Brakpan’s 2013 sporting highlights (January to June)
A number of Brakpan sportspeople dominated in their respective sporting codes in 2013. These are some of the year’s most memorable sporting achievements and events.
January
Hoërskool Die Anker se Gerrie Labuschagne was deel van die o-18 sewes-span wat vanaf 12 to 20 Januarie aan die “Australiese Olimpiese Jeugfees” in Sydney.
Brakpan rider Riaan van Niekerk (Broadlink KTM Rally Team) was awarded the trophy for top rookie in the motorcycle category at the Dakar Rally after finishing in an impressive 13th overall position in the general classification.
February
United Cricket Club’s Promotion League team returned to action after the festive break from the Easterns Promotion League and demolished Kempton Park by a massive ten wickets in a resounding victory at Hosking Park. The result was a massive one as it placed United in a commanding position to win the league. A follow up victory against Springs Old Boys, Daveyton and CBC Old Boys in the next three weeks sent United clear at the top of the table.
Brakpan’s Brian Bader participated in the 20km East Rand Kayak (ERK) Challenge, a seeding event for the Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon.
The Titans ended a disappointing Sunfoil Series season at Sahara Park Willowmoore in Benoni. The team ended the season rock bottom in the standings without a single victory in the season.
Brakpan Rugby Club kicked off the 2013 Cell C Community Cup national club tournament with a win against Old Selbornians in East London. It was sweet revenge for the “Panne” as the same opposition knocked the team out of the club nationals in 2012.
March
Westvaal-BMC sprinter Tyler Day won an exciting end sprint to claim the 154km Macsteel Carnival City Classic in Brakpan.
United Cricket Club’s Promotion XI wrapped up the Easterns Promotion League with a superb 69-run win against Benoni Northerns in Benoni.
The first-place position in the league was historic as it allowed the team to play in the elite Easterns Premier League for the first time since the amalgamation of Brakpan and Airfield clubs.
Brakpan Rugby Club progressed to the super eight knockout stages after finishing top of Pool D in the Cell C Community Cup with victories over Roses United and Wit Rivier and a bonus point defeat to Evergreens.
Jeffrey Mathebula held firm to defeat Takalani Ndlovu on points to secure the IBF junior featherweight title eliminator in an unrelenting 12-round spectacle at Carnival City in March.
Brakpan-based kickboxing club Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies (XKT) members Waldo Prinsloo and Ryan Phillips won gold medals at a International Invitational Tournament in Johannesburg.
April
Brakpan Rugby Club were officially ranked as the third best club rugby team in the country (out of 936 registered teams) after an unfortunate last-minute by College Rovers in the semi-finals try cost them a place in the main final of the 2013 Cell C Community Cup. The team destroyed Rustenburg Impala 56-8 in the Plate Final to bring some pride back to Bosman Stadium. The team broke numerous records during the tournament.
Two Muriel Brand School learners took part in the 2013 Nedbank National Disabled Championship in Pretoria. Under-20 competitor and below-knee amputee Junior Mavuso won bronze in the F44 javelin event followed by gold in the T44 100m race. Omar Abdul (15) won gold in the shot-put, javelin and discus events.
Brakpan Rugby Club kicked off their Valke Peregrine League title defence with a thumping victory over Boksburg Rugby Club in their first match since the Cell C Community Cup.
Hendrik Booysen won a gold medal in the 400m and a silver medal in the 800m at the Central Gauteng Masters Championship.
May
Brakpan Rugby Club demolished Springs 41-12 in the derby between the two great Valke rivals. The team continued winning ways with wins against NWU Vaal, Kempton Park and Boksburg. The team went over the 100 point mark against Kempton Park away from home at Barnard Stadium.
United Cricket Club picked up the awards for Promotion League winners and the Most Improved Team at the Eastern Cricket Union’s annual prizegiving ceremony for the 2012/2013 season.
The East Rand Summer Touch Rugby League ended with an exciting final after teams from around Ekurhuleni competed over 12 weeks. The Warriors came out victorious over defending champions the Blues.
June
Carnival City Runners’ veteran Petros Mbokazi was the first of the runners from the club to finish the 2013 Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in a time of 7.40.55. Mbokazi along with Nzima Zikhali, Lucky Seopela, Lerato Motaung and Sipho Dumakude all earned Bill Rowan medals for finishing the race in under nine hours.
Brakpan Wrestling Club’s JP Buys was chosen to participate in a tour organised by the South African Wrestling Federation to the USA.
The Dan Triangle Karate Club, with dojos in Brakpan and Benoni, won 15 medals (13 gold, one bronze and one silver) at the South African Championships.
Father and son Raymond and Ryan Phillips won four South African kickboxing titles during the national championships held in Oudshoorn in the Western Cape and claimed four gold medals between them.
