offer range from basketball, canoeing, cricket, golf, hockey, rugby, soccer, squash, swimming and tennis to water polo.
cushioning in the delivery stride area to prevent injury. The matting in the net provides even and realistic bounce. The nets are easily retracted to allow multi-purpose use.
Serious sportsmen can be assured that they will have access to worldclass facilities and receive outstanding coaching. The unprecedented sporting successes in recent years, together with the outstanding sports facilities provide sound foundations for a bright future for all sportsmen at Kearsney.
The flooring for the basketball/ hockey/soccer courts is of international standard. The size of the hockey and basketball Court One are of an international standard. This is currently one of only two international basketball facilities in KwaZulu-Natal.
The world class 280m2 high performance weights gymnasium is air-conditioned and equipped with a modern free weights section, a timed circuit training facility and cardiovascular equipment - treadmills, This multi-purpose facility is equipped spinning bikes, rowing machines and with seven dedicated and permanent boxing bags. Training takes place indoor cricket nets with four bowling under the supervision of a qualified biokineticist. machines, two basketball courts, indoor hockey/soccer, change rooms The SportZone houses two swimming and a viewing deck. pools (one heated), undercover There are more than 20 other sporting spectator seating and change rooms. The cricket nets allow for a full venues at the College, including bowling run-up with special immaculately kept sports fields The world-class indoor SportZone is comprised of an indoor centre, weights gymnasium and aquatics facilities.
Two aspects of Kearsney’s Wellness Programme have been identified as relating to sport at the College: Sportsmanship and Sporting Excellence. These include factors as mentioned below: Kearsney promotes a culture of fair play & respect; Strives to identify and develop each students potential; Enforces an anti-doping policy; Encourages mass participation; Has a code of conduct for on-field behavior & dress of players and conduct of coaches and spectators/supporters; Encourages moderation of expectations of parents, coaches & supporters; Promotes encouragement of team mates and acknowledgement of the opposition; Promotes social, health and community benefits of participation in sports. Talent identification and assessment strategy; High Performance Programme; Individualized programme for conditioning; Sports Psychology; Sports Nutrition; Integrated sports injury management with a team of doctors, physiotherapists and biokineticists; Specialist Coaches; Coaching Clinics; Video Analysis; Professional consultations; Tours & sports festivals
you are doing. Brad: You have to be focused and train hard. Rumour has it, you guys are all round sportsman. Are there any other sports you would like to focus on for the future? Matt: I wouldn’t mind trying triathlons. Other sports that I really enjoy playing are golf and rugby. Brad: No, mountain biking is the best sport I rate. I just do other sports for fun. Matt I heard Brad always steals your girlfriends, is this true? Brad: No, I like to set my standards higher. Brad I heard that Matt always lets down your tyres before a race fact or Fiction? Matt: Brad is one of the toughest contenders but I don’t need to go to
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How did you get into mountain biking as opposed to your more main stream sports? Matt: Well when I moved here form Johannesburg, Brad my cousin introduced me to mountain biking (MTB). I asked my parents if I could start which they agreed and bought me my first MTB. Brad: We heard about it from family friends and started to get into it. How long have you been riding for? Matt: I have been riding seriously for 7 months Brad: One and a half years, but I started racing competitively this year. Is it an expensive sport? Matt: It needs not be if you buy an entry level bike, and if you like the sport you can always upgrade the bike or the parts on the bike. Brad: Yes!! You have to maintain your bike all the time. To buy a decent bike can cost from R8000 to even R90 000. What goes through your mind when doing the dangerous downhill events? Matt: Losing control of my bike. There have been a lot of people who have broken their collar bones and ribs. I have learnt that the fitter you are the fewer injuries you will have. Brad: I love it! The faster and steeper the better. Have you had any serious upside-downs leading to serious injuries (elaborate )? Matt: No, not really. Brad: No, just a few small crashes, managed to stay on the bike most of the time so far. What does it take to be successful in this sport? Matt: You must set goals like choosing the right races to attend. Train hard, eat the right food like low GI, sleep well but most of all have a big heart, the will to win and love what
those levels. Brad: You never know with that boy. He’s always scheming something. Would any of you stop on the side of the race for your cousin if they had a bad accident. Keeping in mind you would lose first position? Matt: Of course, I wouldn’t hesitate to help Brad or anyone else who is injured. It is nice to win a race but there would be other opportunities to win races. Brad: NO WAYS! He can look after himself, less competition for me. Has Naas Botha had any impact on your successes as mountain bikers. Matt: No Brad: No, not really hey.
