YEAR IN REVIEW 2023: SPORT
JANUARY
At the BUCO Port Alfred Rock & Surf pairs competition on December 16, a variety of species was caught including bronze bream, blacktail, steenbras, dusky cob, poensie and spotted grunter. Ten teams caught a total of 69 fish weighing a total of 66.77kg. Top male angler: Warren Bowdler 12.81kg; top lady angler: Michelle Bowdler 7.59kg; top junior angler: Luke Erasmus 6.02kg. Biggest fish caught and released: Chris Pike, a steenie at 3.47kg.
National and international swimming stars in town for their summer break took on local heroes in the fifth Royal St Andrew’s Hotel Amanzi Challenge Marina Mile in the Kowie River. It was youth who dominated the event with Zack Waters coming all the way from Cape Town to set a new record in a blistering 21 min 9 sec. Camilla Heuer, from East London, set the benchmark for female entries in 24:29.
Kenton Golfing Brotherhood (KGB) players entered the draw to compete in an Alliance Stableford 2-scores-to-count format with the rider of a bonus for a “sandy”, or par from a bunker. Jenny Ralph, Matt Chadwick, James Lobban and John Abbott sailed in with 94 points to finish going away, in racing parlance.
The Kowie Bowling Club had a good turnout for tabs in. Denny Richardson and his team of John Hubbard and Rob Turner won the bragging rights for the day, and were rewarded with a meal voucher from Penny Farthing.
Soccer fans were treated to great competitive football over the weekend as Nemato soccer clubs battled it out in their preseason tournament at the Mamityi Gidana Stadium. Paubs FC won 3-2 in the final against XI Masters FC.
Majagga Stars FC, Paubs FC, City FC, Romans FC, X1 Master FC and Master U17FC participated in a mini soccer tournament to gear up for the season ahead.
Port Alfred High School’s 1st girls tennis team played in the Merrifield Tennis Tournament. They won two matches and lost two against some of the top tennis playing schools.
Boesmansriviermond’s Junior Sundowns Football Club team management and players unveiled their new kit, sponsored by the national Lotteries Commission, in Marselle on Saturday January 28.
In the first and second rounds of the Ryan Cup, Fred Stowe beat Peter Giblin, Joanne Brown beat Yvonne Surtees, Louise Vincent beat Nic Oosthuizen, Hein Strombeck beat Claire Bell, Piet Boshoff beat Gail Webster, Christo Hattingh beat Anna Strombeck, Peter Wansell beat Carol Oosthuizen and Brian McLean beat Jaco van Rensburg.
The announcement of an 80% increase in new membership at the Port Alfred Tennis Club was greeted with
enthusiastic applause at the club’s AGM. The uptick meant the club, which confirmed the addition and nomination of new office-bearers for 2023, had reflected positive growth in income.
February
The Pick n Pay/Kowie Nite Bowls Tournament 2023 rolled off the greens at the Kowie Bowling Club on February 3. The starting time was 5pm because the lights were out of order due to vandalism, allowing play to be completed in daylight hours.
Freestone Stadium in Nolukhanyo, Bathurst, hosted the Regional Men’s League teams Bathurst City and Port Alfred team, Young Pirates, on Saturday February 4. The final score was a hard-fought 2-2, in sweltering 30° conditions.
Round Five of the Rock and Surf Super Pro League’s Kowie Crackers annual catch and release fishing competition was won by: Top Senior Warren Bowdler (663 points); Top Master Deon Marais (332) and Top Lady Jakolette Thiart (81).
Jessica Harty and Nakita Avis delivered a great final match with Avis ultimately winning 62 and 6-3 at the Port Alfred Tennis Club Championships. The men’s final was a hardhitting encounter with long rallies as Chris Lee and Jarryd Harty both tried to gain the upper hand, with Harty eventually taking the win.
An excited Lindi Wright was the talk of the Royal Port Alfred Buco Ladies Open after scoring a hole-in-one at the 8th hole on Sunday her first ever. Applause rang out beyond the course clubhouse when she collected her prize from the club’s ladies’ captain Angela Trollip.
The incoming Ndlambe Rugby Federation president, Chris Gidana was introduced at the organisation’s AGM together with Kowie United’s Denzil Burger as vice president, Klipfontein’s Leon Coltman as*
secretary, Ndlambe Tigers’ Thando Ndondo as treasurer and Divan Canon of Trying Stars, as RFC, facilities.
Anglers in the fifth round of the Pick n Pay Claude Pittaway Round Robin caught nine different species totalling 102 fish with a weight of 128.5kg.
