Hard work pays off for PA gymnast
14-year-old star third overall at prestigious national championships
PORT Alfred’s Kayla Stiekema placed third overall, as well as third on floor for level 8 (13-18 years) at the 2016 South African Artistic Gymnastics High Performance (HP) National Championships which took place at the KZN Artistic Gymnastics Academy in Pinetown from June 30 to July 2.
About 300 of the top gymnasts and officials from across the country participated at this prestigious event, which determines the best level 7 to senior Olympic gymnasts in the country.
Kayla, 14, is one of only two gymnasts in the entire Eastern Cape who qualified to compete in these championships.
There are three major competitions held each year.
Levels 1-3 compete at either north or south zone festivals and levels 4-6 at SA Games.
Last year was the first time in many years that the Eastern Cape was able to produce gymnasts who qualified to compete at the National HP Championships.
This year, once again, the same two young women made the grade, and comfortably at that.
Kayla is usually coached by her mother, Carol-Ann Stiekema,
Port Alfred Bowling and Croquet Club
WITH winter keeping one trussed up but wide awake, there was some good bowls to be had this last week.
The Timm Cup was played last Thursday and the men won one and lost three of their games, and the Vroom Cup played at the same time – the ladies won one and lost one of their games.
Over the last weekend the Eastern Areas (EA) ladies’ fours was played in Grahamstown, with Port Alfred winning the finals. The winning team consisted of Sandra Wiblin, Colette Reid, Carol Grobbelaar and Wendy Photenhauer.
The runners-up were Kate Beavis and her team from Kenton. Our ladies’ team will next play in Jeffreys Bay in the finals in the EP Fours.
The EA Men’s Fours was played in Kenton and three of the four teams going through to the final round this coming Saturday are from our club. The winning two from this final round will join the ladies in J-Bay. Well done all of you.
Coming up this week are the EA men’s fours finals on Saturday and Sunday, and the a Level 2 artistic coach at Sunshine Coast Gymnastics (SCG), but at the end of April this year they decided that Debbie Gordon of Anderson’s Gymnastics in Port Elizabeth would be completely responsible for Kayla’s training.
“Kayla continues to train four times a week [three hours a day] at SCG in Port Alfred, but travels through to Port Elizabeth for the other two days in order to work on better equipment with one of the best coaches in the country,” Carol-Ann said.
Gordon is not only an International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) 1 and level 4 artistic coach, but also a FIG 2 tumbling and trampoline coach and judge, as well as a women’s artistic gymnastics Brevet international judge.
She judged the Beijing Olympics and many world cup championships abroad.
“I am extremely proud of Kayla’s great performance at SA champs this year – she is an Doris Ford competition on Wednesday.
A timely reminder that our club’s Ladies’ Classic will be held on September 6 and 7. Please diarise this date. Spectators are very welcome.
Duties for the week July 26-30: Tabs – Jenny McLachlan and Ron Orford, Bar – Colin and Beryl Barnard, Ironing – Colin Barnard. Thank you one and all for volunteering.
Kenton Bowling Club
The Dias Insurance sponsored Trips on Wednesday July 13 was won by Bryony Shone, Patricia Greig and Annie Tunmer.
The year-to-date standings for the top five bowlers at this stage are Stoffel Scheepers on 89 points, Rob Smith on 87, Addie Wolf on 87, Joan Spence on 86 and Lionel Howarth on 84. It is going to be a close run thing in the remaining four months.
Supa-Thursday on July 14 saw Lionel Howarth, Rob Smith and Pippa Swift taking the money.
The EA men’s fours was played at Kenton on July 16 and 17. Dave West, Rodney Austin, Dave McNeill and Brian Aldag won their section and will go through to Port Alfred Bowling Club next weekend for the EA extremely hard and dedicated worker,” Gordon said.
Stiekema said: “Kayla certainly would not be where she is right now were it not for the excellent advice and coaching by Debbie over the past nine years.
“When a gymnast achieves a good reward for her hard work, one should look at the hours of determined training, the enormous sacrifices of time and commitment – not only to the training programmes but also to what she eats and the hours of sleep she gets.
“One has to be extremely self-disciplined to be a gymnast and the encouragement and support from others keeps one focused. We are extremely grateful to those who encouraged, coached and supported Kayla along the way.”
Kayla said of her success: “God showed me that I can even be grateful for those kids who were mean to me – who made me feel that I had no talent at all.
“They made me fight harder for what I wanted – it made me tougher.
“Competing at nationals is always very inspiring for me. I realise I can do the difficult tricks if I get stronger and work harder.”
Tabs cashier – Lottie Brink, Bar – Rob Croly and Suzie Mann.
The AGM is scheduled for Wednesday August 3, after bowls. Members are encouraged to attend.
Eastern Areas Bowls
The following men’s teams have been selected to represent Eastern Areas in the mini-districts tournament to be held in King William’s Town on September 22 to 25: Team A – Trevor Frost, Noel Heale, Hein Strombeck and Peter Heynes; Turner was the only team to match the selected score and the four shared the kitty of R280.
Our men’s teams at the fours competition had little luck this time with none of them winning their sections.
The EA teams were announced this weekend after the fours competition. We congratulate members Jacques Krige, Rob Owsley and Stephen Minnaar on their selection to the minidistricts side to compete in King William’s Town and our president, Peter Ford, will be managing the side to the tournament.
On Sunday our Club Novice Singles started with three rounds being played in a round robin of five players. Allan Sheridan, the reigning novice champion, had a very successful day, winning his three games for full points, with Rob Walker, Dave Tyrrell and Dave Thomas all on two points each. The competition has another two rounds to be played.
Duties for the week July 25-31: Greens – (Roll) Sieggie Rohrs, (Mark) David Tyrrell and Peter Ford, Tabs – (cash) Jacky Watson, (select) Sally Moffat, Bar – Bob Ford and Eden Bradfield.