Chukkas end on a high note

KNYSNA NEWS - The final instalment of the 2022 Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festivals took place last week, with nearly two dozen U15 teams donning their water polo caps for a weekend of action at the Knysna Waterfront.

The U15 Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festival was held from Thursday to Saturday, 24 to 26 February, the final Chukka Festival of the year. Weather was perfect on all three days for the 15 schools and 22 boys and girls teams who took part in the festival.

A total of 95 matches were played over the course of the three-day event, with the matches once again split between two "pools" on the waterfront - the Phil Stewart Pool in front of Drydock and the 34º South Pool next to 34º South Restaurant.

The boys matches were featured in the Phil Stewart Pool on the first and third days of the festival and in the 34º South Pool on the second, while the girls played in the alternative pool on each day.

Across the 95 matches that were played during the festival an average of just over 10 goals was scored in every match, with a total of 952 goals scored.

PHOTO GALLERY: 2022 Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festivals final

The highest-scoring day was Friday, when a total of 400 goals was scored in 41 games, while the most prolific day was Saturday when 371 goals were scored in 35 matches at an average of 10,6 goals per match.

It was an exhilarating end to a month of exciting water polo action that once more saw the waterfront flooded by thousands of water polo players from across the country on three different weekends.

While the Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festival action might be over for 2022, all eyes are certainly already fixed on what lies ahead in 2023.

Emily Edkins and Tayla Boshard listen to their coach's instructions during half-time.