The Western Cape Provincial Sport and Recreations Awards took place last night at a glittering function on Saturday 14 September 2019. There were many categories and nominees came from across the province. Chess players and coaches were nominated in a few categories. Let’s see how they fared.
In the category school team of the year one of the nominees was Uitkyk Primary school. They didn’t win this category, but they did win the Developing School team of the year award for the Under 13 Girls Chess team. They are from the West Coast.
The
girls have been playing chess since 2015. They are members of the Uitkyk
Pioneers chess team since its inception. The team won in 2018 the West Coast
Schools Chess top schools championship.
In the category After School Sport Coaching Excellence programme, the award was won by Mr. Lukhanyo Xhonti from Masiphumelele, Cape Town. He has beaten the odds to bring chess to the learners of Ukhanyo Primary School. Having only started playing in early 2019, two of his 12-year-old learners placed 3rd and 4th in the Under 16 Cape Town Games in the under 14 age group. The Ukhanyo team have also qualified for the WP regional trials this year.
The star-studded affair had a host of dignitaries including Dr Omar Esau, the Western Cape Chess President. I asked him about the winners, and he replied that he was very happy that chess is being extended to all areas of the Western Cape.
The Chess Western Province Mr. Eugene Steenkamp also attended the gala dinner held at Old Mutual in Pinelands in Cape Town. He was very happy to see Lukhanyo Xhonti winning this section and he is looking forward to more strong chess players from the Masiphulmelule area.
In George,
Oudtshoorn and MRL team member Gerrit Hendricks competed in the OCC wheelchair
race on Saturday 14 September. The race is a qualifier for the Para
championship events that take place in South Africa and Africa. The various
newspapers on the Garden Route reports that Gerrit has been an inspiration to
an entire generation of athletes with a disability on the Garden route and in
the Western Cape. Gerrit has participated in every Outeniqua challenge since
2006. He did not finish in 2006 but that only served to encourage him further.
Since 2007 he finished on the podium except for 2017 when he had to withdraw
because of mechanical failure.
Gerrit said that for athletes with a disability that
the OCC is the highlight of the year. He said that he
has a love- hate relationship with the OCC. It becomes very psychological and your mind starts telling you about all the things that can go wrong. The highlight of his carter was competing in the 2015 All African Games in Brazzaville, Congo. Gerrit lost the use of his lower body after a car accident when he was nine. He graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2000. He played chess for Stellenbosch university then and that’s when I met him. He still competes in many chess events like the Knysna Oyster chess festival rapid and last year played board 8 for the MRL club when they played Steinitz. He lives in Oudthoorn and works as a passenger information agent at ACSA at the George airport.
Gerrit Hendricks
The SA
Braille top event is also taking place this weekend in Durbanville. The Braille
chess players are not so active as they used to be, but they love the top event
which chooses players for various competitions.
SA Braille top event
So quite a few things happening this weekend.
Don’t forget to follow the world championships taking place in Siberia.
Regards
Dr Lyndon Bouah
