Step to it Maritzburg - The Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge

Step to it Maritzburg

The Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge

Dubbed, South Africa’s most beautiful race, the next leg of the national series of the SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge comes to the Capital on Sunday, August 19 and participants have until Monday, August 13 to enter online, otherwise they will have to manually enter at race registration on August 17 and 18.

This past weekend, over 25,000 women came out in full force for the Pretoria race that saw Glenrose Xaba, take the honours in a time of 33.56 minutes, and the excitement has started to build as all eyes focus on Maritzburg.

Once again, the Challenge starts outside Maritzburg College in Princess Margaret Drive, taking a route through the picturesque Alexandra Park, and through the outer parts of the CBD on Sunday 19August. Both the 10km and 5km races start at 8am and end at The Oval Cricket Stadium in Alexandra Park. 

All participants will receive a race T-Shirt and goodie bag when collecting their race numbers, which must be done at Race Registration, and after completing the race participants will receive a breakfast pack. There is a Kids Zone for children to have some fun at the finish, however this is not a child care facility and adults still need to look after their children.

Entries can still be done online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za/maritzburg using a credit card by 13 August. Manual Entry at Race Registration takes place on Friday 17 August (10am to 5pm) and Saturday 18 August (10am to 3pm) at The Oval Cricket Stadium in Alexandra Park.

Entries to the 10km distance are open from age 14 and to the 5km from age 9, the age restrictions being applicable on the day of the competition. Entry fees are R110 for the 10km licensed athletes and for all the 5km runners, and R125 for 10km unlicensed athletes. The field is capped at 4,500 entries. This year, R2 from each entry goes to the official race charity - CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation) Pietermaritzburg.

For more information contact the race organisers on maritzburg@sparwomensrace.co.za or visit the official race on www.sparwomensrace.co.za or like the Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.

-ends

Online and Bulk entries open for SPAR Women's 10/ 5km in PMB.

Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10 / 5km 

Pietermaritzburg: Sunday 19 August

Online and bulk entries are now open for the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge taking place in the KZN Capital on Sunday 19 August.

The Challenge starts at 8am for both the 10km and 5km in Princess Margaret Drive outside Maritzburg College and ends at The Oval Cricket Stadium in Alexandra Park. The course described as a ‘out-and-back’ race is expecting a field of 4,500 participants and will include some of the country’s top athletes, who will be vying to score points for their standings in the SPAR Grand Prix Series – part of the national competition within the SPAR Challenge for elite runners.

There are two options to enter: online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za/maritzburg where one can either pay by EFT by 6 August or by credit card by 13 August. The second option is a Manual Entry at Race Registration on Friday 17 August and Saturday 18 August at The Oval cricket stadium in Alexandra Park subject to the limit of 4,500. 

If you are entering 10 or more people, you can email bulk@sparwomensrace.co.za. You will be sent information on how to manage your group entry. Time Freight will deliver your race packs and goodie bags directly to you team co-ordinator. All entries will only be processed once payment has been reflected and this form of entry can only be submitted electronically and closes on Monday 30 July.

Entries to the 10km distance are open from age 14 and to the 5km from age 9, the age restrictions being applicable on the day of the competition. Entry fees are R110 for the 10km licensed athletes and for the 5km runners. The entry fee for the non-licensed athletes in the 10km is R125. R2 from each entry will be presented to CHOC Pietermaritzburg (Childhood Cancer Foundation).

The time limits for the 10km is 2 hours and 30 minutes, while the cut off time for the 5km race is 1 hour and 30 minutes. There will be a 55 minute cut off at the 4.5km mark on the 10km route, participants who are lagging will be redirected onto the 5km route.

Race Registration will take place two days prior to the race. This is where competitors can register manually and collect their race numbers, t-shirts and goodie bags. The times are Friday 17 August from 10.00am to 05.00pm and on Saturday 18 August from 10.00am and 03.00pm.

All finishers will receive a breakfast pack on completion of their race. All female finishers of both distances who are present at the prize giving, stand a chance to win fabulous lucky draw prizes. All lucky draw prizes are due to be drawn after the final prize giving on race day.

For more information contact the race organisers on maritzburg@sparwomensrace.co.za or visit the official race on www.sparwomensrace.co.za or like the Facebook page.

-ends

Durban FilmMart Awards 2018

Media Release

Durban FilmMart Awards 2018

It’s been a bumper year for this year’s Durban FilmMart (DFM), the industry development programme of the eThekwini Municipality’s Durban Film Office and Durban International Film Festival (Centre for Creative Arts, UKZN), which ended with an awards ceremony at the Southern Sun Maharani Hotel in Durban, South Africa on Monday, July 23.

Speaking at the DFM’s awards ceremony, Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office and the Durban FilmMart, said, “As one of the most important, film industry events and film finance platforms on the continent, we are really pleased that we have grown the DFM substantially this year with 877 delegates attending. We had over 40 countries participating this year, of which 19 were from Africa.  A total number of 52 projects were pitched to potential partners, financiers, filmmakers, producers, distributors and agents during countless meetings.”

Key to the value that the Durban FilmMart provides filmmakers are the many meetings and networking sessions that are held between delegates over the four days.

“The important work we do to enable the film-makers, would not be possible without our partners and sponsors,” said Monty, “And we would like to thank our partner markets, development organisations and funding bodies with deep gratitude.”

“The work we do at this Mart supports the DIFF and DFO’s vision to dynamically grow the industry and bring African cinema to its own people and to global platforms.”

Eighteen official DFM film projects in development were presented at the Finance Forum through the sponsorship of the Industrial Development Corporation and the National Film and Video Foundation.

Supported by Berlinale Talents, the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy and in cooperation with Fipresci, Durban Talents was able to host 16 young filmmakers, and 3 Talents Press.

“We hosted a number of scriptwriters’ labs including Jumpstart which is supported by Produire au Sud, France and the Realness Script Writing Residency. Hot Docs Canada, mentored 11 documentary projects in development and six CineFam Africa television series projects were mentored by Caribbean Tales, Canada.”

“We recognize the important role that the eThekwini Municipality, the principal funder of the DFM plays in its success,” continued Monty. “The City’s involvement actively enables the economic growth of the industry, and we thank them for this.”

The DFM hosted a number of delegations this year including the in bound delegation through the Department of Trade and Industry, the BRICS Film Festival delegation through the Department of Arts and Culture. Special thanks must go to the Canadian High Commission and US Embassy and the French Institute (IFAS), NFVF and KZN Film Commission for their support in bringing in delegates.

The Awards/Grants:

·      The International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA) awarded the most promising documentary project at the DFM,  Cheese Girl, (South Africa) -  Producer: Batana Vundla, Marion Isaacs, Director: Milisuthando Bongela with an opportunity to attend the  IDFA Forum, one of the top gatherings for documentary filmmakers, producers, commissioning editors, funds, private financiers and other documentary filmmakers in Europe, in November.

·      The broadcast stream, Afridocs, that flights African and other international documentaries across 49 countries of sub-Saharan Africa on a weekly basis, gave a €2500 award, funded by the Bertha Foundation, to Zinder, The Seeds of Violence, (Niger) - Producer: Clara Vuillermoz, Ousmane Samassekou, Director: Aicha Macky.

