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FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY presents UNDER THE SAME SKY Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre : 24 – 28 April 2019

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FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY presents UNDER THE SAME SKY

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre : 24 – 28 April 2019

 

In a remarkable feat of perseverance and beauty, Durban’s Flatfoot Dance Company celebrates its 16th anniversary with a new dance theatre work, Under the Same Sky, at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre  from  24 to 28 April.

 

With an international touring reputation for excellence and a host of national awards under its belt, Flatfoot’s arrival at this momentous 16th year mark as one of South Africa leading contemporary dance companies, is a testament to a dedicated team of dancers and administrators.

 

In keeping with its reputation of creating and performing edgy, controversial, beautiful and intelligent dance, Flatfoot dives heart first into the zeitgeist of contemporary South African identity, in Under the Same Sky and “asks us to remember our humanity and the place that art holds in teaching resilience”.

 

Three new dance works by Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika and Lliane Loots will premiere in this season.

 

“These works asks of us to step back to negotiate the humanity within all of us,” says Artistic Director of Flatfoot, Lliane Loots. “We take a look at where we have come from, in order to understand who we are, and who we might become. So we are delving into the heart of South African identity, which is both dream and nightmare; both nostalgia and violence. We have not doubt that these works will leave the audience overawed at the sheer beauty of the power of contemporary dance to tell our real South African stories, as it provokes and challenges through the images created, but it also allows the audience to breathe and be reminded of what makes us human.”

 

Sifiso Khumalo’s work Ngaphesheya (loosely translated to mean ‘beyond’ or ‘over there’) is a personal journey back to Khumalo’s own childhood in Clermont growing up with the scourge of ‘necklacing’ as a political weapon. In this piece, made from a questioning and very present perspective in 2019, asks where we are going if our history (and where we come from) means nothing. 

 

Jabu Siphika’s growing feminist voice as a choreographer, opens up in her latest work titled Death of a Dream.  Working from the personal to the political, Siphika has created an evocative duet that looks at disintegrated personal relationships as a metaphor for disinterred political hopes and dreams. Beautifully danced by Siphika herself in partnership with Mthoko Mkhwanazi, Death of a Dream is heartbreaking in its beauty.

 

Lliane Loots’s unsheltered, ends the programme. Loots’s award-winning style that combines video, spoken word and dance in a ‘total theatre’ experience, finds its artistic legs in her newest work. unsheltered moves Loots and Flatfoot’s quest for humanity into the global domain and starts to “unbuild” the meaning of the walls that are the prevailing political agendas of many first world nations. It asks the audience to journey with the dancers into the heart of difference and what it means to embrace a hurt, damaged and vulnerable humanity. Loots’ dance work has a poetic depth that will provoke and delight audiences.

 

Dancing in the season are Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika, Zinhle Nzama, Sbonga Ndlovu, Ndumiso Dube, Siseko Duba, and Mthoko Mkhwanazi. Lighting design is by Wesley Maherry.

 

Catch Flatfoot Dance Company’s 16th anniversary season Under The Same Sky at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 24 to 28 April. Shows are at 7.30pm on 24, 25 and 26 April and at 2.30pm on 28 April.  Tickets available through Computicket are R85 and R65 (for scholars, students, pensions and block bookings of 10 or more seats). (There is a special performance for schools at R30 per scholar and teachers come free on 26 April at 10.30am. Bookings for schools only are via Lootsl@ukzn.ac.za).

 

https://online.computicket.com/web/event/under_the_same_sky/1292038803/617314048

 

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge - Southern KZN Regional Creston College: Saturday 13 April

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge - Southern KZN Regional

Creston College: Saturday 13 April

 

The sixth regional in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, the Southern KZN, heads to Creston College on Saturday 13 April.

 

Geographically, this is one of the biggest regionals, with six teams travelling from Scottburgh, Kokstad, Matatiele and iXopo joining four local south coast teams to participate in a spectacular ‘hockey-filled’ day.

 

The teams are host school Creston College, Kokstad College, Scottburgh High School, St Patrick’s College and Suid-Natal High School in Pool A and iXopo High School, King Edward High School, Port Shepstone High School, Southcity Christian School and St Monica’s High School.

 

This region has turned out three winners over its nine year history. The first team to ‘don’ the Southern KZN regional title was the feisty team from inland, Kokstad College, with two appearances in the 2011 and 2014 Grand Finals. They earned themselves a seventh and eighth spot overall out of the ten regions. Host school, Creston College has also represented the region twice in back-to-back appearances in 2012 and 2013. Creston ended up with a sixth spot in their first Grand Final and a fifth in their second.

 

Travelling the farthest is the gutsy team from King Edward High School in Matatiele. For the last four consecutive years, this team has topped the log. Faring well at the Grand Finals they have an eighth, two sixth places and a seventh in last year’s Grand Final.

