Saints changeover from summer to winter sport

As fast as the summer season came and went, winter codes are up and running in 30+ degree weather, with all our hockey and rugby squads kicking off and enjoying pre-season games, chukkas and trials. We look forward to the official start of winter sport this coming weekend on campus when the Blue & Gold lock horns with the Green Machine from Glenwood.

There have been some notable performances during this changeover period:

Athletics

A school’s revival is underway in athletics with events this term at the world-class Msunduzi stadium being well-represented by schools from all over the province. The aQuelle Summer Series saw some excellent performances, with Rowen Rajah clocking 11.06s in the U19 100m and Peyton Solomons, representing the uMgungundlovu District Team, also sprinting very well, his season best for the U15 100m being 11.64s. Also performing on the track is Anrich van Zyl, his best effort in the U15 400m being 54.69s. Devane Tocho landed a 5.56m long jump as a season best, winning his category for the second aQuelle event. In the SuperSport Schools Track and Field Series, as a team, the Saints just missed out on a podium finish, coming 4^th overall in the province. Well done to all our track and field competitors for an action-packed season.

Canoeing

Jonathan Oberholzer, a current matric pupil, recently completed his third Dusi Canoe Marathon, his first in a K1 boat. Congratulations to Jonathan for achieving a top 20 finish in the U18 category, his endurance and tenacity in tackling South Africa’s toughest paddling race is commendable! Also notable in the non-stop Dusi was Saints Old Boy, Greg Palframan, who managed to come 5^th overall in the K1 category.

Golf

In the last fixture of the summer, the Saints took on Michaelhouse at Bosch Hoek Golf Club. The St Charles College golf team has been on top form this term, winning the majority of matches in the Midlands league. A nice surprise for the boys was bumping into Gary Player before teeing off last Friday at Bosch Hoek and the legendary South African golfer took time to share a few tips with the next generation of aspiring young golfers.

Swimming

The annual Inter-House Gala was a spectacular event, filled with fierce competition and unwavering team spirit. Swimmers from all Houses put on an incredible display of talent and determination, making for an exciting and memorable day. Delalle emerged victorious, claiming the coveted title after a series of outstanding performances from their two talismanic U17’s Rayhan Khonat and Shane Van der Linde (both swimmers recently achieving Top 20 finishes at the Midmar Mile). Their well-structured team, guided by dedicated House captains, showed exceptional teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the event. A standout moment of the day came from Shane Van der Linde, who delivered a phenomenal performance in the U17 100m Freestyle, breaking the long-standing record previously held by Olympian Matthew Sates. Shane clocked an impressive 51.97 seconds, etching his name into the history books.

Squash

At a recent awards event, Thomas Hardman, currently in grade 9, was presented with his SA Schools certificate and medal for getting national colours. This incredible achievement was based on his Top 10 national ranking during the 2024 U14 season. Congratulations, Thomas!