Chukka fest series back on the go

KNYSNA NEWS - With Oakhill School celebrating its 30th birthday this year, it is also preparing to host its 10th series of Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festivals.

It's been two years since the Knysna Waterfront played host to Oakhill's Chukka Festivals with the last editions held in February and March 2020, prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Before the pandemic, the festivals saw hundreds of learners from all over the country flock to Knysna's waterfront for water polo action in three different events split by age group - U13, U15, and U19.

After a break in 2021, the festivals returned to their regular schedule this year and Oakhill hosted the first edition last week, with all Covid-19 protocols adhered to. As usual, the U13 age group kicked off the competition. The U13 Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festival was held on Friday and Saturday, 4 and 5 February, with a total of 21 schools and 30 teams taking part.

Lexi Bath, Oakhill's U13 girls goalkeeper, looks forward for a quick pass.

Teams were divided into boys and girls divisions, with some schools only sending either a boys or girls team and some sending teams in both divisions. There were 16 boys teams taking part, while the girls division had 14 teams.

On both days, games were played from early in the morning till late in the afternoon.

Matches were split between two "pools" on the waterfront - on the first day the boys played in the Phil Stewart pool opposite Drydock and the girls in the 34º South pool next to 34º South Restaurant. On the second day the locales were reversed.

Seren Viner swims the ball forward for Oakhill's U13 girls team.

The second day was wrapped up in the 34º South pool with a special match between all the coaches involved in the festival.

With the first of the three done and dusted, it is now the turn of the U19s for the second, which will take place from Thursday to Sunday, 10 to 13 February.

Sage Hawkins weighs up her options for Oakhill's U13 girls team.
Photos: Blake Linder