 

The two ladies heading up the King Edward team, Coach and Manager Lizel du Randt and new Coach Tarryn McArthur said, “Our KEHS girls have an unbelievably positive, upbeat spirit this year. Our girls know that when their legs run out, they play with their hearts and this year we have loads of heart.”

 

The action will be split over two fields, with the first games seeing Creston going up against Scottburgh High, and on the second field Southcity taking on travelling team iXopo. Once all the pool games are complete, the semi finals will get underway, followed by positional games and the gold / silver game capping off a full day of hockey.

 

The winner of the Southern KZN Regional will join teams from around KZN at the Grand Finals taking place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof on 20 and 21 July.

 

The regional winner will join other teams that have already got a ticket to the Grand Finals. They are St Anne’s (PMB North Regional), Epworth School (PMB Central Regional), Crawford La Lucia (DBN North Regional) and Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional) and from last weekend Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South Regional).

 

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

 

ENDS

 

 

Durban South Regional of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge - 7 April

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban South Regional

3 Schools’ Trust: Sunday 7 April

 

Midway through the ninth year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, teams from the southern suburbs of Durban meet for the Durban South Regional at 3 Schools’ Trust Astro on Sunday 7 April.

 

Host for the fifth regional tournament, Amanzimtoti High School will welcome teams from Grosvenor Girls’ High School, Kingsway High School, Kuswag Hoërskool, New Forest High School, Queensburgh Girls’ High School, Queensburgh High School and Werda School.

 

Meeting on neutral territory, the eight teams will be divided up into two pools. In Pool A are Werda, Toti, and the two Queensburgh teams and in Pool B Kuswag, Kingsway, Grosvenor and New Forest.

 

At the blast of the first 20 minute whistle, Toti will lead the way as they take to the pitch to meet Werda. Following on, the second game of the day is an Amanzimtoti derby with the two neighbouring schools, Kingsway taking on Kuswag. The programme for the regional has 12 pool games, followed by five cross-pool games, kicking off with the first two semi-finals.

 

Four schools will have had appearances at all the nine Durban South Regionals: Toti, Kingsway, New Forest and Grosvenor. Both Kuswag and Werda have participated in all but one of the regionals. Queensburgh Girls’ High have had a regular presence over the last four years and Queensburgh High makes a welcome return having missed the last two years.

 

Two teams have represented this region at the Grand Finals – Kuswag was the first team to make it through to the Grand Finals in the inaugural tournament in 2011, where they finished ninth overall. A determined team from Amanzimtoti have been holding onto the title for the last four years. Their tally includes three tenth spots in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and an eighth in last year’s tournament.

 

Ten teams from around KZN will head to St Mary’s DSG in Kloof for the Grand Finals on 20 and 21 July. The winner of this region will join teams that have already earned their spot in July, they are St Anne’s (PMB North), Epworth School (PMB Central), Crawford La Lucia (DBN North) and Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central).

 

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


ENDS

I Heart Market Saturday, 6 April : 9am - 2pm

I Heart Market

Saturday, 6 April : 9am - 2pm

Moses Mabhida Stadium lawns

The iconic Durban I Heart Market takes place this month on Saturday, 6 April from 9am to 2pm on the breezy lawns of the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

 

The market, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, is focused on providing a selection of carefully curated locally made goods, with artisan food, crafted apparel and everything in between for the whole family.  

 

“The market’s philosophy is all about the creative process of “making”,” explains owner and manager of the I Heart Market, Anna Savage. “It has become a place where people who have side projects going on and who want to take it further, or those who simply love to create, have opportunities to test out their products in a safe and honouring environment, where like-minded people come to shop and share.”

 

“We live in a society of relentless consumption, where the possessions we’ve had for a few months tend to outnumber those we’ve had for a few years,” says Anna. “It’s often cheaper to replace something than it is to fix it so we keep on buying inferior items. Products at the I heart Market are carefully designed with attention to detail, resulting in quality products that will live through your most ruthless spring clean or Marie Kondo declutter, as well as the test of time.”

 

Anna says that there are so many stories to tell about the experiences of some of the “I heart makers”. “For example when her house started filling up with pottery, Gwyneth Gosling decided to see if anyone would buy some so she started Beachcomber Pots which now enjoys great support at the market and beyond.”

 

Nikhil Tricam started leatherwork as a hobby and would post pictures of his work on social media. With a positive response and a surge in orders, he took on an assistant. After a short while, he says that his small business, NT Leather Studio was sustaining his assistant’s family and this gave him the drive to keep growing.

 

“There is a lot to be said about shopping local and supporting entrepreneurs,” says Anna. “Shopping like this means no more soulless transactions with dead-eyed sales assistants.  When you’re shopping local, you can meet the person who makes the things you love. You can ask them all the questions and if you have any feedback, no more braving the call centre, they can hear it firsthand. Many traders develop new products or change existing ones based on what you are saying. And that’s pretty cool, we think!”

