GAUTENG CANOE UNION SCHOOL LEAGUE
Interested parents / coaches / clubs who want to be involved with and participate in the Gauteng School League need to request to be on the SL Mailing list – please email by return to be added in order to receive detailed information regarding the school league for 2015. Email – jenniedallas23@gmail.com
It is with regret that I have tendered my resignation as Co-Ordinator of the School league for 2015, but with confidence that the league is in very good hands, with the team that has been managing the entries, database, scoring, time keeping, capturing, and management of the league for most of the past year……Good luck to Tracey Watkins and the St Davids Team of helpers, who with Megan Hunt will continue the good work.
2015: GAUTENG SCHOOL LEAGUE
14 February – Sprint lanes – School league race at Roodeplaat (ACD)
7 March – Sprint lanes – School league race at Germiston Lake (VLC)
31 APRIL / 1 and 2 MAY – THE SA SCHOOL SPRINT COMPETITION – venue to be confirmed
(this is the ultimate race for the youngsters who participate in the school league and they will be preparing, training in sprints from early in the New Year. The sprint lane races will help them to prepare for the interprovincial competition – ALL ages – ALL juniors can participate in the event).
The final race of the 2014 year in the Gauteng Canoe Union School League took place at Emmarentia Dam, on Saturday 8 November 2014, with age appropriate distances. Nearly 150 participants took part in the race this past weekend as the league grows from strength to strength – a feeder system to our sport.
Under 8 and Under 10 – 3km
Under 12 and Under 14 – 5km
Under 16 and Under 18 – 8km
The races were shorter than usual marathon races, but the point was really the prizegiving and wrapping up the school league for 2014 – many of the children are writing exams, and studying, and not training effectively so it was back to the sprint season with short hard and FAST races and LOTS of FUN!
The full results for the final race, as well as the updated database with points and races throughout the year are attached to the School League Newsletter and will be posted on the GCU Website.
Photos have been posted on to the GCU Facebook page – HERE.
Thanks to Bertie Baard and also Robyn Harris for the photos.
Thanks to Chad, Canoe Concepts for arranging an introduction to canoe polo for some of the young learner paddlers who were keen to give it a shot while waiting for the scores to be tallied! More learning curve, new disciplines, a whole world of experiences out there to be enjoyed !
The TOP overall floating trophies presented for the year’s performance, based on accumulated points achieved at races throughout the year – included:
Top Guppy Boy Paddler of the year – Jaydon Hunt (FLCC) U12
Top Guppy Girl Paddler of the year – Megan Oelofse (LIK) U12
Top K1 Paddler Boy of the Year – Jonathan Jooste (LIK) U14
Top K1 Paddler Girl of the Year – Caroline van der Linde (LIK) U14
THE MOST IMPROVED MALE AND FEMALE PADDLER OF THE YEAR TROPHIES WERE AWARDED TO: CHENTIN MIENIE AND JAEMI WELLISCH (LIK / VLC).
THE TOP SCHOOLS BASED ON ACCUMULATED POINTS EARNED BY PADDLERS REPRESENTING THAT SCHOOL TROPHY:
1st, 2nd and 3rd Primary School – St Davids Marist Inanda, H F Verwoerd Parys, Leeufontein Primary Roodeplaat.
1st, 2nd and 3rd High School – St Davids Marist Inanda, Parktown Girls, Hoerskool Parys.
THE TOP CLUB is also recognised based on accumulated points from the paddlers who participated in races representing their club:
TOP CLUB AWARD: Dabulamanzi, with Likkewaan and FLCC in 2nd and 3rd place.
SCHOOL LEAGUE RACE 8 NOVEMBER MEDAL WINNERS:
The under 8 boys top 3 winners were Theo Dryer, Chris Taylor and Lyton Oelofse, (Dabs, Lik Dabs) while the girls were Ameerah Hank, Jesse Francis and Bonolo Mohape (All FLCC). The Under 10 boys podium winners were Matthew van der Merwe, Chentin Mienie and Nicholas Erwee, (FLCC/Lik/Dabs) while the girls podium winners were Kamillah Hank, Kara du Preez and Anja Bornman (FLCC/Cen/Lik).
The Under 12 top boys and girls were Jaydon Hunt, Freeman Ndlovu and Murendeni Nemadzivhana, (FLCC/JCC/ SOW), Megan Oelofse, Abigail Bezuidenhout, and Ayanda Chwayi (LIK/LIK/SOW).
