BUCO Interprimary 2023 cut short due to weather constraints

"Rather something than nothing." This was the approach the hosts, Nelspruit Primary, had to this year's BUCO Interprimary.

February 23, 2023

Jana Schlechter 2 minutes read

It is probably one of the highlights on all athletes’ sporting calendars. Being able to represent your school at a prestigious meet like the Interprimary is a great privilege and honour. Why, then, deprive them of it?

This was one of the arguments that the event’s organisers, Werner van Tonder, head of Nelspruit Primary, and Dr JP Hugo, head of Laerskool Bergland, put forth. when the meeting was held on Saturday February 18

In the week leading up to the BUCO Interprimary 2023, Van Tonder stated he would rather have something happen than nothing at all.

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The day was characterised by continuous rain, which alternated between a gentle drizzle and heavy showers.
As a result, the first items were postponed. “If we have to look at which items should be cancelled on such a day, high jump and hurdles are first on the list,” said Hugo.

They tried sawdust to save the high jump, but the rain just kept going. “After that, we looked at the safety of the long jump and shot-put,” Hugo continued. “If an athlete falls there, he or she can get quite hurt, and that’s what we wanted to try and avoid.”

At least the long-distance athletes were able to show their strength in their codes, while the sprints also continued mostly uninterrupted. The number of heats that took place was cut, however, but the organisers tried to give everyone, especially the little ones, an opportunity to be able to say they took part in the Interprimary.

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The meet ended with a teacher’s relay, which is almost an annual institution at the Interprimary.

The participating schools hosted were Nelspruit Primary, Laerskool Nelspruit, Laerskool Laeveld, Laerskool Bergland, Laerskool Witrivier, Barberton Primary School and Lydenburg Primary School.

Only 24 of the set 88 programme items could take place. Here are the results of those items:

Girls under 13 1500m