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c h at w it h o l iv e r S wa r t How long have you been involved in water polo for? 6 years How long have you played for the 1st team for? 2 years Who are some of the rivalry schools that you see as a challenge and are no walk over? St. Johns College, Redham and St. Stithians How does it feel to make the South African team, your thoughts? I was really excited and it was a great experience. Hopefully my Water Polo has improved after the World Cup. What are some of the sacrifices that you have made to play Water Polo? Put my academics on the line. Came back in the middle of my trials. I sometimes have to given up my weekends because of training camps. What does it take to play at a national and 1st team level? Well it takes a lot of training. Water Polo is a very draining sport and you need to be super fit. Gym is an option (low weights, more reps).I don’t do much gym myself though. Have a well balanced diet, no junk food. I drink lots of “Vitamin Water” which is great because it helps me get the vitamins I need and it tastes amazing. What have been some of your highlights in your Water Polo career? Playing against the SA mens side just before I went on tour. Very good for experience and showed us what to expect in Croatia. Playing against the likes of Spain, USA and Serbia in the World Cup, which I learnt a lot from. Making life long friends on tour!! How did South Africa do in Croatia and is South African water polo up there with the other nations with skills, ability and talent? We didn’t do as well as we expected but the other countries were far fitter and have far more international experience. Most of the players over there already have contracts to play polo with clubs around Europe. Physically we can still compete at there level though and we do have the talent. We finished 16th out of 20!! What advice could you give to any young up and rising water polo player who’s dream is to play at a national level? Always believe in yourself, no matter what anyone says about you!
Clifton’s Water Polo Machine, Shooting straight from the pool!
Once again, we have extended ourselves and achieved new milestones. This place, which we call Clifton College, continues to evolve into a top all round boys’ school. Rugby at Clifton College in 2009 has gone where no one would have imagined that it could go in such a short period of time! The 1st XV Rugby Team toured the Eastern Cape where we played the formidable Grey High School and Woodridge College. We were seen as favorites this year at the annual Gestetner Felixton College Rugby Festival. The 1st XV Rugby Team beat Voortrekker Hoerskool 1st XV Rugby Team in one of our compulsory rugby matches and we played St Charles College 1st XV Rugby Team for the first time in the other compulsory rugby match. Other top KwaZulu-Natal rugby schools that we played this year were Kearsney College and Westville Boys’ High School. The u16A team lost narrowly to both Kearsney College u16A and Westville Boys’ High School u16A – these were incredible games which showed just how impressively our rugby has developed in such a short space of time. Clifton College was also invited to the Skonk Nicolson Rugby Festival which was held at Maritzburg College and over 40 schools participated at u14, u15 and u16 level. This was an awesome experience for all three of our “A” teams on and off the field. Joel Parent, the u16A 8th man, had an outstanding season this year which saw him make it to the final Kwazulu-Natal u16 trials, narrowly missing out on a spot in the 22-man squad who played in the u16 Grant Khomo week. He also played for the 1st XV Rugby Team in the last few games. Thembalethu Sishi made history when he became the first Clifton College Rugby player to make a representative side: he was selected for the KwaZulu-Natal Academy B team that took part in the annual Academy Rugby Week in Pretoria over the July holidays. He was selected as flanker and played three out of the four games. “What an amazing experience and the toughest rugby that I have ever played”, said Themba. The KZN team played against the Mpumalanga Pumas u19 Academy Team where they drew 17-17, Blue Bulls u19 Academy Team where they lost 18-22, Boland u19 Academy Team where they lost 14-31 and the Eastern Cape u19 Academy Team where they won 31-14. WELL DONE, THEMBA! Three of our 1st XV rugby players have also been selected to join the Sharks Rugby Academy: Thembalethu Sishi, Luke Reynolds and Carrington Collier. These three players have had a very good season with the Clifton College 1st XV and intend to make rugby a career. Colin Thackwray Master in Charge: Rugby
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