 

For more information about the I Heart Market go to www.iheartmarket.com

 

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31st Annual UKZN Jazz Jol - Durban

31st Annual UKZN Jazz Jol

 

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is proud to present the 31st annual UKZN Jazz Jol on Saturday, April 6th, 2019. Traditionally scheduled for the 2nd half of the year, the event has been brought forward to accommodate a visit by Prof Darius Brubeck, who founded the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music, and which commemorates its 30th anniversary this year.

 

In another break from tradition, the funds generated from the Jol will be donated to the Durban chapter of Amnesty International, instead of the Ronnie Madonsela scholarship. This is an appropriate way to recognize the support of our local community for our student scholarship over these many years, and to thank them by donating the funds to newly-established chapters of Amnesty International at the UKZN School of Law, the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, and 6 local schools to set them on the path, in their efforts to fight for human rights.

 

Besides Prof Brubeck, the concert will feature the UKZN Big Band as well as a host of Durban-based alumni, including Melvin Peters, Sazi Dlamini and SKOKIANA, Andile Yenana, Debbie and George Mari, Mfana Mlambo, and Natalie Rungan. Anchoring proceedings will be bassist Ildo Nandja, who will be visiting from the Netherlands, where he is currently registered for his Masters degree in Jazz Studies and drummers Riley Giandhari and Bruce Baker.

 

 

Join us for the 31st annual UKZN Jazz Jol on Saturday, April 6th, 2019 at 19:00. General admission to the 31st Annual Jazz Jol is R100, R80 for pensioners and R50 for students with a student card. Please contact Thuli on 031 2603385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more details.

Latin Heat & Flamenco - Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company - 23 March 2019

Latin Heat & Flamenco

Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company

For one show only on Saturday the 23 March 2019, The Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company brings together international and local artists of the highest calibre for a performance entitled Latin Heat & Flamenco at the UKZN’s Centre for Jazz and Popular Music.

 

Flamenco, in its purist form comprises of three elements: dance (baile), singing (cante) and guitar (guitarra). Latin Heat & Flamenco features dancing by the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company with a return of our very special guest artist from Spain: Ramon Fernandez (son of Linda Vargas and Demi Fernandez and member of the company) who is currently making a name for himself dancing in Spain, brings his powerfully inimitable style to the evening. Ramon will be accompanied by the true flamenco “cante” (singing) of internationally acclaimed performer Domingo Ortega. Domingo was born in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain and his performance with Ramon is a coup for Durban audiences. Domingo grew up surrounded by flamenco and is regarded as one of Spain’s finest performers. He has toured with his own company since 1995 and continues to perform in Spain as well as around the world in countries such as Italy, Japan, Venezuela, Israel, and Russia, Senegal (where he has been named a citizen of honour). This will be his first performance as cantaor in South Africa.

 

Providing the music will be an awe inspiring line up of musicians of international acclaim. Flamenco Guitar maestro Demi Fernandez has spent many years living and performing in Flamenco Tablaos in Spain will and has appeared as leading flamenco guitarist with numerous South African and international Spanish Dance Companies. As resident guitarist for the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company, he is joined by long time collaborator Neil Gonsalves on piano and Martin Sigamoney, (sax and flute) Bryan Stone, (percussion) Riley Giandhari (drums) and Micale Maduray (bass), who provide the musical soul that infuses the entire performance in not only the dance but also some awe inspiring Latin, Jazz and Flamenco fusion musical items.

 

With their high level of performance innovation, creativity and professionalism the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company, who celebrated their 35th Anniversary in 2018, continue to build a loyal and extensive following of Spanish dance in South Africa – this once off performance in the intimacy of UKZN’s Jazz Centre is sure to be the hottest ticket in town.

 

Latin Heat and Flamenco runs at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music on the UKZN’s Howard College for one performance only on Saturday the 23rd March 2019 at 7pm. Ticket prices are R150 each and will only be on sale for cash at the door on the night of the performance – entrance will be on strictly first come first serve basis.

 

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Issued by Wesley Maherry

on behalf of the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company              

maherry@ukzn.ac.za

Phase 1 of the Action in Autism Skills Transference Centre Gets off the Ground

Media Release

Phase 1 of the Action in Autism Skills Transference Centre Gets off the Ground

Action in Autism, the Durban-based organisation that strives to improve the quality of life for autistic people and their care-givers, has embarked on the next phase of its exciting journey - the development of a Skills Transference Workspace that will lead to small and micro-enterprise businesses to sustain and upskill people with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.

 

Generous humanitarian and funder of the project, Dr Adam Mahomed, joined the Action in Autism team and the children of the Early Intervention Centre to wish the project well as modifications on existing buildings began on the new Skills Transference and Business Hub for autistic adults.

