KZN’S supergirls of SA lifesaving

All six members of national team for world champs from province

MARK KEOHANE mark.keohane@inl.co.za

TEAM South Africa’s women’s charge at the 2018 Lifesaving World Championships in Adelaide, Australia, reflects the powerhouse of KZN lifesaving, with all six squad members from the province.

Beach sprint queen Mandi Maritz, pictured, is among the favourties to medal in the sprints and flags. She dominated the South African interprovincial and interclub national championships earlier this year.

Durban Surf’s Maritz also starred at the Sanyo International Classic in Japan.

Marine’s Sasha-lee Corris Nordengen captains the women’s squad which includes a further four Marine stand outs in Carmel Billson, Keyta Purchase, Bianca von Bargen and Kristin Bellingham.

Billson consistently has been a powerhouse in the surf and pool in all South African national, provincial and club competitions over the past two years. She has been South Africa’s most celebrated lifesaving female since 2016 and is among an elite group equally comfortable and successful in the surf and pool.

Billson influenced Marine’s overall success at the National Club Championships in Port Elizabeth and broke two Pool national records and scored the most individual points.

Nordengen has also been in outstanding form all year.

KZN also has a healthy representation in the senior men, youth women and youth men’s squad, and in 2018 have been without comparison from a club and provincial perspective.

Marine’s Martin Binnedal, who competed at the Commonwealth Games, also makes his first appearance at Lifesaving’s World Championships.

South Africa’s most seasoned competitor in the men’s senior events is captain Ryle de Morny.

Western Province-based De Morny has competed in every World Championship for the past decade and is the country’s singularly most decorated World Championship medal winner.

De Morny is a World Championship gold medallist in the sprints and flag and in 2018 he was unrivalled in South Africa. De Morny is almost certain to feature among the medals in Adelaide.

Fish Hoek’s Notten brothers (Nick and Dominic) have also been the South Africa benchmark in the surf and open iron competitions in the last few years, and while Luke

Nisbet did upstage (Dominic)

Notten at earlier this year on the open iron, Notten took gold in the single surf ski.

South Africa’s youth representation is also strong with men’s captain Milan Erasmus having enjoyed gold when competing internationally this year. There will also be expectation on the talented

Connor Botha, with the Botha family’s lifesaving history among the most renowned in the country.

Sulinke van den Berg captains the youth women.

New Zealand are the defending champions, but hosts Australia have been the most impressive in all international competitions since the 2016 World Championships.

The Australians will be favourites to win the overall title.

Visit www.lifesaving2018.com for all the daily news from the Lifesaving Rescue World Championships in Adelaide, Australia.

ANGLING MOSTLY cloudy with showers.

Rock and Surf: The north coast has been better, the further north you travel. The banks have been the place to be for some amazing catches recently. There have been plenty of raggies in the 80-150kg range. The south has had a cheeky shore dump, which has got the heart racing in the early morning. Action in the harbour is starting to peak as well. The springer and kingies are feeding very well and keeping the heart rate up of all the Artlure anglers in the bay. Visit kingfisher.co.za.

Weekly tip: The bass fishing is at an all-time high at the moment. All of the KZN dams are fishing very well. Hazlemere is the only dam where the fishing has declined.

TIDES, WINDS, ETC.: Sunrise: 4.51am; Sunset: 6.32pm; Temp: 19/21°C; Sea: 19.3°C; UV Risk: 3 (Moderate); Thunderstorms:

20%; Wind: 9km (E); Full Moon: November 23; Tides: Neap Tides (Low); Low: 6.18am, 7.06pm (0.7pm); High: 00.23am, 12.53pm (1.5m). Sea: 1.5m swell.

ATHLETICS

KZN Masters Athletics invite all athletes from the age 30+ to join them at their monthly mini meets, which take place each month on Saturday mornings. Enquiries: Caryn Loudon on Carynl@iafrica.com

BOWLS

December 7: Hillary Bowling Club. Gee Jays Show, Cost: R100 pp. Barnyard Style, bring your own food. Bookings: Sharon Mclaughlin on 082 535 3663. spotty

GOLF

November 30: Drakensberg Extravaganza Golf Day. Cost: R4000 per Four Ball. Includes Green fees, shared golf cart, complimentary golf shirts and cap, Bacon and Egg Roll and coffee at registration, Halfway House, Braai Dinner and Prize

Giving. Enquiries: wardevents.co.za

HIKING

Today: Join the Durban Ramblers Hiking Club at Mt Moreland. Join

Jon as he explores new routes around Mt Moreland. Bring your own drinks and snacks to celebrate safe return afterwards. Petrol sharing R15. Meet in time for 7:30am departure from Virginia Airport or for 8am from Mt Moreland village green. Enquiries: Jon 082 459 1522.Today: Join the Amblers Hiking Club to hike Sani Pass via the original Donkey trail BARCELONA midfielder Ivan Rakitic, in black, is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks after the La Liga champions said yesterday he had strained his right hamstring in Croatia’s 3-2 home win over Spain in the Uefa Nations League on Thursday. | REUTERS/EPA-EFE staying over Friday night at Arbuckle’s and Himeville Hotel, to climb Sani on Saturday. Passports Essential. A great social weekend with some in the mountains hiking below Hodgesons peaks and twelve apostles. Enquiries: David on 072 615 0559.November 25: Join the Amblers Hiking Club to hike at 2pm on the to hike to the base of Kloof Falls from Kloof Falls picnic site, Kloof Falls Road, Kloof. Cost: R30 entry fee. Enquiries: David on 072 615 0559. December 2: Join the Amblers Hiking Club to hike at 2pm hike Mpiti Falls from Kloof picnic site, Krantzview Nature Reserve, Kloof Falls Road, Kloof. Cost: R30 entry fee. Enquiries: David at 072 615 0559.

KARATE

November 29 – December 2: Karate South Africa will be hosting the 9th Commonwealth Karate Championship, Durban. Enquiries: secretariat@karate-sa.org or karate-sa. org

RUNNING

November 24: Josiah Gumede Marathon Bergville, Drakensberg Extravaganza. Type: 42.2km, 21.1km, 10km. Enquiries: Barry Holland on 035 586 3822 or barry@theroc.co.za

November 24: Sani Stagger, Sani Pass Hotel, Himeville. Type: 42.2km, 21.1km run. Sani AC. Enquiries: Matt Goode on 072 907 3818 or info@sanistagger.co.za.

November 25: Hope Challenge, Curries Fountain, Durban. Type: 21.1km, 10km. Ethekwini. Enquiries: Ndokenhle Zuluon 072 221 8784, 031 825 7517, ndukuz@webmail. co.za. December 2: BMG Stainbank Cup, Yellowwood Park Athletic

Club. Type: 15 km run,10km walk. Yellowwood Park AC. Enquiries:

Fred Schoon on 083 384 4053, 031 274 1815 or freds@sa-shipyards.co.za

December 9: Illovo Sugar, 15km Christmas Challenge. Westville Athletic Club. Enquiries: Alen on 083 440 31 35 or Sharon Schubach (Race Organiser) on 082 414 1783.

December 16: The Big Hill Run, Sugar Rush Park, Ballito. Type: 21km run, 10km run, Dolphin Coast Striders. Enquiries: Zeldi Mann on 071 422 0953 or zeldimann@ hotmail.com

TRAIL RUNNING November 24: Sani Stagger Endurance Race. An out and back route, the marathon starts and ends at the Sani Pass Hotel. Enquiries:

083 447 0766.