·      The CineMart Award, sponsored by the co-production market of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, went to the fiction project, Nyanga / The Horn, (Zimbabwe) - Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya, Brett Michael Innes, Director: Brett Michael Innes. The project is given an opportunity to attend the Rotterdam Lab, is a five-day training and networking event for producers from all over the world.

·      Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents (Nantes), awarded the fiction film Porta-Retrato, (Mozambique) -Producer: Aldino Languana, Osvaldo Lupini Bambamba, Director: Orlando Mabasso Jr. an opportunity to attend its developmental workshop programme, PAS, where they will be given tools, expertise, and opportunities to develop European networks.

·      Videovision Entertainment awarded the “Best South African Film Project” to Snake, (South Africa) - Producer: Paul Egan, Stanford Gibson and Mustapha Hendricks, Director: Meg Rickards. They receive a prize valued at R75 000, which guarantees its release once it is completed. The prize also includes marketing and distribution support from Videovision Entertainment.

·      Versfeld & Associates, publicity consultants awarded Nyanga / The Horn, (Zimbabwe) - Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya, Brett Michael Innes, Director: Brett Michael Innes the development of a press kit.

·      Sørfond awarded the project How to Steal a Country – Producers: Rehad Desai and Zivia Desai, Director: Mark Kaplan with an opportunity to pitch at the Sørfond Pitching Forum in Oslo later this year.

·      CineFAM-Africa Incubator Accelerator Programme award to pitch at the Caribbean Tales Film Festival in Toronto, went to The Summit Club by Layla Swart

New awards this year include:

·      Hot Docs Blue Ice Award, a cash prize of 2000 Candian Dollars went to the documentary project The Master’s Plan – Producer: Hanne Phlypo and Director Yuri Ceuninck.

·      11th Talents Durban “Talents Press” Recognition Award went to Cornelia Glele.

·      Durban FilmMart Award for the Durban Talents Project Selected as a project for DFM 2019 went to When Shadows Move -  by Aliki Saragas.

The DFM ended last night, but the Durban International Film Festival continues until July 29. There is a free industry - Isiphethu opposite the Southern Sun Garden Court Marine Parade for seminars and workshops for the public and emerging filmmakers, as well as the free screenings at various venues, including the Wavescapes Surf Film festival at Ushaka until Friday, JuLY 27. Also until Friday is the BRICS Film Festival at the Playhouse.

For more information about the DFM go to www.durbanfilmmart.com. 

ends.

Caption to photo supplied:

Award winners at this year’s Durban FilmMart.

Mandela Capture site 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day set their sights on breaking a new world record – a 27km Scarf

67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day set their sights on breaking a new world record – a 27km Scarf

There is nothing like a warm scarf to keep away the winter chill and this year 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day are ready to tackle the icy weather while breaking yet another world record by crocheting a 27km scarf.

27KmScarf will take place on 29 July at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in Howick, KwaZulu Natal.  It will be a day filled with live entertainment and a brightly coloured supernaturally long scarf. Anyone is welcome to come through on the 28th July from 10:00am to help sew scarves together and on the 29th July the site will be open the whole day with entertainment kicking off at 10:00am.

Over the last couple of months KnitWits around the country have been feverishly crocheting scarves to the exacting standards of the Guinness World Book criteria. Each 20cm x 200cm scarf has been crocheted using a hook size no bigger than 6.5mm. Massive rolls of scarves have been bundled up and ready to be transported to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site where on-site volunteers will loosely stitch the rolls of scarves together to form the one long scarf.

Since the earliest days of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day Stuttaford Van Lines have supported the initiative. Once again they have their engines revving in anticipation of the enormous pile of scarves that not only have to be delivered to Kwazulu Natal, but also collected and returned to all the provinces to be distributed.

“In the year that the Nelson Mandela Foundation celebrates a great milestone in history, 67 Blankets for Mandela Day has brought the understanding of making history with work that will benefit those in need. The many people who have been involved in this project will bring much needed smiles and warmth to so many in these very cold winter days” says Yase Godlo, manager of Mandela Day at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Singing sensation Timothy Moloi will be lending his voice to the event, joined by local musicians including singer-songwriter, author and playwright Audrey Mbuyazi, Flautist Kaolin Thomson Woods leading the Khazimula Orphanage marimba band, the St Johns D.S.G School orchestra and reggae band Undivided Roots.  Once again MCC have generously offered their services and will capture this incredible event from the skies using drones and a helicopter.

Without the numerous volunteers and support from companies like Ballid Security Howick, Prosound and KZN Weddings and Functions this event would not be possible.

“We will show the  world what we are doing, stitch by stitch, to keep the legacy of our beloved Nelson Mandela alive, by creating blankets and scarves for our fellow brothers, sisters, moms, dads and children who need extra warmth during our cold winter months, ”  says Carolyn Steyn, founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.

“This is going to be a celebration of note. We have achieved Guinness World Records in Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg and now it is time for KZN to feel and experience the excitement and be part of our history as we mark and pay tribute to Madiba in his centenary year,” she adds.

Following the 27KmScarf event the scarves will be transported to all corners of South Africa and distributed to those in need. Although 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day can not guarantee the original scarves will be sent back to the provinces they came from, they do ensure that the same amount of scarves are sent back to be distributed.

Mandela Capture site on the R103 ( Howick / Tweedie off-ramp off the N3). Entrance is free and please bring your own picnic, chairs and picnic blankets. There will be food at the Truth Café.

Visit the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day website http://www.67blankets.co.za and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/67blankets to follow the build up to this momentous event.

NPO number:

http://www.67blankets.co.za

https://www.facebook.com/67blankets

https://twitter.com/67blankets

MEDIA QUERIES:

BUZ PUBLICITY

BRIDGET VAN OERLE AND SNEZIWE DUBE

011 673 0264 /011 477 0923

info@buz.co.za / buz@buz.co.za

Five Fingers for Marseilles (BRICS Film Fest) and The Story of '72 for DIFF

BE PHAT MOTEL RAISES FIVE FINGERS AND TELLS THE STORY OF ’72 IN DURBAN

After rave reviews and over two months in cinemas, Durban FilmMart’s ‘Best South African Project in Development 2013’ winner, Five Fingers for Marseilles, returns to Durban.  The film, starring Vuyo Dabula and an acclaimed ensemble cast, will represent South Africa in-competition in the BRICS Film Festival line up.

Five Fingers premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 and has remained on the festival circuit since, screening at BFI London, Busan, Fantastic Fest, Palm Springs, Fantasia, Munich, New York African Film Festival and others. “The response to the film both in South Africa and abroad has been amazing and we’re excited to bring it back to Durban, where it first caught attention,” say writer and director respectively, Sean Drummond and Michael Matthews, who also produced through their own Be Phat Motel Film Company, in co-production with Game 7 Films, in association with Above the Clouds and Stage 5 Films, supported by the NFVF, the DTI and Dupa Films.

Drummond and Matthews, with South African producer Stevan Buxt, are also co-producers of Nepali feature Kathaa '72 (The Story of '72). A visually stunning, lyrical family drama set in the peaks surrounding Kathmandu, the film tells the story of a mother and son as they reconnect on a pilgrimage to a remote mountaintop lake, in the aftermath of the cataclysmic earthquake that shook the country in 2015. The film world premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival and continues to Durban for its African premiere. 