 

Most people with autism are confined to home once they leave school, and the vast majority are unable to access employment. In addition, these scarce employment opportunities have only been available to those who have low support needs. The Action in Autism Skills Transference Centre will include all people on the spectrum. The workspace is being modified specifically for autistic people with self-regulatory and downtime spaces, a craft area, sewing room, storeroom and a training workshop. The programme will include supervised work schedules, skills assessment and support, and expert facilitators in specialised fields to provide skills development.

 

The project will include on-site training and micro enterprises in the fields of food gardening and indigenous plant propagation, catering, and art and craft industries, in which the participants will have shared ownership and be skilled in the administration and management of these micro businesses. The programme will provide on-site skills development at the Skills Transference Centre, and work integrated learning within companies or government agencies, resulting in an important entry point into the labour market for autistic adults. 

 

Dr Mahomed is sponsoring the first phase of the new Skills Transference workspace in the memory of his late wife and daughters. “It has become important to me to question the value of life beyond the surface of cars and houses and such things,” Dr Adam commented in his speech. “It is important to question what a life means, and what difference we have made in the lives of others.”

 

Action in Autism does not currently receive any funding from government. If you would like to support the organization through cash, kind or through partnership, we would be most thankful. For more information about Action in Autism and the support to parents and families provided by the organisation, please call 031 207 4858 or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

 

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Further information:

Kirsten Miller

ACTION IN AUTISM

031 563 3039/084 207 8167

info@actioninautism.org.za

 

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Durban movie - Deep End – opens in cinemas across the country March 15

MEDIA RELEASE

Deep End – opens in cinemas across the country March 15

 

Deep End, a film by award-winning Durban-based director Eubulus Timothy and produced by Arclight Productions, which premiered last year at the Durban International Film Festival, opens in cinemas across the country on 15 March.

 

This coming of age romantic drama features an impressive lineup of South African talent which includes Carishma Basday (31 Million Reasons, Material) in the lead as Sunitha, Greg Kriek as Cory (Born to Win (Netflix) ‘n Man Soos My Pa, Last Ones Out, Tula Tula and The Recce) Suraya Rose-Santos as Nina (Free State, Last Broken Darkness) with a guest appearance of South African surfing legend Spider Murphy as himself.

 

Set on the intoxicating shorelines of Durban’s “Golden Mile” beaches, Deep End brings one of the world’s most popular surfing sites to glorious life.  The film is inspired by Eubulus Timothy's childhood in apartheid Durban. He had spent years developing the story and finally brings it to the screen with the support of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, the Department of Trade and Industry, and an extraordinary cast and crew.

 

Starring Carishma Basday, as the young woman, best known for her role in the film Material, and Greg Kriek, a experienced actor with more than 40 roles to his name, Deep End is the story of a young woman who overcomes family pressure and societal racism to pursue her passion that is not culturally acceptable. She is helped along by an unlikely champion surfer (Kriek) who is trying to escape his drug addiction and his own family demons. Being the apple of her father’s eye, the conflict almost destroys the very foundation of their once strong bond, unmasking pain of his forgotten past.

 

“I was born in Durban and am of Indian origin. My great grandfather came to South Africa as indenture labourer to work on sugar cane farms,” explains Director Eubulus Timothy, who is known for the feature film Othello as well as television shows such as Bridging The Gap and Cape Night Live. “The Indians of Durban had no real contact with India for decades, because of apartheid and so we have created a culture that is very unique. Our lives were a dichotomy of old east and an evolving west. Deep End is based on my experiences and that of my friends.  It’s a story of family tension, love, passion and friendship set around one young woman’s interest in the thrill of surfing.”

 

“We are really thrilled that the film is being released in South Africa by Videovision Entertainment in 26 cinemas around the country on March 15,” says producer Jacintha de Nobrega of Arclight Productions. “This is a local story, which has universal appeal, it’s a warm romantic story, and one that cuts across the generations.”

 

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Facebook – @deependmovie

Instagram - deependmovie2018

Twitter - @deependmovie

#DeepEnd

      

Jade leads TWC out on home turf as they play host to the PMB North Regionals

Meet Jade Brandis, Captain of The Wykeham Collegiate first X1 hockey team.

 

Thirteen top Pietermaritzburg hockey teams will battle it out for two regional titles in the 9th SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Tournament on Sunday 3 March. The Wykeham Collegiate will host the northern regionals and St John’s D.S.G the central regionals.

 

The Wykeham Collegiate Host PMB North Regionals DSC_8711.jpg

Jade Brandis, the Wykeham Collegiate’s first team hockey captain, is excited about the team’s upcoming challenge.  The team once held the title in 2012, but were ousted by St. Anne’s the following year, with Saints having dominated this regional.  “But at the end of the day it is all about hockey, how we play and the learnings we take from these tournaments,” she says. “The SPAR tournament is one of our year highlights and is always an enjoyable and exciting event”

 

Jade is something of a “mean sporting machine”, besides a love for outdoor hockey she also is captain of the first indoor hockey team, and has played provincially for KZN’s U12, U13 and U16 hockey teams, while also finding gaps in her busy diary to cycle and play tennis.

