GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - This event on Saturday 18 January honoured top achievements in sport and was hosted by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
Ten of the 24 categories were won by nominees of Eden Sport Council, representing George, Mossel Bay, Riversdale, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Oudtshoorn. These winners will represent the Western Cape at the National Sport Awards in May.
Group Editors shares the excitement with one of our own in the running for the national event: Knysna-Plett Herald editor Wyndham Ewerts, who won the category Sport Photographer of the Year.
Knysna-Plett Herald editor Wyndham Ewerts, who won the category Sport Photographer of the Year.
Young stars
Three young Georgians, aged 12, 14 and 20, excelled at this prestigious event.
Grade 9 Glenwood House learner Duné Haasbroek (14) won two categories: Newcomer of the Year and School Sportswoman of the Year.
Her sport codes include modern pentathlon, duathlon, triathlon, athletics, swimming and cross country.
For the category Newcomer of the Year she competed against all sport codes and age groups in the Western Cape.
Duné's brother, Wanru Haasbroek (12), won the category School Sportsman of the Year for his impressive list of achievements in the same sport categories as Duné.
Wanru is a Grade 6 learner at Outeniqua Primary, and celebrated his twelfth birthday a day after the function on 19 January. The siblings competed against both primary and high school athletes.
"As parents we are extremely proud of both our children for all the hard work they have put into achieving their goals," said their mother, Mariska Haasbroek. "Just to attend such a prestigious event with both of our children being finalists, was very special for us as a family. Furthermore, words cannot describe how honoured we feel as parents for both our children, Duné and Wanru, being awarded as winners of their respective categories – this was a big surprise for us! We are truly thankful for the opportunity and for Eden Sport Council and DCAS for their contribution towards sport."
Celebrity swimmer
The third star athlete from George is Minke Janse van Rensburg (20), category winner, Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability. Minke is a Down's syndrome swimmer with multiple world records under her belt.
She broke seven world records in Down's syndrome swimming during the evaluation period; won two gold medals at the European Swimming Championship and three gold medals at the Trisome Games World Swimming Championship.
She also brought home six silver medals from these two international events.
Minke's dad, Hennie Janse van Rensburg, said they are grateful to Heinrich Muller and others who financially supported Minke with her international participation.
"She makes us super proud and we are grateful to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, which recognises hard work and achievement, as well as to Swimming South Africa and Eden Aquatics in particular, which offers Minke the opportunity to swim with children without disabilities. This award comes just as much to Franna Vorster of Garden Route Swim School (part of Fish Eagle Aquatics) and Minke's coach, Joshua Vorster."
Eden winners
Other Eden winners include Johannes Jacobus Barnard, who recently relocated from George to Mossel Bay (Sport Administrator of the Year: tug-of-war), Lazola Thole from Mossel Bay (Sport Community Builder of the Year: boxing), Brendon Harker from Plettenberg Bay (After School Sport and Recreation Coaching Excellence Award: surfing). The Oakdale 560kg tug-of-war team from Riversdale won the category School Team of the Year.
Dave van der Walt, a sport administrator from Oudtshoorn, was one of five recipients of a ministerial award from Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie.
Dave van der Walt (right) and the Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie.
"We knew we were winners with quality nominations," said the chairperson of Eden Sport Council Desmond Speelman. "We are humble with our feet firmly on the ground, but we reach high."
He thanked the athletes and parents of younger athletes for their hard work, and the federations, municipal sport councils and Garden Route District Municipality for their support.
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