The Kowie Boardriders Club held its AGM and announced Andrew Laverge as King of the Kowie 2022 Series at Guido’s on Friday February 10. Outgoing chair Richard Heny thanked sponsors Mix Surf Shop, BUCO and Guido’s for their valuable contributions.
Development tennis trailblazer and Port Alfred Tennis Club member Boyce Xamesi is busy completing the second edition of an elite instructors’ course with Tennis SA. Xamesi, a retired teacher, can be seen on Tuesdays and Thursdays putting youngsters through their paces.
Ward 5 councillor Mzwandile Sweli organised a soccer tournament at Freestone Stadium honouring the Bathurst soccer pioneer Mzamomhle Baba Vuso. The exciting final was played in Bathurst on February 11.
The GBS Teams of Three fishing competition took place on February 25 with 13 teams catching and releasing 58 fish weighing 79.86kg.
MARCH
A rollicking innings of 61
from Steven Gornall guided Cuylerville to league title honours in their Grahamstown Cricket Board match against Southwell at Shaw Park.
Salem Cricket Club held the Pineapple Cricket Tournament on Saturday March 4. Salem had won the title 23 times since the tournament’s inception in 1904.
Seven Port Alfred High pupils and home schooled Bukho Nkwinti, 18, were selected to the Eastern Cape Junior tennis team. The Eastern Cape’s sixthranked player, Liyabona Xanti, of PAHS, represented the province’s A-team.
Veteran sports journalist, cricket writer and historian, Luke Alfred, was commissioned to compile a history of Pineapple Cricket since its humble beginnings in 1904. The 119th staging of the tournament saw Cuylerville firsts and seconds lift the trophies in their respective divisions. Sidbury defeated Rhodes in the first league Plate final.
The Kenton-based Diaz Deep Sea Club hosted the 2023 SA Bottom Fish National Championships in Kenton from March 20 to 25. Michelle Richards, Belinda Fischl and Jacky Luef were the first women to be selected for any national event being held under the auspices of the SA Deep Sea Angling Association. The Eastern Province team hooked first prize in the Senior Bottom Fish National Championships. The team of Chris Gerber, Brian Gerber and Ian Peinke raked in 792.90 points over the three days.
Port Alfred Build took gold in the last end of the match in the finals of the Nite League Bowls.
Promoter Bongani Zulu promised to stage more boxing tournaments in the Port Alfred
region after Makana’s Bongani Fule was crowned Eastern Cape junior lightweight champion at the TT Jonas Sports centre on Saturday March 25. Fule won via a TKO (technical knockout) after sending his rival Mvuzo Kotobe, of Cumakala, to the canvas in the fifth round, in front of a capacity crowd.
APRIL
Equestrian events organisers at the Bathurst Agricultural Show, The Bathurst Riding Club, were thrilled with the programme’s success after it attracted sizeable crowds to the show jumping arena on Saturday April 1. The packed programme saw juniors, novices and pros compete over four days in various categories of competition. Among them were the working class, dressage, formation riding and showjumping sections.
Kenya took on Eastern Province in a Mzansi Challenge fixture on Saturday April 29 at Port Alfred High School.
The bowling community mourned the death of bowls legend Eric Kent, 80, after a long illness. Kent grew up on a farm in the Albany district but spent most of his life in the Northern Cape initially on a farm and later in business in Kimberley. His real claim to fame was his prowess as a bowler.
Ungawothi Football Club were the toast of Alexandria after beating Young Aces of Gqeberha 1-0 in an Easter tournament final at the Derrick Mbele stadium. The tournament saw 17 teams do battle for the R20,000 first prize. Young Aces received R10,000 for the runners-up trophy.
Rainy weather did little to dampen the spirits of trail runners and walkers who gathered on Saturday April 8 at Kowie Striders Running and Walking Club for the annual Amanzi Challenge.
Kowie Striders, together with BS Sports and sponsor, Royal St Andrews Hotel, hosted a 5km and 12km event at the Albany Trails on Southwell Road.
Young athletes shone at the EP Athletics cross-country development initiative in conjunction with Kowie Striders and Ndlambe’s department of sport and recreation at Port
Alfred High. It was one of five cross-country events for the U9 to U19 age groups, held in Alexandria, Bathurst, Kenton and Port Alfred. The aim is to encourage school sports activity and identify talent.
Dogs, disco lights, delicious pizzas and a festive vibe awaited finishers of the Kenton 100 Miler. The event was won overall by Johan Brits, his second win in the race’s fouryear history, in 30 hrs 18 min. The first woman home, and second overall, was Pamela Paton, just 24 minutes behind in 30:42. Vuyisani Nobi set a new record for men in the 30-mile event, completing the tough course in 4:56. The women’s winner was Liza Phipps in 6:04. Running novice Butsha Kayi won the 10 mile event in a blistering 1:05:31, a new record. Ida Paulsen’s winning time of 1:32:31 was a new women’s record for the 10 miler.