“Shot on real locations through a series of ruined villages and jaw-dropping vistas, the film is a meditation on life, family, love and regret,” says the team. “It’s written and directed by an exciting new voice in Prabin Syangbo. We hope this opens doors for future coproduction between Africa and Asia.”

Be Phat Motel have an exciting slate of projects in development, maintaining a global outlook while focussing on South African stories. They, in collaboration with Stage 5 Films in South Africa, Canadian production houses Redlab Digital, The Magical Illusion Factory and First Generation Films and LA-based XYZ Films, produced the SAFTA-winning short film ‘Apocalypse Now Now’, written by Drummond and directed by Matthews. Based on author Charlie Human’s novel of the same name, the feature length version is currently scripting. “It’s a twisted urban fantasy that centres around a porn-peddling high school kid who's in search of his kidnapped girlfriend,” says Matthews. “He partners up with a supernatural bounty hunter as they get pulled deeper into an increasingly bizarre Cape Town underworld of creatures and lost mythology."

Drummond and writer-director Sheetal Magan are currently developing TV drama series, Acts of Man, a psychological thriller with supernatural elements. Set in a small former missionary town, the series examines mass hysteria and the legacy of religious colonisation, in the aftermath of a murder. A coproduction between Be Phat Motel and Atman Media Lab in South Africa, Cave Painting Pictures in Canada and Blazing Griffin in the UK, with XYZ Films repping the project, it aims for production in late 2019.

Five Fingers for Marseilles screens Monday 23 July in the BRICS South African section. Kathaa ’72 African premieres Sunday 22 July. Filmmakers in attendance for both.

For full DIFF Programme go to https://durbanfilmfest.co.za/images/DIFF2018/diff-2018-programme.pdf and for BRICS go to www.durbanfilmmart.com

-ends

All Filmic Roads lead to Durban

In the MERCURY

All filmic roads lead to Durban this week with five major international film events taking place over the next fortnight. Over 500 film-lovers and film-makers descend on Surf City for the Durban FilmMart (DFM), Africa’s premier  industry event that begins on Friday (July 20) until Monday (July 23) at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni Hotel. The DFM, now in its ninth year, takes place during the Durban International Film Festival  (19 - 29 July) and is a joint programme with eThekwini’s Municipality’s Durban Film Office. Over the next two weeks, other film-related events are also taking place including the Nature, Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers Congress (NEWF) from today (Monday 16 July) to Wednesday (July 18) which aims to create a path to conservation through film. Then from 22 to 27 July, the 2018 BRICS Film Festival showcases five films from each of the member countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa at The Playhouse. 

Pictured is Russel Hlongwane curator of both the Durban FilmMart and Durban International Film Festival’s industry programme, getting ready to welcome film-folk to Durban photographed at Durban beachfront’s iconic attraction, Mini Town.

More info go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za or www.durbanfilmmart.com

Results Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge Sunday June 24 2018

Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge 

Sunday June 24 2018

ZIMBABWEAN runner Betha Chikanda threw down the gauntlet from the moment the starter’s gun went off to lead from start to finish in yesterday’s 29th anniversary running of the Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge.

Finishing in 33:07, the diminutive 21 year old from Harare went out so fast from the start outside the King’s Park Athletics Stadium in Masabalala Yengwa Avenue that she left the rest of the 15-strong pack of elite runners gasping for air as Chikanda increased her lead to over 100 metres at the 2km mark which she went through in 6min 18sec.

There was to be no letting up by the Maxed runner as the scenic beachfront route took the field of 13 853 entrants in the country’s “Most Beautiful Road Race” southwards and into a slight headwind as the sun rose in the east and burnt off the patches of cloud.

The chasing pack appeared to be losing more ground as Chikanda slipped into overdrive at the 4km flag and was still forging ahead as she passed the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium with the chasing pack dwindling in number with 3km of the race remaining which saw Glenrose Xaba, Nolene Conrad and Kesa Molotsane peeling off to mount a last gasp attack but already realising they had left themselves with too much to do and too little time left to catch the resilient Chikanda.

The Zimbabwean capped an excellent performance in her first appearance this year in the SPAR Women’s Challenge Series of six races, her winning time of 33 minutes 07 seconds averaging 3:18 for every kilometre, 20 seconds ahead of 26-year-old Glenrose Xaba of Boxer AC in Pretoria who finished in 33:27 with Western Cape runner Nolene Conrad (22, KPMG) third in 33:43 and two more Zimbabweans, Rudo Mhonderwa who was fourth in 33:53 and Rutendo Nyahora who was fifth in 34:07 making up the first five finishers.

Next came the SPAR Grand Prix leader and winner of the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth races this year, Kesa Molotsane, who surrenders her place at the top of the SPAR GP log to Xaba.

Chikanga, who came ninth in this race last year, said her coach, Martin Ngwenya, had told her to “go out strong and to go for gold”. We figured most of the elite runners would be focusing their attention on Kesa so we believed this tactic would confuse them.”

Xaba showed yet again that she has tremendous potential and is earning more and more respect from her fellow runners with each race outing coming second to Molotsane in both the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth races earlier this year.

Third-placed Conrad said, “We never expected Betha to go out so strongly but by the time we settled into the race the pack just stuck together and we let her go thinking we would catch up with her later.”

“I stuck to my own plan and tried to feed off the energy of the group and was pleased with my result.”

“By the time we passed the 7km flag I think we realised we would not catch up with her and so two or three of us broke away from the pack and fought out the finish.”

All results are on www.sparwomensrace.co.za.

[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>12</o:Words> <o:Characters>71</o:Characters> <o:Company>Versfeld &amp; Associates</o:Company> <o:Lines>1</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>82</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif] [if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="&#45;-"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="276"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif] [if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif] StartFragment

Next SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge race for KZN is 19 August in Pietermaritzburg.

EndFragment

Results:

Female Senior

1 Betha Chikanga (Maxed) 33:07, 2 Glenrose Xaba (Boxer)  33:27, 3 Nolene Conrad (KPMG)  33:43, 4 Rudo Mhonderwa  (Nedbank) 33:53, 5 Rutendo Nyahora (Nedbank)  34:07, 6 Kesa Molotsane  (KPMG) 34:15, 7 Lebo Phalula  (Boxer) 34:37, 8 Zintle Xiniwe (KPMG) 34:56, 9 Lebogang Phalula (Boxer) 34:59, 10 Cherise Sims (Boxer) 35:09

35 – 39

1 Ntombesintu Mfunzi  (Nedbank) 35:47, 2 Makhosi Mhlongo 35:56, 3 Fikile Mbuthuma  (Nedbank) 37:58

40-49

1 Bulelwa Simae (Nedbank) 38:16, 2 Ulrica Stander (KPMG) 38:33, 3 Ronel Thomas (Boxer) 39:38

50-59

1 Judy Bird  (KPMG) 40:03, 2 Grace de Oliveira (KPMG) 42:51, 3  Kim Meyer (Rand Athletics) 43:09

60-69

1 Blanche Moila (Savages) 47:52, 2 Jenny Scott (Dolphin Coast Striders) 51:15,

3 Teresa Scott  (Pinetown & Districts) 54:16

70+

1 Gill Tregenna (Westville) 57:55, 2 Ingrid Bolt  (Riverside Harriers) 1:14:05,

3 Ivy Lottering (Wings Athletics) 1:17:14

Female Junior

1 Thobile Vilakazi (KPMG) 37:33, 2 Casey Bosman (KPMG) 38:31, 3 Lyndi Roelofse (Boxer) 38:58

EndFragment

Call out for Dancers for 21 Portraits with 21 Durban Dancers A collaboration project with JOMBA!, DUT & DAG

Media Release

Call out for Dancers for

21 Portraits with 21 Durban Dancers

A collaboration project with JOMBA!, DUT and DAG

Durban Art Gallery  (in collaboration with UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts, the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, and the DUT Photography Department) is running an exciting collaborative project that will culminate at JOMBA! 2018, and an exhibition at DAG for Women’s Month in August.