 

Equally at home in the classroom and on the sports field, Jade has colours for both academics and hockey, and cites completing the gruelling Fish River Canoe Marathon in 2016 and three Midmar Miles as some of her sporting highlights.

Jade enjoys the many leadership roles she plays at school. With two hockey captaincies she is also Head of House, was Head of the Junior Hall, and is Head of the School’s Chamber of Commerce.

 

Hailing from the farming community of Underberg, Jade says she began playing hockey in Grade one at the local primary school there, and she says that the thing she most enjoys about hockey is “the energy, encouragement and passion within our team.” 

  

Going out onto the field, is not always about the win she believes, with some wise words coming from her coaches. “They inspire us to be humble in our victories, and find the good in our losses, but in any event many lessons will be learnt during the matches.”

 

The gutsy twelfth grader, says that her favourite subject is Consumer Studies, as she loves to learn about health and nutrition and then implementing that into great meals. “I am hoping to study Consumer Science when I leave school, and then use that to travel and work.”

 

When she is not playing one of the myriad sports or pushing ahead with academic commitments, Jade loves to cook, bake, play her guitar, cycle, hike and runs with her dogs.

 

It seems though the sporting success runs in her family’s veins with her father, Brian, cycling competitively and her sister, Samantha, playing U14 provincial hockey as well as being on the provincial equestrian team.

 

Jade says that celebrated tennis player Rodger Federer is her all time sporting role model as “I have witnessed his amazingly good sportsmanship from a very young age.”

 

Heading for the PMB North Regionals, win or lose, Jade shares the words she lives by: “Everything happens for a reason” and “It’s all about confidence.”

 

The Pietermaritzburg North Regionals, which features TWC, St Anne’s College Voortrekker High, Grace College, Howick High and Treverton, takes place on Sunday 3 March at The Wykeham Collegiate. Fixtures will be published on the SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Facebook page.

 

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Caption to photo by Jonathan Burton:

TWC’s 1st Hockey X1 Captain Jade Brandis gets ready for the PMB northern regionals of the SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Challenge, hosted by her school on March 3.

 

Kelsey aims to gently “shake the world”

Kelsey aims to gently “shake the world”


First up in the SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Challenge this year is a derby day of hockey on Sunday 3 March, with St John’s D.S.G. hosting the Pietermaritzburg Central Regionals and The Wykeham Collegiate, the PMB Northern Regionals. We chatted to captain of host school St John’s, Kelsey Paige Dellar, a Grade 12 learner who is passionate about life, learning, sport, and in particular hockey.


Leading the team out onto the field for the ninth SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Challenge, determined midfielder, Kelsey Dellar, will be focused on winning back the regional title which they held in 2017, and lost to Epworth in 2018. “I think one of my best memories of playing the SPAR tournament was in the final against Epworth in 2017. We won and I remember our whole team huddling together and celebrating. It was one of my favourite hockey moments and we all bonded as a family.”


The feisty Deputy Head Girl, not only has excelled in academics with honours, but has proved herself a worthy competitor in a number of sporting codes with colours for hockey and half-colours for soccer, as well as first team awards for indoor and field hockey, swimming, water polo, soccer and cross-country.  Her provincial accolades include playing for hockey for KZN U18B, U16B as well as KZN U16 inland soccer. 

Kelsey began her hockey career in Grade four at Pelham Senior Primary School, and says that she most enjoys playing the game because it gives her the “opportunity to be a part of a team and to be completely selfless.”   


The sport, she says, has also given her opportunities to learn some  important life lessons.  “I started off my hockey career by making the U10D team in Grade four,” she laughs. “I thought that I had no potential and I was absolutely terrified of being hit by a hard, round, white ball. The thing that kept me in the game was my friends. They encouraged me to make a higher team to be with them. Eventually, I moved up to B team the next year and finally made first team in Grade six. If it wasn’t for the motivation of my coaches, family and friends; I wouldn’t be where I am today.”


The hockey bug caught her at a young age and has continued throughout her high school career.  “Hockey continues to give such fantastic life lessons,” she says. “Our coach Lyndal Robertson (aka Binks) once said to me that I must never ask a parent or coach where I went wrong, but ask myself the same question. That’s when I was able to flourish as an individual player and not base my performance on other people’s opinions.”


She cites former St John’s captain Charllene Boshoff who matriculated in 2018, as one of her top role models. “Charllene is currently playing hockey in America but played with me last year for the first team.  She constantly inspires me to give of my best and I admire all the hard work and dedication which she puts into hockey. She is definitely a player whom I look up to and one of my closest friends.”

Off the hockey and soccer fields, and out of the pool, Kelsy also enjoys going for runs, doing yoga and reading as well as creating art. 

Clearly one up for a challenge, she says that her favourite subject is Maths as “I love the feeling of solving a problem and the ability to formulate an answer from a tricky equation.” 


