The sounds of the excitement of discovering gold nuggets rang through Pilgrim’s Rest when the South African National Gold Panning Championship was held there last week.

Over 230 gold panners competed for the various national category titles from Thursday to Saturday.

Sanjay Singh won the proficient men’s category. Singh is the current president of the World Gold Panning Association. Africa Mohlala was the runner-up and Diaan van Heerden was third.

The proficient women’s champion for 2021 was Linda Traill. Sue Steynberg was second and Hildegard van der Heever third.

The Mpumalanga team of Singh, Traill, Van Heerden, Steynberg and Van der Heever panned their way to the five-person team gold medal.

Ntando Fakude was the junior South African champ. Ntlhari Mokoena won silver and Ashanda Mokoena bronze.

The veterans’ winner was Hester Liebenberg, with Sherry Goodwin second and Elna Gundry third.

The Batea (traditional pan used in Poland) category was won by Goodwin. Liebenberg was second and Sendra Nsimba third.

A South African team will compete in the World Gold Panning Championship in Zlotoryja, Poland, in August 2022, Covid permitting.

The 2023 World Gold Panning Championship will be held in Pilgrim’s Rest again. The tourist town previously hosted the world championship in 2005 and 2013.