The 21 final third level photography students will each be working with a Durban-based dancer to create a series of dance portraits that image Durban’s dance community and which also focus on the skill of catching a dancer in motion.

Durban dancers are invited to participate in this collaboration. Twenty-one dancers, who must over 18yrs of age, from all styles and genres of dance be they professional or semi-professionals are welcome to apply.

The dancers will need to offer 3 hours of their time between 18 and 27 July 2018 to be photographed. In exchange for their time, a full digital portfolio of all the shots taken of the session will be made available for selection and use in their portfolios and for ongoing use in the media. The images will also be exhibited in August and September at the Durban Art Gallery, to co-incide with the special focus on JOMBA! @ DAG on 7 September 2018. There is no financial payment for participation.

To apply, email jombafestival@gmail.com a one page CV with the following information full name, Durban address, cell number, e-mail address, ID number  and date of birth, style of dance, a small head shot inserted into the application page (please do not send the head shot as a separate attachment), small 150 word motivation of why you should be selected.

Deadline for applications is 29 June 2018 at 4pm.

-ends

Action in Autism Fundraiser with Mfana & Quartet Saturday, May 26

Media Release

Action in Autism Fundraiser with Mfana & Quartet

Action in Autism hosts a fundraising afternoon of smooth jazz, coffee and books with Mfana and Quartet this Saturday (26 May) from 2pm – 5pm at their new premsies at 105 Haig Road, Parkhill, in Durban North.

Action in Autism provides early intervention for 32 children under the age of 6, and also provides a free walk-in resource and support service, a free diagnostic clinic, and regular support group meetings for families of people with autism.

For this afternoon of fundraising and community, legendary saxophonist Mfana Mlambo will be accompanied by Neil Gonsalves on piano, Blessed Twala on bass and Bruce Baker on drums. 

Tickets at R150 are available from the Action in Autism office, or at the door. Refreshments and light snacks are on sale, and guests are welcome to bring their own sundowners. All proceeds go to ensuring the continuation of Action in Autism’s Early Intervention Centre.

Action in Autism does not receive any funding from government, and welcomes support through cash or kind, or through volunteering. For more information about Action in Autism and to secure your tickets, please call 031 563 3039 or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

-ends

Further information:

SPAR KZN School Girls' Hockey Challenge North Coastal Regionals - Grantleigh College: Saturday 19 May

SPAR KZN School Girls' Hockey Challenge

North Coastal Regionals

Grantleigh College: Saturday 19 May

The final regional of the 2018 SPAR KZN School Girls' Hockey Challenge ended in fine style with Felixton College dethroning three times North Coastal Regional winner, Grantleigh College.

The tournament took the format of a round robin, with six schools from the area represented - defending champions Grantleigh College, Felixton College, Empangeni High School, John Ross College, Mandini Academy and St Catherine’s. 

In the finals, Grantleigh took early possession and was abuzz with possibility in the Felixton. Five minutes into the game, Felixton only made their first run at the hosts goals. The remainder of the first half was a fast flowing game with both teams having an unsuccessful go at goals. After the first fifteen minutes the cliff-hanger game was sitting at nil nil.

Felixton had four short corners in the first half, the first quickly resulted in a Grantleigh foot halting play and the corner being retaken and easily cleared. The third and fourth followed in almost identical fashion. The glue for the Felixton team, Kayla Jansen misfired two reverse stick shots that rolled slowly to the keeper. Jansen started the game playing more of a defence role, but for the final 15 minutes, moved to a more attacking spot.

Ninety seconds into the second half, Josie Pilton was standing just off the Grantleigh right hand post and received a pass from the right-hand side of the field. Pilton slotted the ball in low and left and opened the account for Felixton.

Jansen made some breaks down the right of the field, either running out of space, or not finding support but her ignited runs sparked her team as they started to dominate the second half. With seven and a quarter minutes remaining, Pilton was again lurking in a similar spot as the ball came from the right side, a toppling Pilton slapped the ball in securing both her and her team’s second goal.

The defending champs, Grantleigh only managed to get into the Felixton half twice in the last 150 seconds of the game but both of their runs were quickly snubbed out by a confident back line of Felixton.

In the round robin stage, Grantleigh took the win over Felixton, with Grace Ash finding the back of the net mere seconds before the final whistle.

Coach for the winning team Megan Campbell says “The SPAR challenge was, and always is, a well run tournament, where the girls get to have fun as well as compete competitively. This year, going into finals the girls were nervous but calm. They wanted to win and knew they had to work hard in order to achieve their dream. For me as coach, the girls getting the experience of winning this tournament means so much."

Garth Bishop coach for Grantleigh says "It was a tough day today with all the teams vying for the title and the extra pressure that comes with being defending champs. We had a number of tough games in the round robin stages but managed to make it through to the finals unbeaten. Unfortunately, we couldn’t maintain our run in the final and lost a hard fought game to Felixton who ended as worthy winners. As always teams from our area tend to struggle against the bigger schools in KZN but I feel that Felixton have the quality in their side to maybe cause an upset or two in the Grand Finals.”

The other two teams that were both so close to making the final were four times regional winner, Empangeni High School and the team from St Catherine's who have quietly improved each year. Both of these teams ended their day on 11 points with the bronze placing being decided on goal difference. Empangeni ended their round robin games with 11 goals compared to St Catherine’s who notched up 10 goals, meaning the Empangeni claimed the third place.

Six teams met in the picturesque setting of Grantleigh, where round robin games of 23 minutes were played. The teams took to the fields for two 11 minutes halves and had a minute to swop sides. Winning teams earned 4 points, teams that drew with goals earned 2 points and a goalless draw got them 1 point. A loss obviously resulted in no points.

One of the hardest working umpires on the day was no nonsense, Neville van den Berg who officiated all but a handful of games, a former pupil at John Ross College he was there representing St Catherine’s. The Most Promising Umpire award went to young up-and-coming Marnus Engelbrecht who was representing Mandini High School.

The final spot for the Grand Finals has been decided, Felixton College join nine other regional champions at the Grand Finals that will take place at St Mary's DSG in Kloof on 21 and 22 July.

The regional champions that will be playing for the main title at the Grand Finals in the eighth SPAR KZN School Girls' Challenge are Durban Girls' College (8th appearance); St Mary's, St Anne's and Ferrum Hoerskool (7th appearance); King Edward High School and Amanzimtoti High (4th Appearance); Epworth School, Greytown High School and Felixton College (Newcomers).

