St David's School Celebrates a Term of Sporting Achievements
In a term filled with athletic skill and dedication, St David's is proud to showcase its students' remarkable sporting highlights. From hockey to rugby, chess to tennis, and even canoeing, the school's athletes have excelled in many disciplines, making their mark locally and internationally.
The term kicked off with intensive hockey training sessions and a rugby holiday training camp during the final week of the April holiday. These sessions prepared the students for the challenges ahead, setting the tone for a season of hard work and commitment.
One of the standout events this term was the Independent Schools' Hockey Festival held at St John's College at the end of April. The Hockey 1st XI from St David's participated in this prestigious event, displaying their skill and teamwork.
The winter season brought exciting opportunities for the school's athletes as they travelled to Durban to face Clifton School in various sports, including hockey, rugby, chess, tennis, golf, cross country, and debating. These fixtures provided valuable experience and fostered a sense of camaraderie among the students.
Unfortunately, a planned visit by St Andrew's School had to be cancelled due to a number of their boys being ill, but Springs Boys stepped in to ensure a day filled with hockey and rugby matches. The resilience and adaptability of the St David's School community were on full display.
Throughout the term, home fixtures drew impressive crowds, especially during events like Old Boys' Day and the final home fixture against St Alban's, where alumni returned to cheer on their younger St David's brothers. The strong parental and spectator support boosted the morale of the student-athletes.
Recognising their dedication and achievements, 1st team hockey and rugby dinners were held at the end of the term, allowing the students to celebrate their hard work and successes.
In rugby, the 'Stayers' Rugby 1st XV made their mark at the Independent Schools festival hosted by St Andrew's School, winning two out of three matches. Additionally, D'Andre Mushonga and Robert Jervis represented the Golden Lions at their respective Rugby weeks, while staff member JD Toerien played a pivotal role as a coach for the Golden Lions at the u16 level and served as a SA Schools selector.
In the hockey section, eleven students earned spots on various Southern Gauteng Boys provincial teams, spanning the u14, u16, and u18 levels. Jared Beilings' selection for the SA u16B team was a testament to the school's commitment to nurturing talent. Staff member Shaun Laubscher played dual roles as the High Performance Goalkeeper selector for u18 girls and the Goalkeeper trainer for u18, u17, and u16 National Girls' teams.
The Cross-Country section demonstrated resilience, participating in scheduled fixtures despite occasional cancellations due to lightning. Two students, Kai Davis (juniors) and Mark Ireland (seniors), were selected to compete in the league finals, a testament to their dedication to the sport.
The Canoeing boys continued their impressive performance, with St David's boys winning medals at the SA Schools Champs and achieving recognition on national levels. Theo Dreyer and Jordan Klopper showcased their talent on the global stage at the Junior (U18) & U23 World Canoeing Sprint Championships in Auronzo, Italy.
Not limited to the official tennis season, the 1st team also participated in the winter league, finishing as runners-up in a festival hosted by St John's College.
Inter-house competitions in hockey, soccer, and athletics added to the sporting excitement, fostering healthy competition and school spirit.
In basketball, Zenzo Madlala and Zuko Ntshikila earned spots on the Gauteng u18 team, which secured victory in the inter-provincial tournament in Bloemfontein. Both athletes were also selected for the u18 national team training squad, demonstrating their potential in the sport. Siyanda Radebe's selection to attend the Basketball Without Borders Camp, an NBA and FIBA global basketball program, marked another high point in St David's School's sporting achievements.
The term showcased the dedication, talent, and sportsmanship of St David's athletes across various disciplines. As the school community celebrates these achievements, it looks forward to even greater successes in the future, both on and off the field.