Marine women to fore in SA squad

KWAZULU-Natal’s Marine dominated the recent General Tire Lifesaving South Africa Pool and Surf National Championships in Port Elizabeth and the club’s strength has been reflected in the selection of the South African national squad to compete at the World Championships in Australia.

Marine’s powerhouse women make up seven of the 10 selections in the open Women’s, among them 2018 National Championship overall woman winner Sasha-Lee Nordengen and the 2017 SA Lifesaving woman of the year and winner of 15 titles in Port Elizabeth Carmel Billson.

Durban Surf’s veteran sprinter Mandi Maritz and Amica de Jager add further Kwazulu-Natal flavour to the women’s squad.

Marine’s Martin Binnedal and Josh Saunders join Johnathan Rorke (Scottburgh) in Team South Africa’s men’s squad.

Rorke will team up with his Cape-based sprint rival Ryle de Morny to spearhead the South African men’s challenge.

Fish Hoek, overall winners of the Surf National Championship, feature prominently in the men’s squad selections, with Fish Hoek’s Nick Notten leading the way.

Notten is the 2017 and 2018 Lifesaving South Africa National Championship overall men’s winner.

Notten’s older brother and an iconic figure in the South African Lifesaving, Dominic, is also in the squad.

The squad is: Senior women – Amica de Jager, Mandi Maritz (both Durban Surf), Kyeta Purchase, Carmel Billson, Sasha-Lee Nordengen, Teegan Hardwick, Haley Nixon, Kristin Bellingham, Bianca von Bargen (all Marine), Candice Murray (Fish Hoek) Senior men – Josh Saunders, Martin Binnedal (Marine), Ryle de Mornay (False Bay), Mark Keeling, Kenny Rice, Nick Notten, Dominic Noitten (all Fish Hoek), Johnathan Rorke (Scottburgh), Johan Lourens, Ricardo Peach (both Tuks) Youth women – Salinke van den Berg (Manguang), Alice Edward (Pirates), Bianca Opperman, Ally Chislett (both Harties), Deborah Dredge (Tuks). Kira Bester, Megan Kreft, Taylor Yates (all Strand), Tamryn McKie (Marine), Madison Malherbe (East London), Page Horn (Umhlanga). Youth men – Milan Erasmus (Durban Surf), Juan Pierre van Zyl (Harties), Matthew Fenn (East London), Renuldo Pedro (Kings Beach), Connor Botha, Shane Macquire, Matthew Maroun (all Umhlanga), Bennie van der Merwe (Bellville), Uli Hart (Fish Hoek), Ryan Chandler (Milnerton).