For more info like the tournament's Facebook page.

Results

1 Felixton College, 2 Grantleigh College, 3 Empangeni High School, 4 St Catherine's, 4 Mandini Academy, 5 John Ross College

ENDS

Realness Screenwriter’s Residency 2018 Participants Announced At Cannes Film Festival

Realness is a pioneering residency initiative conceived by Elias Ribeiro and Cait Pansegrouw of Urucu Media that affords a new generation of filmmakers the opportunity to cultivate their talent as authentic voices in African cinema.

Since its inception, Realness has nurtured 5 African auteurs each year, growing into a prestigious incubator of emerging talent that is recognized throughout the global film community. Now in its third year, the residency has fostered cinematic voices from 12 countries on the continent, including Angola (Fradique Mario Bastos), Senegal (Rama Thiaw) and Kenya (Amirah Tajdin).

“There is a reason residencies such as the Sundance Labs and the MacDowell Colony are so sought-after. They offer the opportunity to withdraw from the world to create without distractions while exchanging ideas with other exciting artists and receiving expert feedback at carefully considered intervals. Realness brings that opportunity to Africa.” said international script consultant Selina Ukwuoma. “With a pan-African focus, the diversity of Africans is celebrated yet the particular concerns that we have in common come to the fore.” Selina will join Realness for the third consective year, alongside top South African-based consultant Mmabatho Kau who began her relationship with the residency in 2017 and who was recently selected for the esteemed Torino Film Lab’s Story Editing programme. The two will work in tandem, cross-consulting on all 5 of the selected projects for 2018. “Both Selina and I are rooted in the African narrative but have an international outlook on story. Selina's extensive work internationally and my work locally gives the residents a holistic experience towards developing a world-class script.” added Kau.

On Saturday May 12th the 5 selected projects were annouced at the Cannes Film Festival by Realness co-founder Elias Ribeiro. “After an extensive evaluation of more than 130 projects from 24 countries, it is my greatest pleasure to introduce you to the Realness Residents of 2018; Kantarama Gahigiri from Rwanda, Matthys Boshoff from South Africa, Ng’endo Mukii from Kenya and Reem Morsi and Mohammed Siam, both from Egypt.”

The 5 projects were chosen by an international panel of 16 prolific world cinema stakeholders, including sales agents Thembe Bhebhe and Efuru Flowers (Flourishing Films), Todd Brown (head of international acquisitions for XYZ films) and literary agent David Kayser (Casarotto Ramsay & Associates). “These filmmakers herald an important and exciting new wave of African storytelling by Africans for Africans and the world. The strength of the projects and the talent driving them will benefit hugely from the expertise exposure and incubation that Realness offers and I look forward to see how they mature. I’ve been introduced to some truly special emerging talent who have the potential to compete on the international stage and shine.” said Kayser.

The 2018 Realness residents will move into the Nirox Foundation’s beautiful residence and sculpture park in the Cradle of Humankind on June 11th. They will work on their projects over the course of 6 weeks before participating in Africa’s largest co-production market, the Durban FilmMart. The most promising projects to emerge will be invited to participate in Locarno Filmmakers Academy, EAVE Producers Workshop, La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut Français, Torino Film Lab Meeting Event and TIFF Talent Lab, allowing them to progress closer to being realised.

“Realness continues to carve important relationships with other labs and partners which allow for its residents’ projects to benefit from further growth and exposure. We would like to thank all of our partners, panelists and volunteers, without whom Realness would not be possible.” said co-founder Cait Pansegrouw. This year the residency welcomes new partnerships with Robert Bosch Stiftung and Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, as funders of the programme and Toronto International Film Festival has come on board offering a scholarship to their TIFF Talent Lab. TIFF Programmer for Continental Africa and the Middle East Kiva Reardon commented on the partnership; “TIFF is very happy to support Realness and its aim of developing and supporting the next generation of screenwriting talent across the continent. We're looking forward to welcoming a Realness resident to take part in TIFF Talent Lab, where they can develop their artistic practice and meet with key industry professionals over the course of the Festival.”

Realness is an initiative by Urucu Media in partnership with Nirox Foundation, Berlinale Talents, Durban FilmMart, The Durban International Film Festival, Durban Talents, The French Institute of South Africa and Institute Français, Torino Film Lab, EAVE Producer’s Workshop, Locarno Filmmaker’s Academy, Produire Au Sud, Fairbridges Wertheim Becker, CNC (Le Centre National du Cinéma et de L’image Animée), Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF Talent Lab, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Cocoon Productions and Deuxieme Ligne Films.

Read more about the 2018 residents and their projects here: www.urucumedia.com/realness

For more information contact realness@urucumedia.com

-ends

20th Annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance, Anniversary Legacy Festival - Call for applications to participate

29 August – 9 September 2018

The annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience which takes place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 29 August to 9 September invites dancers, dance-makers and theatre lighting practitioners to apply to participate in selected programmes of its 20th edition.

Presented by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts, JOMBA! provides a platform for professional, experimental and up-coming choreographers and dance companies within its Main, Fringe and Youth Fringe programmes.

The JOMBA! Fringe is an adult contemporary dance platform where 8 short works of not more than 15 minutes each are selected and technically supported. A JOMBA! committee will select these works and this will depend on meeting the relevant criteria and the level of professionalism. This Fringe event takes place at UKZN’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on Saturday 1 September.

The JOMBA! Youth Fringe is open to dancers under the age of 16 years. It is a supportive initiative for various ‘Dance Development’ projects operating in the province of KZN and provides a space to celebrate our up-and-coming generation of young contemporary dancers and dance practitioners. This event will take place at UKZN’s Open Air Theatre on Sunday 2 September.

Both platforms do not come with financial support but those selected are given professional technical support via the lighting designers, sound technicians and stage managers as well as the JOMBA! team.

2018 sees JOMBA! join forces with the Durban Arts Gallery (DAG) to present a very special site responsive dance event at the festival on Friday 7 September. JOMBA! and DAG are looking to award two Durban-based choreographers with a small grant to create a dance/physical theatre work that will premiere at this event. The work has to be entirely new and selected choreographers will be mentored and giving full technical support. The grant is for a vision of work that engages ‘in situ’ spaces both inside and outside the Gallery.

This year there is a welcome addition of an open lighting for dance workshop on Monday 3 September at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Julie Ballard, Chicago-based professional theatrical technician affiliated with IATSE Local 2 and Actors’ Equity Association, and the Stage Manager and Properties Master for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago will present this workshop for dance-makers, dancers and technicians. This workshop is free for 20 participants – but prior applications must be made.

Applications for the JOMBA! @DAG closes on June 1, and the Fringe, Youth Fringe and the Lighting Workshop must be in by Monday 4 June 2018 by 4pm and should to be sent to jombafestival@gmail.com

For more information or to get an application via email contact Lliane Loots on lootsl@ukzn.ac.za using the name of the programme/workshop  you are applying for in the subject line.

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge uMvotii, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional at Wartburg Kirchdorf

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

uMvotii, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional at Wartburg Kirchdorf

Saturday 12 May

The second last regional of the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge takes place in Wartburg on Saturday 12 May.

