Knysna excels at Eden Sport Awards

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KNYSNA SPORT NEWS - The Eden Sport Awards ceremony was held last Friday, 26 August, and Knysna's finalists made the town proud.

Knysna-Plett Herald journalist Blake Linder was awarded twice on the night as he was named the Eden Sport Journalist of the Year and Eden Sport Photographer of the Year.

Further, veterans of Eden Hockey and hockey in Knysna in particular, Nigel Leverton and Marc van Staden, were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards, while women's rugby player Zandile Masuku was given a special accolade for her time with the SA Women's 7s team at the Commonwealth Games.

Leverton and Van Staden have been involved in Eden Hockey for roughly two decades and have overseen immense growth of the sport, not only in Knysna, but also further afield.

They have played hockey for even longer than they have administered or coached the sport, both starting at school level before going on to attain district colours as well as SACD colours. Both have captained for the side.

They have spent all of their senior careers running out in the colours of Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club, which was simply known as Knysna Hockey Club when they started out.

Nigel Leverton has been instrumental as coach of Old Oaks' ladies team.

Both have been a key part of the Eden Men's South African Country Districts (SACD) team that has seen immense success, winning its 13th title at this year's tournament.

PHOTO GALLERY: Eden Sport Council Awards

Leverton also coaches the Old Oaks ladies team, which has won the Eden Senior Hockey League for the past five years and is only two wins away from its sixth successive title.

Zandile Masuku represented SA at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Supplied

Linder started at Knysna-Plett Herald just over three years ago and has entrenched himself into the local sporting scene.

He can regularly be found on the side of the sports field - whether it's a football, cricket, hockey or rugby field; a netball or basketball court; a golf course; or even the Knysna Estuary for water-based sports.

Linder has on two occasions provided excellent coverage of the Simola Hillclimb - 2019 and 2022 - and is currently in Sweden covering the Stockholm World Water Week with the Department of Water and Sanitation.

He not only covers local sport, but is himself a keen cricketer, hockey player and golfer. He was awarded SWD Cricket Reserve Bowler of the Season in 2021/22 for his exploits with the Knysna Cavaliers Cricket Club.

Linder will attend the Western Cape Sport Awards in Cape Town on 17 September, where he will compete against the winners from the other regions in the province.

Award winning journalist Blake Linder is currently in Stockholm, Sweden, attending the 2022 Stockholm World Water Week.