And while she is not 100% sure of what she wants to study yet, she is interested in the finance and business world and will probably go on study a BCom degree when she leaves school.


The fun-loving and quietly spoken sports-lover says she aspires to live by the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”  


The Pietermaritzburg Central Regionals take place on Sunday, 3 March at St John’s D.S.G. Fixtures will be published on the SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Facebook page. 


-ends

Caption to photo by Jonathan Burton:

St John’s 1st Hockey X1 Captain Kelsey Dellar looks forward to the PMB Central regionals of the SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Challenge, hosted by her school on March 3.

Meet Georgina Baker – Captain of St Anne’s - defending champs of the PMB North Regionals of the SPAR Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Meet Georgina Baker – Captain of St Anne’s - defending champs of the PMB North Regionals of the SPAR Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

 

Next Sunday (March 3) 13 Pietermaritzburg hockey teams take to the astroturf in two regional titles in the 9th SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Challenge. 

 

PMB North Regional champs, St Anne’s DSG will be setting their sights on retaining their title as they battle it out with five other teams at host school The Wykeham Collegiate. Down in the valley the PMB Central Regionals will be hosted by St John’s D.S.G as defending champs, Epworth attempt to hold onto their regional title.

 

Captain of St Anne’s first hockey X1 Georgina Baker, is eager to lead her team out onto the field as they battle it out with TWC, Grace College, Treverton, Voortrekker and Howick High to retain their regional crown.

 

The 17 year old Grade 12 learner, has a true passion for sport, holding the prestigious title of “Sportswoman of the Year” at St Anne’s in 2017. Besides a love for outdoor hockey, Georgina also plays indoor hockey, squash and soccer. She currently plays for the KZN U18A hockey team and was also selected for the KZN U18B squash squad but unfortunately was unable to go on tour.

 

Hailing from the historic midlands town of Nottingham Road, the gutsy centre back started playing hockey in Grade 1 at Clifton Nottingham Road, and says she loves playing hockey as it is a team sport, and she enjoys that team atmosphere of hockey. “But I also enjoy the healthy competition on the pitch,” she laughs.  

 

Georgina, who is quite at home playing sport or in the classroom, has colours for hockey, squash and academics. She hopes to study business science or occupational therapy when she leaves school, preferably at UCT. “My favourite subject is life science, because I find learning about the human body and evolution, as well as the environment very interesting,” she says.

 

With the adrenaline pumping as she shoots for goal, or whacks a squash ball, Georgina finds time to quieten down by playing the piano as she says “it takes my mind off things.”

 

Georgina’s three other siblings all enjoy sport, and she is particularly proud of her brother Murray who played provincial squash, hockey and cricket last year.

 

She cites Roger Federer as her sporting role model. “I look up to the way he conducts himself both on and off the court,” she says. “He is always humble and grateful in both his wins and defeats, and is always respectful of his opponent.  That is something to truly aspire to.”

 

In the competitive world of sport, Georgina says that the best bit of inspirational advice she has received from her coach is “Never be complacent and to practice like you play.”

 

No wonder then, that she lives by the words of her father, "it's all about the mind". 

 

The Pietermaritzburg North Regionals take place on Sunday 3 March at The Wykeham Collegiate.

 

For more info, visit the SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Facebook page.

 

-ends

 

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge - Durban North Regional 9 March 2019

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Durban North Regional

Crawford La Lucia: Saturday 9 March

 

The third regional in the 2019 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge gets rolling on Saturday 9 March at Crawford La Lucia.

 

Eight teams will gather at this year’s regional, taking to the pitch to participate in 20 minute one way running time with the teams being split up into two pools. A win will earn the team 4 points, a draw with goals 2 points and a goalless draw 1 point and a loss zero points. The cross-pool playoffs are also 20 minutes in duration, starting just before lunchtime.

 

Leading Pool A, defending champs Our Lady of Fatima hope to retain their regional title. Joining them are Ashton International College, Northlands Girls’ High and Durban North College. Heading up Pool B are hosts Crawford La Lucia with Danville Park Girls’ High, Crawford North Coast and Reddam House uMhlanga. 

 

Three teams have previously progressed to the Grand Finals representing the Durban North Regional: Fatima have made three appearances, placing fifth in three grand finals, namely in the inaugural year 2011, and then the last two consecutive years. Similar to Fatima, Ashton have also represented the region three times in the years 2013, 2015 and 2016, with their final positions at the Grand Finals being 6th, 7th and 9th while Danville have made it all the way twice in 2012 and 2014 finishing with a 6th and a 9th.

 

The first team on the turf are the defending champs, Fatima vs Northlands at 07.30 followed by a Crawford derby with hosts La Lucia taking on their North Coast campus.

 

Head Coach for Our Lady of Fatima, Jacinta Jubb enthused, “This year our team has a fantastic mix of youthful and experienced players. This powerful mix, I'm sure, will be the changing factor for our team. We have been building as a team for 2 years now, and fine-tuning our technical abilities while developing our structural understanding. The Fatima girls always play with such heart, and I feel this year all our hard work will pay off.”