Leading the uMvotii, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional is host school, Wartburg Kirchdorf School who have claimed victory five times. 

Coach for the defending champs, Lisa Misselhorn stated that her team was hard at work getting their game plan ironed out to their usual German precision. 

Wartburg have dominated the regional with five consecutive wins, since 2013. Previously Wembley College won in 2011 and Ladysmith High won in 2012. Five schools will be participating in this tournament, with the first game of the round robin tipping off at 8am. The games are 28minutes long, with a changeover blown at 14minutes.

Joining Wartburg are Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg, Wembley College; Domino Servite and Greytown High School. Four points will be awarded for a win, 2  points for a draw with goals, 1 point for a goalless draw and zero points for a loss.

The winner of this region will be heading to the Grand Finals that will be held at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof on 21 and 22 July. 

Teams that have reserved their spot at the Grand Finals are Ferrum Hoërskool (Northern KZN); newcomers Epworth School (PMB Central Regional); St Anne’s DSG (PMB Northern Regional); Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional); Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional); King Edward High School (Southern KZN Regional) and St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional). 

The last regional for 2018 is the North KZN Coastals, which takes place at Grantleigh in Richards Bay on May 19.

For more info visit the tournament’s Facebook page.

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge Highway Regional

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

Highway Regional

Westville Girls’ High School: Sunday 6 May

Maintaining their reign, St Mary’s DSG defended their title in the Highway Regional of the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge in a hard-fought battle against hosts, Westville Girls High School.

Saints added to their six titles in this regional when they managed to defeat Westville in a riveting final that concluded in a penalty shootout. Saints opened up their account with their first goal smashed in after 66 seconds of play, by a powerful shot by ace striker, Kiana-Che Cormack. The ball was pushed right from the castle to Cormack who controlled the ball and then sent it flying.

Saints camped out around the Westville circle, earning themselves another two short corners that were both defended. They also had three shots at goal that Westville dealt with valiantly. With 95seconds remaining in the first half Tayla Thwaits found herself unmarked in front of the goals, spun around controlling the ball to the left of her, and slipped the ball in with a cheeky shot notching up the second goal for Saints.

Saints continued dominating the final with their fourth short corner that Westville again defended. In a moment of brilliance, Kerryn Swanepoel ignited her Westville team with a solo run down the left, leaving Saints scrambling with only two defenders still at the back. Swanepoel weaved around the first, dodging the second but the first Saints defender chopped Swanepoel’s stick. Standing on the spot, no-nonsense umpire Mike Lees split his arms indicating a penalty flick for Westville. A calm Swanepoel stepped up to the p spot and slotted in her shot into the top left corner.

Four minutes later, the amped Swanepoel charged down the right of the field surging towards the Saints circle. Swanepoel made a dash for the goals but was forced out of play by a harsh shoulder charge from St Marys, resulting in her second penalty flick that she bravely converted, levelling the score at 2 a piece.

The game then progressed to three players from both teams taking an eight second penalty shootout. After three rounds, both teams only managed to slot in one goal each, meaning the score line was still level pegged at 1-1. The finals then went to a sudden death, with the same three players stepping up to the spot for another chance. Two more rounds were played with no winner being revealed, then Leah Piggot managed to slot her shot in, going 1 up for Saints, earning her team the win and the regional title for 2018.

Special mention must go to the Westville keeper, Saiyuri Govender for her fearless display on the line throughout the game, bravely standing tall surge after surge of Saints powerful attacks.

Saints are the eighth team to head to the Grand Finals that they will be hosting on 21 and 22 July. The girls will be making their seventh appearance at the Grand Finals where they are also the overall defending champs from 2017.

Manager for the St Mary’s Malcolm Reeders said “The tournament is always a highlight on the school girl hockey calendar. Winning the finals today was a fantastic end to the day after all the pressure for us to hold on to the title. There was some fantastic hockey played today. But was a case of a tale of two halves, as at half time we were two up and then after half time, Westville managed to equalize. Our penalty takers were brilliantly composed during the shootout."

Ryan Lees, coach for Westville Girls High said, “It was a smoothly run tournament, but it was hard to perform consistently in all the games. Our team did themselves proud by coming back after being 2 down at half time, to equalize and then take it through to sudden death."

They join Ferrum Hoërskool (Northern KZN); newcomers Epworth School (PMB Central Regional); St Anne’s DSG (PMB Northern Regional); Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional); Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional); and King Edward High School (Southern KZN Regional).

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page.

Results

1 St Mary’s DSG, 2 Westville Girls’ High School, 3 Thomas More College, 4 Hillcrest High School, 5 Kloof High School, 6 Curro Hillcrest

ENDS

N.E.W Pitch – Callout. Win the chance to produce a wildlife, environmental or conservation documentary short

N.E.W Pitch – Callout.

Win the chance to produce a wildlife, environmental or conservation documentary short

DURBAN: The N.E.W Pitch short documentary pitching competition is aimed at discovering the next generation or nature, environment, wildlife and adventure conservation filmmakers, and is one of the key sessions at the Nature Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers Congress (NEWF) taking place from 16 – 18 July at Durban Botanic Gardens and surrounds.

“Do you have an engaging, innovative or inspirational natural history, environmental, conservation or adventure story?” asks Pragna Parsotam-Kok, Founder and Congress Director of NEWF.  “If you do, we invite you to submit your documentary short concept and you could be one of eight finalists selected to pitch at the N.E.W Pitch competition during NEWF 2018. Submissions are open to all emerging and aspiring filmmakers, scientists and conservationists over the age of 18.”

The N.E.W Pitch is targeted towards emerging and student filmmakers in order to provide them with pitching experience and the opportunity to win a production grant to produce a short documentary film in this genre.  

During the NEWF Congress, the eight finalists will be invited to participate in a pitching session before a live judging panel. Coming out of the pitch session, four winners will be selected to win R50 000 to develop and produce their documentary short.

The four winners will have access to mentorship during the production of their shorts.  The films need to be completed within a year, and the four films will be combined into a once-off 48-minute TV documentary, which will be broadcast on national television.

During the NEWF Congress this year, the winners of last year’s Pitch will screen their film for the first time. The winners of last year’s competition were, Fidel Tshivhasa for his story on the humpback whale migration that takes place in KZN; Shivan Parusnath for an undercover look at the illegal reptile trade, Mikhale Singh whose project is about the endangered Pickersgills’ Reed frog and the Ashdown and Imbali EnviroChamps (Liberty NPO and DUCT) who are a group of individuals working to protect the wetlands and rivers in their area.  These four films will be complete by end of May.

“It is hoped that the Congress will promote outstanding environmental, conservation, wildlife and adventure films from professional, aspiring and student filmmakers and that we will contribute towards transformation through our developmental programmes aimed at enriching the industry with an increased pool of diverse content creators,” she said.

To pitch for your documentary – register on the NEWF online portal – and enter the N.E.W Pitch competition with all the necessary supporting documentation.

Visit www.newf.co.za to enter, for submission requirements, guidelines and more information or visit the NEWF Online Portal to enter now.  Deadline is 31 May.