Alexandria’s Diego Williams had a “homecoming” to be proud of when he captained the EP team against Kenya in a Mzansi Challenge fixture at Port Alfred High School on Saturday April 29. The 30-year-old tearaway flanker was selected as EP captain earlier this year.
The Port Alfred Classic Croquet tournament kicked off on Monday April 24 at the
Port Alfred Bowls & Croquet Club. The club played host to a record number of entries (57) from players from all over SA.
Ndlambe Tigers saw off neighbourhood rivals Kowie United 19-17 in a thrilling derby day encounter at Nomzamo High on Saturday April 22.
Port Alfred bodybuilder Bonga Mfo, 30, of Nemato, made his community proud by being selected in April to the SA Bodybuilding 27-member team which took part in the International Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation Mr Universe bodybuilding competition on May 27.
MAY
Port Alfred celebrated bodybuilder Bonga Mfo’s success when he went on to win the International Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation Mr Universe amateur title on May 27
The Port Alfred Tennis Club’s Corporate Cup kicked off on May 2 with eight teams vying for the 2023 title under lights.
In the Port Alfred Bowls and Croquet Club’s Classic Croquet competition, the Open singles category was won by Graham Goosen from Greyton. The doubles was won by Jill Pople and her partner from Greyton, Dave Hopkins. Trevor and Glynis Welbourne won the Handicap Doubles and the Handicap Singles saw Kanaki Androliakos take the title.
The EP Rugby Union gave the local organising committees, Ndlambe Municipality, PAHS and Port Alfred’s “great hospitality” a huge-thumbs up for their successful hosting of the Mzansi Challenge match between EP and Kenya at PAHS fields on Saturday April 29. EP won the “revenge” match 18-7.
168 runners, young and old, took part in the Cross Country Development and Schools League programme series in Alexandria on Saturday May 6.
Bowlers from Kenton and neighbouring clubs participated in the annual Cansa Awareness fundraiser. The Sunshine Coast’s weather played along and it was a beautiful day for bowls.
EP’s SA Golf Development Board golfing star, Othimna Mathiwana, winner of the SA Long Drive title in 2023 raised his fist in triumph after teeing off a stunning drive of 324m at the National Junior Golf Championships, smashing Aldrich Potgieter’s302m effort in
2022.
Karate instructor Shihan Tommy Mannie took 28 youngsters from the Alexandria dojo to Gqeberha to compete in the provincial Goju-kai championships. They brought back an impressive 35 medals between them. Mannie started the dojo 15 years ago in the Alexandria Freemasons hall and children come to train under Mannie’s guidance with senseis Siphamandla Mgogoshe, Lindani Mtsatse and Yonwaba Sosi.
Extreme weather conditions did not dampen the enthusiasm of Diaz Deep Sea Club anglers who participated in the Salt Water Masters along Kenton’s coastline from Wednesday May 10 to Saturday May 13.
A last minute-try by Swallows’ Jason Potgieter swept the Makhanda team to a 25-17 victory over cross-border rivals, Kowie United, in a South Eastern Districts Rugby SubUnion (Sedru) league fixture at Station Hill Grounds on Saturday May 20.
King of the Kowie Series leader, Thomas Lindhorst, 21, powered his way to victory in the Mens Open Division at the SA Champs surfing competition at St Mikes, on KZN’s South Coast. Lindhorst, 21, a member of Kowie Boardriders Club, brought out his best surfing form to outsmart East London legend, current Masters World Champion, Greg Emslie, to take the title.
Old Collegians (OC) of Makhanda beat Ndlambe Tigers 23-12 in an exciting 1st team Sedru league fixture at the Station Hill grounds on Saturday May 27.
Alexandria High School’s first ever golf day at the Alexandria Golf Club on Saturday May 20 to raise funds for the school was a huge success. The day kicked off at 8am with a fun run for pupils, after which they received some coaching and orientation on the game of golf.
Port Alfred High headmaster Nigel Adams was positive about the future of table tennis in the region after returning from international umpiring duties at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Championships in Durban. His daughter, Tiffany, herself a qualified international umpire, performed duties as a logistics coordinator at the championships. Tiffany is a former SA U14 junior champion and her father a certified coach
and international umpire.
JUNE
Port Alfred’s premier tennis event, the Corporate Cup Tennis tournament 2023, hosted by the Port Alfred Tennis Club, culminated in victory for the Pam Golding team on Tuesday June 6.