 

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

 

ENDS

 Photo: Rogan Ward:

Keeping their eyes on the ball, captains Megan Coreejes (Our Lady of Fatima – defending champions) and Rachel Wilkinson (Crawford La Lucia – host school) are pictured ahead of the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

Summer Rutherford : Epworth Vice-Captain - Defending champs of PMB Centrals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Meet Summer Rutherford : Epworth Vice-Captain

 

This Sunday (March 3) sees 13 top Pietermaritzburg hockey teams take to the astro in two of the local regionals of the 9th SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. The PMB North Regionals will take place at The Wykeham Collegiate and the Centrals take place at St John’s D.S.G.

 

Summer Rutherford, Vice-Captain of Epworth, the Centrals defending champs, has high hopes for the team as they compete against St John’s D.S.G., Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School, Russell High, Alexandra High, Maritzburg Christian School and Carter High in a day of fun festive, and healthily competitive hockey.

 

With her eyes set on becoming a sport psychologist, Summer (17), who plays defense, is somewhat of a sports fanatic. Besides holding the honour of being the 2019 Head of Sport at Epworth, she is also in the first teams for indoor hockey, basketball, soccer and water polo – and still finds time to run cross-country. Summer is in the Provincial Midlands Water Polo Team, has half colours for water polo, and has received captains’ awards at school for soccer and water polo. 

                                       

The energetic young team player has enjoyed sport for as long as she can remember, having started her hockey career back in Grade one at primary school.  Little wonder she holds one piece of inspirational advice given to her to “play for the little girl inside of you, that fell in love with the game.”

 

It’s the sense of belonging and working together that truly attracts Summer to hockey. “I love the camaraderie and team spirit that exists in the game of hockey,” she says.

 

Citing art as her favourite subject, Summer says she loves the “unconventional way of thinking and working” it provokes, qualities she no doubt will use in good stead as she studies sports science at either Stellenbosch or Tukkies when she leaves school.

 

Away from school sports and academics, Summer, who lives on the North Coast, loves surfing, longboarding and running.

 

Coming from sporty family – mum Cindy cycles competitively and dad  Quinton is involved in canoeing and surf skiing, Summer says one of her sporting heroes is current SA Field Hockey player, Jethro Eustice because “he is a talented sportsman both in field and indoor hockey yet remains so humble about it”.

 

Summer played in last year’s Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG, and remembers well the feeling of winning over the then-current champs St John’s D.S.G. “When we won against them in the regional final, our team all ran to give our fantastic goal-keeper Catia Cocciante a group hug. It was a great feeling ”

 For more information follow on Instagram or Facebook.

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Photo: Summer Rutherford, Vice-Captain of Epworth, in action at last year’s PMB North Regionals of the SPAR School Girls’ Hockey Challenge.

 

 

Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regionals St John’s D.S.G. and The Wykeham Collegiate: Sunday 3 March

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regionals

St John’s D.S.G. and The Wykeham Collegiate: Sunday 3 March

 

Firing up the 2019 SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge, the first two regionals tip off in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 3 March.

 

Host for the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional is St John’s D.S.G. while up the road, The Wykeham Collegiate will play host to the Pietermaritzburg Northern Regional. The central games get under way at 07.30am and half an hour later for the northern regional. The top two teams for both regionals will duel it out for their regional final at 01.25pm at The Wykeham Collegiate, and at 02.50pm at St John’s D.S.G. The prize givings will follow the finals for each regional.

 

Central hosts, St John’s are one times winners having advanced to the Grand Finals in 2017, they take on defending champs Epworth School together with six times victrix, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. Also part of the central regional are Russell High, Alexandra High, Maritzburg Christian School and Carter High.

 

Wykeham have also earned the regional title once in the second tournament in 2012. St Anne’s College have dominated the area winning the regional crown seven times. Hoping to topple Saint’s domination are schools from Voortrekker High, Grace College, Howick High and Treverton and of course host The Wykeham Collegiate.

 

Both regionals will be using the round robin format with a win earning them 4 points, a draw with goals 2 points, a goalless draw 1 point and a loss zero points. The match duration will last 20 minutes rolling time.

 

Following the first two Pietermaritzburg regionals, the tournament then travels to Durban for the Durban North and Durban Central Regionals taking place the weekend after. Once all the regionals have concluded, the regional finalists converge on the Grand Finals which takes place on 20 and 21 July at St Mary’s D.S.G.

 


ENDS

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge 2019 Regional Tournament Dates Announced

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

2019 Regional Tournament Dates Announced

 

The dates for the ninth SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge have been announced with the ten regionals taking place around KZN.

 

The year gets underway a week later than previous years with the usual Northern KZN regional nestling in midway on the 2019 calendar.

