What a week in sport for Durban

IT HAS been quite a busy time for sport in Durban this past week, what with the Ironman, the Hobie 16 and Flying 15 Interprovincial Sailing Championships, the three-Test netball series between the Proteas and Wales, the Winter Classic showjumping event at Shongweni and the African Athletics Championships at the Kings Park Athletic Stadium, which end tomorrow.

There was no lack of drama in last Sunday’s Ironman triathlon event, when the surf was so big for the start at the Snake Park Beach that officials saw fit to cancel the 1.9km surf swim. Only the 15 professional athletes were permitted to take to the water, and more than 3 000 amateurs had their race converted to a duathlon for safety’s sake.

There was more drama when defending champion Stuart Marais was disqualified for allegedly receiving assistance during the swim by holding on to a Jet Ski.

Although the race officials had received information that an athlete had held on to a Jet Ski during the swim they were unable at the time to identify the swimmer, and until this could be determined and confirmed by the athlete himself they could not pull him from the race.

Marais finished second to Matt Trautmann, of Stellenbosch, but within a few minutes was officially disqualified. The third-placed James Cunnama was promoted to second and the fourth-placed Freddy Lampret to third.

Marais apparently did not exercise his right to appeal and no further action will be taken. FOR those who have not yet watched the sport of netball played by top international players, a treat is in store for you.

I was really impressed at the speed and accuracy displayed by the Proteas and Wales in their three games on the wooden sprung floor at the Durban International Convention Centre.

Proteas captain Maryka Holtzhausen can be proud of her team, who won all three games by nearly 20 points to retain their No 5 world ranking. They will be looking forward to even tougher opposition in the months to come against the top four countries in the world, Australia (1), New Zealand (2), England (3) and Jamaica (4). GOOD news this week concerning this year’s Comrades Marathon, with the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport confirming that none of the first 10 athletes in both the men’s and women’s races had tested positive for a prohibited substance.

As a result the R3 442 600 in prize money can be paid out, with David Gatebe, who broke the down-run time by two minutes and 22 seconds receiving well over R1 million and Charne Bosman just over R700 000.

The launch of next year’s Comrades Marathon will take place at the Southern Sun Hotel at the OR Tambo International Airport in Joburg on August 18. SPEAKING of launches, Richard Crocket, chairman of the organising committee, has informed me that entries are open for next year’s blue-water sailing classic, the Vasco da Gama Ocean Race from Durban (eThekwini) to Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay), starting on April 27.

He says he is expecting a lot of interest, so encourages skippers to enter as soon as possible.

The race is organised jointly by the Point Yacht Club and the Algoa Bay Yacht Club under the auspices of SA Sailing KwaZulu-Natal.