9th Chukka Festival a resounding success

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KNYSNA NEWS - Oakhill School recently hosted its annual water polo festivals at the Knysna Waterfront Quays.

Launched in 2011, this is the ninth consecutive year that the Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festivals have taken place for primary and high schools. Since inception, the action-filled weekends have grown into what is fast becoming one of the not-to-be-missed sporting events for schools.

The word "chukka" is a polo term denoting a period of continuous play, generally lasting seven-and-a-half minutes.

Traditionally only prep and college festivals were held on two separate weekends, but this year boasted the launch of the inaugural U15 festival, much to the delight of junior high school learners countrywide.

No official results
These action-filled events are a huge attraction for schools from all over South Africa. As a festival and not a tournament, there are no official results, providing schools the opportunity to hone and test their skills against opponents in a friendly, fun, yet competitive manner.

Keen supporters Aiden Pepler, Oscar Kent and Luke Gebhard lapping up the action. Photo: Supplied

What makes the Chukka Festivals unique compared with any other school water polo events in the country, if not the world, is the fact that they are held in open water – the Knysna estuary. This special appeal, in addition to the beauty of the location and the offerings of the Knysna Waterfront, has resulted in the exponential success of the festivals. As commented by participants: "The Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festival truly captures the essence of fun and camaraderie with which polo should be played. It provides an opportunity for the sport to steal the hearts of all the children who attend it."

Over 1 000 participants
This year, more than a thousand competitors from schools across the country participated in the festival, with 17 primary schools enjoying the first weekend between 7 and 10 February. The U19 leg of the festival followed between 14 and 17 February, where spectators were once again treated to great entertainment as 22 schools battled it out in the water! Fourteen schools then joined two weeks later for the U15 festival from 28 February to 2 March, having great fun while gaining valuable experience for their future U19 event.

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Participating teams this year included schools from Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the Free State. In addition to the participants who come to visit our town, many of their families took the opportunity to soak up the action and enjoy all that Knysna has to offer.

The festival continues to have a wide appeal and attract and expose hundreds of visitors to Knysna.

The continued support from Knysna Waterfront and local businesses is overwhelming and together we are able to give the festival participants and spectators a truly magnificent Knysna experience.

These festivals have become an integral part of Oakhill School, not only to grow the game of water polo but to expose our beautiful town and everything it has to offer to the festival visitors.

Plenty of white water as an opposing team battle to take the ball from Oakhill's Kade Howorth during the U19 clashes. Photo: Supplied