 

A bumper March has four tournaments taking place back to back over two weekends. Kicking off the year is the Pietermaritzburg Regionals. The Central and Northern Regionals of Pietermaritzburg will be played on Sunday 3 March hosted by one-time winners, St John’s D.S.G. and The Wykeham Collegiate. Saturday 9 March sees the Durban North Regional taking place at Crawford La Lucia. Durban Girls High School hosts the Durban Central Regional at 3 Schools Trust on Sunday 10 March.

 

The fifth regional tips off the first of two tournaments taking place in April. On Sunday 7 April, Amanzimtoti will see the teams for the Durban South Regional at 3 Schools Trust. Heading further south, the challenge moves down to Port Shepstone for the Sisonke and Ugu Southern KZN Regional tournament on Saturday 13 April at host school, Creston College.

 

The final four tournaments all take place in May, the action moves inland to Newcastle’s St Dominic’s for the Northern KZN Regional on Saturday 4 May. Remaining inland for the Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional on Saturday 11 May defending champs, Greytown High School host. Unfolding the next day, the Highway Regional will take place at Thomas More College. Wrapping up the regionals, Grantleigh will host the Northern KZN Coastal Regional on Sunday 19 May.

 

Once all the winners are revealed at the ten regionals, the ten regional representatives converge at St Mary’s DSG two months later for the Grand Finals. The riveting Grand Finals gets underway on Saturday 20 and continues on Sunday 21 July where the ninth victorious team will be crowned.

 

For more info on the tournament life the Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

African Insight Launches New Operation on Pongola Game Reserve, KZN, South Africa

African Insight Launches New Operation on Pongola Game Reserve, KZN, South Africa

African Insight, one of the continent’s leading  providers of inspirational, educational and empowering conservation programmes has announced that it has extended its site offerings for groups to the White Elephant Lodge on Pongola Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

African Insight has been providing academic field trips and youth development programmes to universities, colleges and schools for over 20 years.  Destinations include Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, KZN Drakensberg Mountains and Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park.

“In 2013 we were contracted to train 16 community members in hospitality and through this process were able to further develop our  unique brand of academic tourism on the community-owned Somkhanda Game Reserve in the Zululand region in KwaZulu-Natal,” explains Andrew Anderson, MD of Africa Insight.  

Anderson explains that “this led to the establishment of the African Insight Academy on Somkhanda with the vision to Inspire, Educate and Empower future global environmental custodians locally and abroad.  The facilities developed on Somkhanda include two safari style tented student camps that can accommodate 20 and 30 students respectively and a rustic “sleep out” camp.”

At the end of October 2018, the contract expired, and the hospitality side of the operation was handed back to Somkhanda’s management company.  African Insight Academy continues to operate on Somkhanda as a venue for its highly successful academic and youth development programmes whilst looking for new venues to accommodate the growing demand.

“The market for additional capacity to accommodate groups led us to talks with the owners of Pongola Game Reserve’s White Elephant operation, who loved the idea and they have now established  a new 30 bed facility for groups which was launched in January 2019,” says Anderson.

“Our African Insight Academy on Somkhanda and now on Pongola provides practical field experience in wildlife behaviour and management exposing students to a variety of research, monitoring and conservation programmes and community engagement.”

“Conservation and wildlife tourism that does not embrace the surrounding local community is unsustainable,” continues Anderson. “It is because of this that we have been actively involved in building sustainable socio-economic bridges between Somkhanda and the community resulting in the established of several programmes, such as cattle dipping, early childhood development and authentic homestays.  These programmes provide real support to the community whilst offering students an educational insight into contemporary traditional cultural and social-political issues. These same principles will be applied in the development of the site at Pongola.”

“We have had a phenomenal response over the years to these programmes, which has led to the need for more sites,” says Anderson. “And of course, there is nothing quite like an authentic African bush experience to capture the hearts and minds of our future conservationists, scientists and the like.”

The University of Roehampton in the UK has had a decade long partnership with African Insight Academy: with the two institutions working together to deliver the module Conservation. People, and Wildlife: South Africa Field Course to final year undergraduate students of anthropology, biology and zoology.  Prof Garry Marvin, Professor of Anthropology at the University, has seen the positive impact these trips have had on them and the university, saying “the close engagement that our students, through the field trips, have with the complex issues of conservation in situ, offers a rich educational experience beyond that which they would have from only reading the academic literature on conservation.”

Dr Heinz Kohrs, owner of White Elephant Lodge is excited to partner with the African Insight Academy on Pongola Game Reserve and looks forward to “being part of this important initiative that is having a positive impact on the next generation of global citizens and environmental custodians”.

For more information about the bespoke educational, development and academic programmes created by African Insight Academy , contact andrew@africanInsight.co.za or go to www.africaninsight.co.za

 

 

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Media enquiries:

Andrew Anderson

MD African Insight Academy

Email:  andrew@africanInsight.co.za

Mobile:

 

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