Author: Stephen Kisbey-Green

The GBS Mutual Bank Mountain Drive Half Marathon was announced last month as an all Grahamstown affair, with GBS Mutual Bank being named as the sponsor, and has just released their official event logo and branding. The race, which is set to take place on August 25, is being hosted this year by the Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset, and looks to bring athletes back to Grahamstown in what is a family-orientated fun day. The Saints & Sinners Multipart Club are going to be providing  technical expertise and using its national network to bring runners back to the city with a…

Former Grahamstown resident and old-Kingswoodian, Taryn-Maie Wille, has been chosen to represent the Springbok side in the Elite U23 Cross-Triathlon World Championships in July 2018. The Champs, which are being held in Denmark on 10 July, are one of five World Champs which will be taking place in the Fyn 2018 ITU Multisport World Championships Festival. Over the course of 5-14 July, the Danish island of Fyn will host five events in Duathlon, Aquathlon, Aqua Bike, Cross Triathlon and Long Distance Triathlon disciplines. Most of the events will take place in Odense, Denmark. However, Wille will have to travel to Svendborg on…

Two senior sports administrators based in Grahamstown say the improved transformation targets hailed by Minister of Sport and Recreation Tokozile Xasa this week are empty. Xasa released the Eminent Person’s Group (EPG) Transformation Report in Pretoria on Monday 7 May. During the announcement of the report, she praised the progress made by a number of federations towards representative percentages of black African players. Phumzile Adam, a non-racial sport activist and former player who is now a rugby coach and administrator as part of the South-Eastern Rugby Union (Sedru), believes that there is little to praise in transformation of sport in town.…

East London will play host to a very special spinbash on Saturday 12 May when Wheelz ‘N Smoke host the electrifying spinning event. East London’s own Enock Spears will be celebrating his birthday in the only way he knows how, by revving up his engine and spinning on his home soil. In spinning, drivers take modified cars onto a track and rev their engines to the max. Similar to drifting, spinners drive in circles at high revs, making a lot of noise, smoke and excitement in front of packed crowds. The event will take place at NU 11 Mdantsane, just behind…

On Thursday 10 May, Graeme College received a donation from the Eastern Cape Academy of Sport as part of the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) Focus Schools programme. The donation of various rugby equipment, including tackle bags, crash shields and agility boxes, was handed over to Headmaster Kevin Watson at the school offices. Graeme has been identified as one of the 10 schools in the Sarah Baartman District to be focused on by DSRAC in order to promote the participation in sport of schools and students. This is the first year that Graeme had been selected for…

On Monday 7 May, the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Tokozile Xasa, released the Eminent Person’s Group (EPG) Transformation Report in Pretoria, which, among other important information, highlighted sporting codes that have met, or not met, their transformation targets. Additionally, the report highlighted the plan moving forward, stressing the need for continued transformation. The EPG Transformation Report is an annual report that details and analyses the transformation status of various sporting codes and unions in South Africa, and assesses whether or not they have achieved their own goals of transformation. The report highlighted South African cricket as a model for…

By: KATHRYN CLEARY AND STEPHEN KISBEY-GREEN The Soul Sisters running group embarked on their ambitious 107km run from 20 to 22 April. This long distance three-day trail run from Blanco to Bedford raised funds for the Lukhanyiso Village project, with the aim of earning R107 000. This was the second year that the Sisters had embarked on this run. The 2017 edition of the Sole Sisters’ journey comprised six of the women. This year, those same women participated and were joined by three other women, including Lara Kruiskamp. Kruiskamp has been involved in Lukhanyiso Village in Johannesburg as well as…

The final round of the Pr14 regular season came to Port Elizabeth on Saturday 28 April when the Southern Kings took on the Cheetahs in an SA derby. The Cheetahs looked to come home with another victory over the Eastern Cape hosts, as the Kings have never managed to defeat their Free State counterparts in all competitions. The Cheetahs came into the match also hopeful of a playoff spot, as they only needed to secure one log point against the hosts in order to qualify for the playoffs. The Kings, however, were hoping to spoil the visitors’ party by securing…

The 2018 Commonwealth Games came to an end on Sunday 15 April, after two weeks of entertaining competition. Team South Africa finished sixth overall on the medals table, behind hosts Australia, England, Canada, India and New Zealand. Our team had big wins in the pool, the sprints and middle-distance running, but had a surprising non-podium finish in rugby. Earning a total 37 medals, including 13 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze medals, Team SA touched down in Johannesburg last Monday 16 April with the pride of the nation. With 14 medals in athletics and 12 in swimming, team South Africa…

Two Oceans: Several of Grahamstown’s runners took part in the annual Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon over the easter weekend. Here are the times, according to the official race website, of several notable Grahamstown athletes from the day: Ultra Marathon: Chadé Bowles – 06:51:37 Richard Foss – 06:35:51 Rose-Marie Hurford – 07:07:56 (After cut-off) Terri-Lynn Penney – 05:07:42 Stephen Penney – 06:16:29 Rooi Rikhotso – 04:22:36 Half Marathon: Richard Alexander – 01:34:48 Lubabalo Bokuva – 01:21:03 Basie Bonaparte – 01:25:02 (2nd Master – age 50-59) Karen Meyer – 02:22:35 Colin Price-Smith – 02:36:22 Sally Price-Smith – 02:09:52 Local legend, Basie…