More than 100 people attended Port Alfred’s 200th Parkrun on Saturday June 10. Parkrun coordinators Debbie and Mike Rees were among a team who prepared the route the day before.
Young upstart 19-year-old Dan Emslie showed up some of his more experienced rivals by bringing out his best form to win the second King of the Kowie competition on Saturday June 10 at Port Alfred’s East Beach. In the women’s section, Lily Heny stepped up to the plate to edge out Adriel Wolmerans, while Bekkie Downey outsurfed Lara Heny in the U18 division.
Klipfontein’s 15-year-old Emily Jane Gunn put her little hamlet on the map after being selected to the EP U16 girls Craven Week team for a tournament in Johannesburg from July 10-14. For Emily, who is now based in Gqeberha, it was the first time she has been involved in any formal rugbyplaying structure.
Annual fundraiser in aid of Hospice, The Brian Waddington Memorial Bowls Tournament, played out on Friday June 16 at the Port Alfred Bowls and Croquet Club to huge success. The event rasised more than R20,000 for Hospice.
Twenty teams vied for title prestige along with a brand-new team kit, equipment and other worthy prizes in the 2023 Anti Poaching Soccer Tournament at Freestone Stadium, Nolukhanyo, on Youth Day, June 16. It was hosted by Waters Meeting Reserve with support from the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA), provincial office, and in partnership with the Bathurst Police Station. It was the sixth edition of the event.
In the Port Alfred Tennis Club Corporate Cup 2023, Pam Golding persevered to secure the victory with Royal Alfred Marina the runners-up. Thirdplace prize-winners, BS Sports, with up-and-coming teenage player, Bhuko Nkwinti, clutching the team prize, were followed by Leach Pharmacy’s team, who came in fourth.
JULY
Twenty-two-year old Kentonon-Sea marathon runner, Buthshabethu Kayi showed his fellow runners a clean pair of heels when he won the second edition of the Grandon Trail Run fund-raiser in aid of Grahamstown-Makhanda and Sunshine Coast Hospice on Saturday July 1. Runners, joggers, walkers, hikers and even dogs on leashes came out in numbers to support the fundraising effort for a good cause that got off under perfect weather conditions over distances of 3km, 8 km and 17km.
The Port Alfred High School first rugby team rubbed shoulders with the Sharks U18 side who stopped by for a practise session at their school grounds to finalise preparations for the Craven Week tournament in George.
Kowie United RFC bounced back with a new spring in their step after recent incidents of referee abuse hung like a dark cloud over the popular Port Alfred club. Club president Denzil Burger said they refused to be thrown off course by a recent ban on home games at their Station Hill fortress.
Former Nemato Rowing Club member Lunga Mcetywa returned from the African Beach Games in Tunisia with a bronze medal. He and sprint doubles partner George du Plooy came third in the men’s doubles.
Rasta Mgabada was set to fly the flag for Port Alfred caddies when he played in the regional final of the Caddies Club championships at Little Walmer Golf Club in Gqeberha. Mgabada qualified for the tournament after winning an annual local championship tournament at Royal Port Alfred Golf Club on Monday July 3.
Young Nemato golfer Othimna Matiwana returned for a brief visit to his home town after touring Britain with his new school, Grey High School.
There was a serious stir in a laid-back hang loose kind of a way at East Beach on Monday July 17 2023 when multi-worldtitle holder Kelly Slater dropped in on the home break. He and fellow pro surfer, South African Jordy Smith were on break for a day from the Corona Open JBay surf competition at Jeffreys Bay. Local rising star Andrew
Laverge was one of those who shared jokes and waves with the celebs for a couple of hours.
Buthshabethu Kayi carried on where he left off after his win at the Grandon Trail run two weeks earlier to take first position in the inaugural Three Valleys “Running Wild” event at Three Valleys, 18km outside Bathurst. The trail run/walk was organised in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Port Alfred. Twenty-two-year-old Kayi blitzed the field in a time of 1:18.15.
Royal Durban Golf Club successfully defended their Five Royals club tournament title after their victory at Royal Port Alfred Golf Club (RPAGC) on Sunday July 23. Royal Durban members captained by Graeme Forbes collected their trophy at the prize-giving ceremony for the second year running after accumulating 116.38 points over the three days of the better ball stableford competition. They were followed by Royal Port Alfred in second place on 115.63 points and Royal Harare in third spot on 114.13 points.
August
Two members of the Kowie Striders Development Academy and their coach won gold medals in their categories at the EP Athletics Cross Country Championships in Gqeberha on July 22: Thandolwethu Matsalo (boys’ U17), Akhanya Ngesi (girls’ U17) and Kowie Striders member Sticks Stiglingh (65-69).