Registration is now open for this year’s Nature, Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers Congress. Visit www.newf.co.za for more info.  Delegate passes can be booked and paid for later.  

For more info email info@newf.co.za or contact Pragna on 064 294 0669.

ends

Illa Thompson 

Publicity Matters

illa@pubmat.co.za

 or

Sharlene Versfeld

Versfeld & Associates

Public Relations and Communications

Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za

SPAR KZN School Girls' Hockey Challenge - Highway Regional

Westville Girls’ High School - May 6

The fiercely contested Highway Regional of the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge takes place this year at Westville Girls’ High School astroturf on Sunday, May 6.

St Mary’s DSG, six times winners of this regional and three times winners of the Grand Finals of this highly-respected school girls’ hockey event, will be focussed on holding onto their title. Only once have the defending champs been ousted from their top position, and that was by Westville Girls’ High in the 2014 tourney at Thomas More College.

This year, Westville Girls’ High will host this regional, and will no doubt be using their home-turf advantage in their attempt to break the iron grip that St Mary’s has on this region.

Sian Tarbuton coach for host school, WGHS says that their team is hard at training and looking forward to the regional. “Our indoor season was a cracker,” she enthuses. “We were placed second in the logs, only losing to St Mary's with a narrow loss of 4-2. We were so close to getting a draw and then they scored against us in the last couple minutes. Our outdoor season got off to a great start. We won the Crawford La Lucia outdoor hockey tournament held over the April holidays. We won our pool and then met Crawford La Lucia in the final, winning the tournament. We won our first outdoor hockey match of the season against Thomas More College, so we have high hopes for the season, but need to keep our composure and work hard.”

Other schools participating in this six-school regional include Curro Hillcrest, Hillcrest High, Kloof High and Thomas More College.

The tournament starts at 8am, and will be played in a round robin format. Games last 23 minutes with a quick change over at 11 minutes.  A win will earn a team 4 points, a draw with goals 2 points, a goalless draw 1 point and a loss 0. First and second places will then go head-to-head in a final match to determine the eighth regional team to go through to the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof.

Other schools that have already secured their place at the Grand Finals are Ferrum Hoërskool from the Northern KZN Regional, newcomer Epworth School from PMB Central Regional, St Anne’s Diocesan from PMB Northern Regional, Durban Girls’ College from the Durban Central Regional, Amanzimtoti High School from the Durban South Regional and Our Lady of Fatima from the Durban North Regional.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow the tournament on Instagram.

SPAR KZN School Girls' Hockey - Southern KZN Regional

Kokstad: Saturday 21 April

King Edward High School claimed their fourth regional title in a riveting final against host school Kokstad College at the Southern KZN Regional of the SPAR KZN School Girls' Hockey Challenge on Saturday 21 April.

The two finalists earned top position in their pools, advancing through to the semi-finals where King Edward met Suid-Natal and Kokstad took on Southcity. King Edward won 2-0, where the Kokstad College Southcity game went to a penalty shootout resulting in a 2-0 victory for Kokstad.  

In the last game of the day, fierce rivals King Edward and Kokstad notched up a nil nil score at the end of full time, with Kokstad earning two short corners, the first of those was directly after no-nonsense umpire, Jani Dorning awarded two cards to King Edwards players, a green was dished out first, followed by a yellow for continuously infringing the five yards at a free hit. Both shorties were successfully defended by the Matatiele team. Both teams didn't really make any impact at the business ends of the field, with majority of the action taking place mid-field.

The game progressed to a penalty shootout with the defending champs taking the first run. King Edward’s Anathi Madikizela charged into the circle, only to meet the advancing Anga Gogela who didn't allow Madikizela any space to fire off a shot. Kokstad's Sibabalwe Cabangama was next to go and meet the sturdy defense of Thuto Kanetsi. Cabangama knocked the ball directly at Kanetsi, who easily stopped it and prevented any further chances. Second for KEHS, fiesty Azisa Cokota successfully knocked the first goal in, after running in and decisively sliding the ball right of Gogela. Kokstad's Tyler Rorke levelled the score after her first attempt was stopped, and she pounced on the ball slapping in her follow up shot that went left of the keeper. King Edwards's Lukhona Ndumdum stepped up to the mark, moved the ball in, drawing Gogela out, then rounding her on the left and slipping the ball in to take KEHS 2-1 up. Finally, Simamkele Kwababa's chance was denied by alert Kanetsi. Kwababa's slap attempt was easily blocked and then Kanetsi charged the ball down not allowing Kokstad player any space. The final score was 2-1 to King Edward.

In the bronze game Sheppie team, Suid-Natal took on fellow south coasters Southcity where the game also went to a penalty shootout. The game ended at nil nil with both teams not threatening to score. Suid-Natal's Kayla Parson and Valerie Ahrens scored while Michaela van Der Heever sadly missed. The mirror image results saw Southcity's Hannah Nero and Sarah-Joy Pringles score and McKayla Du Bruyn not able to get a third for her team. The bronze medal game then went to a sudden death, with Parson side stepping around Tamryn Steenkamp and determinedly finding the back of the net. Focused Nero veered left, but her shot went wide of the box allowing Suid-Natal third place.

After the finals, coach for Kokstad College Stephanie Peterson said, “It was a tough game. King Edward are worthy opponents to play against, but it is always the team with the most fight that wins. I was very proud of our team, even though they are young, they can only get better from here.”

Deidre Duminy, coach for King Edward High School said “The whole tournament, as always, was well organised and very exciting, and a good opportunity for us to practice our skills in play. The first game was slow for us, and then the goals seemed to open up after that. Kokstad College is a wonderful yet terrible opponent, as they are a tenacious team, and one can never be assured of the outcome. We enjoyed playing on their home ground and of course pleased that we managed to defend our title."

Joining the list of Most Promising Umpire from various regionals is Kyle de Kock from Kokstad College. The 16 year old Grade 11 pupil was impressive with his decisive decisions throughout the day and has been invited to the Grand Finals where he will further his umpiring career. 

King Edward are the seventh team to advance to the Grand Finals at St Mary's DSG in Kloof on the 21 and 22 July. They join Ferrum Hoërskool (Northern KZN Regional); St Anne's (PMB North Regional); Epworth School (PMB Central Regional); Durban Girls' College (DBN Central Regional); Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (DBN North Regional).

For more info like the tournament's Facebook page.

Results: 

1 King Edward High School, 2 Kokstad College, 3 Suid-Natal Hoërskool, 4 Southcity School, 5 Creston College, 6 Port Shepstone High School, 7 St Monica’s Diocesan School, 8 St Patrick's College, 9 Ixopo High School, 10 Bergview High School

SPAR KZN School Girl’s Hockey Challenge Durban North Regional - Results April 15, 2018

SPAR KZN School Girls' Hockey Challenge

Durban North Regional

Crawford North Coast: Sunday 15 April

Our Lady of Fatima earned themselves their third title when they were crowned Durban North Regional winners at the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday at Crawford North Coast.

Fatima had a clear run to the regional final, where they met Danville Park Girls’ High School. The first half the game flowed easily up and down with no real chances being taken. Fatima started the attack with Megan Coreejes charging down the right but ran out of space with the Danville defence forcing her over the baseline. Danville were awarded a short corner a minute later, but the unimaginative shot was fired directly at the keeper, Ntando Nzuza easily stopping the shot and her defender quickly clearing it out of danger.

