SPAR SCHOOL STARS 2026

Ashton International College Ballito tennis talent Zara Reardon delivered an impressive performance at a recent inter-district team tournament.

The Grade 7 pupil represented eThekwini A Blue Team, made up of four girls and four boys, at the Junior Schools Inter-District Tennis Tournament from August 22-23. Facing off against teams from across the province at Kershaw Park in Pietermaritzburg, Zara and her teammates played their way to overall victory – the first for the eThekwini A Blue Team.

Umhlali Prep cyclist Millie Buckley rode her way to first place at the recent CycleLab Schools MTB Challenge.

The Grade 7 pupil blitzed ahead of riders from across KZN in the Sub Junior Girls category at Maritzburg College. Her overall title came in dominant fashion as she claimed all four individual stages on the way to victory – a fitting finale to her junior cycling career.

Stanger Heights Primary School’s Ndondo Mbonambi is a leader in the classroom and on the sports field.

The Grade 7 pupil has recently performed well for his school at coding, robotics and isiZulu poetry contests. He is also one of his grade’s most consistent soccer players.

Ndondo has a series of awards from his earlier grades, most recently winning a certificate for his term three academic results. He hopes to become a psychologist in the future.

Mdima Sizanokuhle from Nyamazane Primary School in Maphumulo is a quiz whiz.

The Grade 7 pupil finished fourth in a recent inter-school quiz that drew pupils from across the iLembe District who were tested on their understanding of topics covered in EMS class.

Curro Salt Rock sprint star Lonwabo Majola is blitzing his way through the provincial history books.

The Grade 7 pupil recently broke the KZN Athletics U13 100m boys record at the KZNA League at King’s Park in a time of 11:76.

Not satisfied with just one record, Lonwabo went on to break the KZNCSSA U13 200m boys record at the Christian Schools Sports Association (CSSA) Provincial Championships in Pietermartizburg in a time of 24:90.

He is now gearing up to represent KwaZulu-Natal at the SACSSA nationals at the end of September.

Crawford International North Coast’s Hongyi Guo is a master mathematician in the making.

The Grade 7 pupil recently competed in the third and final round of the South African Mathematics Challenge at Kearsney College after progressing through the earlier stages with strong performances.

Crawford International North Coast artist Taskia Reddy earned second place at the Cultivate Your Culture exhibition at Ballito Junction.

The Grade 12 pupil’s work explored themes of culture, beauty and identity and impressed the judges.

Curro Salt Rock’s Nicole Long and her horse marble will represent KZN at the upcoming South African Western Mounted Games National Championships.

The Grade 8 pupil was selected as part of the SAWMGA Junior 1 Team after a string of impressive performances which qualified her for all 13 Western Mounted Games events. Long and marble will take on everything from barrel racing to pole bending at the event in Parys, Free State from September 28 to October 2.