A look back at 2016’s sporting highlights

Last year was full of sporting excitement, achievements, championships and general fun. We have seen records broken, hard work paid off and a growth in the northern suburbs of Roodepoort’s sport.

These were the highlights of last year’s sporting achievements and news:

• The year started off with a bang when Allen’s Nek triathlete and duathlete, Glenn Macnamara, won gold in New Zealand. Macnamara is only the second South African duathlete to win an international duathlon in the past 20 years.

• About 3 300 cyclists gathered for the 16th annual Rudy Project Berge en Dale Classic cycling race that took place on 6 February at Cradlestone Mall in Muldersdrift.

• Allister Coetzee was announced as the new coach on 12 April at the SuperSport headquarters in Randburg.

• South Africa’s top trio, Ivanna Samu, Kaleigh Telfer and Zethu Myeki collected an unprecedented 12th victory for the country in the 13th edition of the All-Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) in Hammemet, Tunisia on 8 April.

• A wet and rainy day did not deter players and spectators from enjoying a successful Derby Day between Rand Park High School and HeronBridge College. Also, Rand Park Primary School beat Weltevreden Park Primary school 20–12.

• On 11 June, the fifth Beast obstacle course challenge proved to be the toughest for winners, Thomas van Tonder and Carina Marx. Both athletes of the Jeep Team, claimed the respective men’s and women’s titles.

• Curro Aurora riders were the highest point-scoring team in the category of eight to 12 riders at the South African National Equestrian Schools Association (Sanesa) Gauteng West Awards, held on 24 June at Usambara Lodge.

• Local runner, Christine Kalmer returned to South Africa from the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics where she competed in the 42km marathon. She finished almost three minutes slower than her qualifying time.

• Brother and sister, Marco (11) and Alicia (10) Prins from Fairland were included in the South African Modern Pentathlon Association (Sampa) President’s team.

• Victory House Private School lived up to its name when it broke Agape Christian School’s 15-year winning streak at the Inter-school Christian League in September.

• Radford House School and five other schools held their first inter-schools athletics event at Ruimsig Athletics Stadium. Radford came up with the idea of creating a league of small schools for themselves, as they were not part of a league and wanted an opportunity for their pupils to compete against other schools.

• Lawn bowls legend, Esmé Haley (63) won the SA Masters singles event, the Johannesburg Bowls Association (JBA) singles and pairs events, and was awarded the JBA Bowler of the Year.

• About 900 goals were scored in a record-breaking game that was nothing short of epic, lasting 32 hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds, as Education Through Soccer (ETS) broke the Guinness World Record for the longest non-stop six-a-side soccer match. Guinness World Records still has to officially approve the breaking of the record.

• Thousands of cyclists from all over Gauteng and even from across the border congregated at Riversands to compete in the 20th annual Telkom Cycle Challenge despite the excessive heat.