In the K1 category, the Under 14 top finishers were Sibusiso Chwayi, Jonathan Jooste and Wian Bornman, (Sow/Lik/Lik) with Caroline van der Linde, Jaemi Wellisch and Alexis Rich taking the girls top positions (Lik/VLC/Dabs). Alex Masina, Luvhuwani Munyai and Jonty Griesel (JCC/Sow/Lik) were the top Under 16 boy finishers and the girls were Pooja Satyaprekesh and Lara Dickson. (Dabs).
The Under 18 girls who participated were Asanda Ndlovu and Sneziwe Gxobole, (SOW) and the top three boys in that age group were Peter Chissano, Archie Moncho and Kaliphili Nquku (JCC/FLCC/SOW).
Medals are presented to first three in each age group, male and female, and a novice race is often organised for the marathon distance races in the latter part of the year when so many new learners start coming into the league and need to be introduced to competitive canoeing….. These special races with paddlers steering skeef all over the place and zigzagging a course of their own choosing is often very enjoyable, and most fulfilling when within a few short months they are also starting to catch the more experienced paddlers with confidence!
This last novice race which is shorter than the normal distances is always fun to watch…….AND the SL tries to ensure that almost every paddler in their first novice race receives a medal……
Under 8 winners were Lucien Baldry, Adam Confait and Tendau Ntuli (Dabs), with an Under 8 girl, Roriseng Roberts competing. There was also an Under 12 group with Gavin Lloyd, Yusuff Motala and Roriseng Makgana as well as a girl in that age group, Faida Kansilembo (VLC). Under 14 competitors included Robert Anderson, Jorell Kok and Gift Guma and we are sure that they all enjoyed their first ever canoeing race!
OVERALL PRIZEGIVING AWARDS FOR 2014 GAUTENG SCHOOL LEAGUE
Points are awarded to all paddlers who complete the set course for their races during the year on a sliding scale from first to last finisher, and the points accumulate throughout the year to provide us with total points that are credited to the individual paddler who is then recognised at the annual prizegiving……
It is interesting to note that it is NOT always the 1st, 2nd, 3rd podium winners that always receive the overall awards, as consistent and regular participation adds to the overall points for the year and give those who try hard, a chance to achieve…….
While only a specified number of race points are added to the overall total for the year (enabling paddlers to miss a couple of races due to school, health or family commitments and to level the playing field), those who are able to participate in the majority of races are also recognised.
100% Full attendance at Gauteng School League races for 2014, who received prizes were Lyton Oelofse, Chentin Minie, Megal Oelofse, jaydon Hunt, Caroline van der Linde, Wian Bornman.
MISSED ONLY 1 RACE Theo Dreyer, Ryan Macpherson, Matthew van der Merwe, Nicholas Erwee, Simon Henson, Luke Watkins, keegan lambe, Jack latilla-Campbell, Abigail Bezuidenhout, Nicole Henson, Connor Erwee, Tristan Trican
The TOP POINTS ACHIEVERS for 2014 were:
U8 Boys – Theo Dreyer, Lyton Oelofse, Ryan MacPherson (Dabs/LIK/Dabs)
U8 Girls – Ameerah Hank, Jesse Francis, Bonolo Mohapi (FLCC)
U10 Boys – Matthew van der Merwe, Chentin Mienie, Nicholas Erwee (FLCC/LIK/DABS)
U10 Girls – Anya Bornman, Kara du Preez, Kamillah Hank (Lik/Cen/FLCC)
U12 Boys – Jaydon Hunt, Connor Erwee, Inus Du Preez (FLCC/Dabs/CEN)
U12 Girls – Megan Oelofse, Abigail Bezuidenhout, Nicole Henson (Lik/Lik/Dabs)
U14 Boys – Jonathan Jooste, Wian Bornman, Tristan Trican (Lik/Lik/FLCC)
U14 Girls – Caroline van der Linde, Jaemi Wellisch, Alexis Rich (Lik/VLC/Dabs)
U16 Boys – Jonty Griesel, Alex Masina, March Strauss (Lik/JCC/Dabs)
U16 Girls – Pooja Satyaprakesh, Daniella Goldschagg, Kate Brokensha (Dabs)
U18 Boys – Peter Chissano, Moses Ngohae, Archie Moncho (JCC/FLCC/FLCC)
U18 Girls – Sneziwe Gxobole, Daniella Afonso, Asanda Ndlovu / Hayleigh Thornton
We wish the current and future juniors all the best going forward into the New Year.
Jennie Dallas
For GCU SL
0828578571