Fatima’s Coreejes burst down the right after a hoik pass from upfield found Coreejes in the middle of the circle. The forward put in a fine attempt but blazed it high and wide. Coreejes third break in the first half was met with a sea of green defence, and no support from her team mates saw her third opportunity amount to nothing.

After a quick change over, Fatima stepped up a gear. At the start of the second half Kirsten Lenz was in the right place at the right time as a flat pass from the right side of the circle found her lurking around the p spot, Lenz calmly slapped the ball neatly into the box getting her team’s first goal.

Directly after their first goal, Fatima surged forward in their fifth attack with Emma Lofstedt reaching the circle and quickly firing off her shot directly at the awaiting keeper which was easily blocked and defended. A short corner went the way of Fatima, a smooth delivery reached the castle, with the striker glancing the ball right to Lofstedt who didn’t make the same mistake twice, firing in her second attempt to the left of the keeper, taking her team comfortably 2 nil up.

As the game wound down, Fatima had their final chance with an exciting flurry at the goals. A shot went high and wide, with a sterling effort from Nzuza, getting both hands up to block the shot. The ball fell comfortably for the Fatima forward who was camped out at the goal and should have had an easy slot for their third goal but in the excitement, missed the ball giving Nzuza time to fly across the goals and thwart any further opportunity.

Fatima met Northlands Girls’ High in the first semi-final where Fatima went up 3 nil. Goal scorers in that game were star players Lofstedt, and Megan Coreejes with Naomi Maujean also getting her name on the score sheet.

Danville met Crawford La Lucia in the second semi-final, at full time both teams were unable to make a break through. Both teams were quietly impressive throughout the day but were at loggerheads in their semi.

The game progressed to three rounds of a penalty shoot-out. First up was Danville’s captain Awande Mkhwanazi whose attempt was blocked. Crawford’s Alison Beck’s determined run met the sturdy defence of Nzuza. Next up for Danville, Christy Gilmour drew the keeper out with her slap that was blocked, but luckily for her the ball landed kindly and she was able to follow up with an easy slot into the back of the box. Rachel Wilkinson stepped up for Crawford, striding forward and knocking in a decent looking shot that at the last minute found the left pad of Nzuza, and rolled safely out of reach. Tatum Lardant took to the spot for Danville and charged in, veering right and rolled the ball beyond the flying Linda Dlamini to take her team 2 nil up and sealing their spot in the regional final.

Receiving his second Most Promising Umpire award, Enzo Magubane from Amanzimtoti was recognised for his efforts with the whistle. He was representing Ashton International College this time round, having been selected previously blowing at the Durban South Regional.

Our Lady of Fatima is the sixth team to secure their berth at the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof. They join Ferrum Hoërskool (Northern KZN), Epworth School (PMB Central); St Anne’s College (PMB North); Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central) and Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South). Next weekend the tournament travels to Kokstad for the Southern KZN Regional.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow the tournament’s Instagram account.

Results

1 Our Lady of Fatima, 2 Danville Park Girls’ High, 3 Northlands Girls’ High, 4 Crawford La Lucia, 5 Ashton International College, 6 Crawford North Coast, 7 Reddam House uMhlanga, 8 Durban North College.

ENDS

Sophie Thompson

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge- Southern KZN Regional Kokstad College

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

Southern KZN Regional

Kokstad College: Saturday 21 April

The clash of the eighth Southern KZN Regional in the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Challenge takes place on Saturday 21 April at Kokstad College.

This region has crowned three schools since the tournament began in 2011. This year, ten schools will converge in the quest to be regional champion in the hopes of travelling to the Grand Finals in July at St Mary’s DSG.

Kicking off the tournament, defending champs King Edward High School (KEHS) will meet St Monica’s who missed last year’s tournament due to other commitments. At the same time on field B two times winner Kokstad College will meet Bergview who are returning after last playing in 2014. Hosts, Kokstad College will need to find their A-game early as they meet two times winner, Creston College in their second game.

KEHS will take on Southcity in the third game of the day. Southcity were placed third last year and are hoping to continue their progression in this tournament as they quietly chip away at the placings with an improvement every year.

Coach for the defending champs, Deidre Duminy says, “My team is very young this year, basically an U16 team which is wonderful for the next two years. We lost seven of our players last year who matriculated. Of course, we will be delighted if we go through, but who knows what will happen on the day. We will surely try our best but currently we are working on building confidence as well as skills.”

Pool A features King Edward High School, St Monica’s, Southcity, Port Shepstone, iXopo and Pool B has Kokstad, Creston, Bergview, St Patrick’s and Suid-Natal taking each other on. The pool games will be 25 minutes each and the playoffs are only 20minutes long, with a possibility of a penalty shoot-out taking place if the games are drawn. If this happens, then 3 players from each team will step up to take the 8 second rolling penalty in the hope of advancing their team to the next round.

The tournament will run on four points for a win, two points for a draw with goals, one point for a goalless draw and zero points for a loss.

After the pool games, the two semi-finals will take place concurrently. Thereafter the top teams will get a breather as the positional games roll out the final placings. Once these games have been played, the bronze medal game follows, and the final game will be the main gold, silver game. At the conclusion of the 27th game, the 2018 regional champion will be revealed.

The teams to beat will be host school playing on familiar turf, Kokstad College, who have won this regional in the inaugural tournament in 2011 and three years later in 2014. Creston College took the title in 2012 and 2013 while the unsuspecting heroes from King Edwards High School have been the defending champions for the last three years.

The winner of this regional will be the seventh team to reserve their place at the Grand Finals that will take place in July at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow the tournament on Instagram.

ENDS

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge - Durban North Regional

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban North Regional

Crawford College North Coast: Sunday 15 April

The Durban North Regionals of the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge will take place at Crawford College North Coast on Sunday, 15 April.

This hotly contested regional will be hosted for the first time by Crawford College North Coast on their astroturf in the picturesque setting on their school grounds in Tongaat.

In the seven years of this tournament history, three schools have managed to claim the title, which has meant some fierce competition as teams jostle for the honours. 

Defending champs and two times winners of this regional, Our Lady of Fatima who raised the trophy in 2017 and at the inaugural tournament in 2011, will be keen to hold onto their title while Danville Park Girls’ High, who have won this regional twice (2012, 2014), and Ashton International College (2013, 2015, 2016), who have won three times, will be wanting to reprise their victories. They will be joined by Crawford College La Lucia, Northlands High School, Reddam House Umhlanga and Durban North College, who will all be vying to shift the balance of power in this regional.

The tournament will take the format of pool games with cross-pool semi-final playoffs with a final match to determine who will be going through to the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG in July. The games begin at 8am and last 23 minutes with a change over at 11 minutes with a total of 17 games being played.

This is the sixth regional to be played in this annual series, and the winner will join Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South Regional) who recently secured their berth in the Grand Finals, along with Durban Girls' College (Durban Central Regional), St Anne's Diocesan (Pietermaritzburg Northern Regional), Epworth School (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional), and Ferrum Hoërskool (Northern KZN Regional).

For more info like the tournament's Facebook page. 

-ends