The Nelson Mandela Bay EP Cross Country Championships took place at Nelson Mandela University. Various age groups competed over 10km and 4km distances.
Port Alfred High School’s first rugby team beat visiting Stutterheim High 55-17 at PAHS on Saturday August 5. A huge crowd spurred on their respective teams.
The Cross Country Development and Schools League hosted on Saturday July 29 at Kenton Primary School was organised by Upper Ego Athletics Club’s Vuyo Nkayi. A total of 150 child and adult athletes ran various distances according to their age categories.
60 children were put through their paces in kata and kumite and graded for their yellow or orange belts at the Alexandria Goju-kai Karate-do. Children from Alexandria, Wentzel Park and Kwanonqubela gather there four days a week for training under the guidance of sixth dan shihan Tommy Mannie and his team of instructors.
The Kenton community and the Diaz Deep Sea Club celebrated home-grown angler Kimberly Burdett, who placed second overall in a national tournament and was part of gold-medal-winning the EP Deep Sea Angling Association’s senior women’s team. The SA Deep Sea Angling Association (SADSAA) All Coastal
Interprovincial Tournament was held at Richards Bay Ski Boat Club and hosted by the Natal Deep Sea Angling Association from August 3-5, 2023.
Hockey and netball featured prominently at the PAHS140th anniversary founders’ day sports day on Saturday August 5.
Runners young and old converged on the El-Shaddai Christian Academy school grounds on Saturday August 12 to participate in the Cross Country Development and Schools League programme organised by Upper Ego Athletics Club’s Vuyo Nkayi.
Port Alfred’s Lily Heny was selected to represent SA in the U18 girls’ division at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championships in Brazil, in November.
Alexandria’s Trying Stars RFC was beaten by Kariega rivals, Progress, by a solitary point (109) in a Grand Challenge League encounter at Wentzel Park Stadium on Saturday August 12. Trying Stars had to play more than half of the match with 14men, after their star flanker and EP Kings captain, Diego Williams, was sent off in the first half for over-robust play.
Two netball players from Marselle were selected to represent the Sarah Baartman District in the SPAR national tournament in Rustenburg from October 1-7. Avuzwa Booi was selected for the U21 Sarah Baartman team. Yonela Klaas was selected for the district’s senior ladies’ team.
A 5x5m makeshift boxing “gym” in an Endlovini Township backyard in Port Alfred, was managing against nearinsurmountable odds to produce boxers who were graduating to the professional ranks. Three boxers: Luthando “Skeleton” Makhubalo, Pierre “SuperSonic” Venter and Mandisi Qumba, who were trained by Monwabisi Hans at his Masibambisane Boxing Academy, participated in different weight divisions at Cape Town’s Woodstock Hall on Saturday August 26.
Members of the Port Alfred
Rock & Surf Fishing Club came out in large numbers to attend the club’s prize-giving evening at the PA River & Ski Boat Club on Friday August 25. The club which operates on a catch-andrelease basis has 90 members on its books and participates in the U16, U21, seniors, ladies masters and grand masters categories. The 67 club anglers caught a total of 1,209 fish, comprising 18 different species, with a total weight of 1,591kg. The total length of fish was 441m.
Makhanda’s Swallows RFC won the Sedru (South Eastern Districts Rugby Union) League before the official end of the season. Swallows remained unbeaten after completing their 12-fixture programme for the season with a 24-20 victory over Rhodes. The club last won the Sedru Regional League title in 2013. Their nearest rivals were Old Collegians on 35 points.
SEPTEMBER
The Port Alfred High first netball team recorded an unbeaten 2023 season. Fellow pupils packed the hall to applaud the team as they walked into the school hall.
Marlow Landbouskool High boys and Cradock High girls won their respective inaugural U15 Port Alfred Tennis Tournament events, organised by SA schools tennis coach, Handri Westman. The PA Tennis Club, Port Alfred High School and Southwell Country Club (clay court) venues were used.
A seven-member indigenous games team from Bathurst was invited to participate in the national African Traditional Games (ATG) competition in Durban for nine days in September, Heritage Month. Their category was kgati skipping rope.
Port Alfred’s Chante van Zyl firmly established herself among SA’s golf elite. The 24-year-old pro golfer was back in SA trying to earn her stripes that would see her achieve her dream participating on the Ladies’ European Tour.
The UCT men’s rowing team celebrated after snapping Tuks’ 13-year dominance of the RMB Universities’ boat race on the Kowie, by winning the A finals shootout that came to an exciting end at Tash’s on Saturday September 9. Tuks won