KNYSNA NEWS - Sportsmen and women from different sporting disciplines in the greater Knysna area were awarded for their contributions to sports development and for their prestigious achievements during the Mayor’s Cup tournament.
The award ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 10 at the Knysna Loerie Park Clubhouse.

The festive event were attended by netball, football, cricket, croquet and tennis players. The prestigious event was graced by the presence of Knysna Executive Mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies accompanied by other municipal officials.
In her address Mayor Bouw-Spies expressed her love of and involvement in sport, as well as emphasising the importance of using and developing one’s talents, whether they be for sport or anything else.

"We have all been raised knowing that if you have a talent or ability, you have to make the most of it. You are the sporting crème de la crème of our town and I thank you for not hiding your talents, but for using them, enjoying them and showcasing them in tournaments such as the Mayor’s Cup," said Bouw-Spies.

The competition in all sporting disciplines was challenging, but not without its own reward. In addition, those whose achievements were acknowledged at the award ceremony received confirmation that one reaps what one sows.

The teams who received awards for their participation and achievements in the Mayor’s Cup tournament were as follow:
Tennis
1. Knysna Tennis Club
2. Sedgefield Tennis Club
3. Leisure Isle Country Club.
Development Tournament (Greater Knysna RFC)
1. All Blacks
2. Sky Blue.

Presidents Tournament
1. Sedgefield Eagle Stars
2. Knysna United RFC.
Netball
1. Knysna Tides
2. Winter Roses
3. Knysna Tides.
Football
1. Knysna Celtics
2. United Brothers
3. Young Brothers
4. Green Lovers.

Cricket:
1. Knysna Cricket Club
2. Pirates Cricket Club.
Croquet

Players of the Year: Reg and Cheryl Dodds.

Development Stipend: Knysna Golf Croquet Club.

Development kits were extended to Karatara, Barrington (Bredhal Hartzenberg), Concordia (Romeo Daniels), Buffelsnek (Marshall Leeuw) and Sinethemba Boxing Club (Max Njokweni).
International achiever Debra Hyde was acknowledged for her accomplishemnets in international tennis. She participated in the International Tennis Federation Senior World Team Championships in Mexico, as captain of the ladies team in the age group 45 - 50 years. She played a singles and doubles match every day for five consecutive days, winning six of her ten matches. Nationally she is currently rated third in the doubles and fifth in the singles in the relevant age group.
In conclusion, Mayor Bouw Spies quoted the woman football player who was twice named FIFA Woman Player of the Year and who is honoured in FIFA’s list of the world’s 125 greatest living football players, Mia Hamm: "I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion."


Knysna’s sportsmen and women’s achievements were recently acknowledged by Knysna Executive Mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies at the Mayor’s Cup award ceremony on Wednesday, November 11. The function was held at the Loerie Park Clubhouse.