First inter-school fencing team event held in Polokwane
Four fencing teams competed in the first inter-school team event in Polokwane, with a couple of standout performances.
POLOKWANE – The first inter-school fencing team event delivered strong competition and great development for local fencers, with four teams taking to the piste at the Polokwane Sports Complex last Saturday and Sunday.
Frans Mohlala, Hwiti and Ditlalemeso fencing clubs each fielded their own team, while the fourth team was a mixed squad from the Sello Maduma Fencing Academy (SMFA).
Chairperson of the Limpopo Fencing Association (LFA), Renuka Ramroop told Polokwane Observer that the club hopes the inaugural event will grow, with more schools participating in the sport going forward.
“The event was great fun and the fencers put out some of their best fencing on the piste. It is interesting to watch how fencers grow in a team event. It is excellent for fencer development as they learn so much more about strategy, working in a team and good sportsmanship.”
Several individual performances stood out on the day. Gloria Bopape from Ditlalemeso Secondary School Fencing Club, part of the E tla natso project, won gold in the u/20 women’s épeé.
The victory secures her top spot in the province in the category. She is currently ranked number three nationally.
Kgothatjo Ramaboea of SMFA was the only double gold winner of the day, claiming victory in both the u/17 and u/20 men’s épeé categories.
University of Limpopo (UL) and Soweto Fencing Club fencers also took part in the competition.
Results
- Gold: Mixed school team (SMFA – Stanford Lake College, Koa Academy, Capricorn Secondary and HTS Tom Naudé).
- Silver: Frans Mohlala Fencing Club.
- Bronze: Hwiti Fencing Club.
Senior men’s épeé
- Gold: Exellent Masilane – UL Fencing Club.
- Silver: Phetho Mashiane – Soweto FC.
- Bronze: Ngoako Mathete – Ditlalemeso Fencing Club and Katlego Matladi (UL).
Senior women’s épeé
- Gold: Precious Thoka – Ditlalemeso.
- Silver: Gloria Bopape – Ditlalemeso.
- Bronze: Mangwane Machanana – Ditlalemeso and Reneiloe Selowa (UL).
Men’s u/20 épeé
- Gold: Kgothatjo Ramaboea – Sello Maduma Fencing Academy.
- Silver: Phetole Ramolotja – Ditlalemeso.
- Bronze: Mammila Mailula – Ditlalemeso and Ngoako Mathete (Ditlalemeso).
Women u/20 épeé
- Gold: Gloria Bopape – Ditlalemeso.
- Silver: Mangwane Machanana – Ditlalemeso.
- Bronze: Mokgadi Mamabolo – Ditlalemeso and Precious Thoka (Ditlalemeso).
Mens u/17 épeé
- Gold: Kgothatjo Ramaboea – Sello Maduma Fencing Academy.
- Silver: Leroy Matenga – Hwiti.
- Bronze: Kwena Mohale – Sello Maduma and Thabo Motjieng (Frans Mohlala).
Women’s u/17 épeé
- Gold: Paulina Ramonyai – Frans Mohlala.
- Silver: Moshibudi Matheta – Frans Mohlala.
- Bronze: Lethabo Motupa – Ditlalemeso and Ramoshai Margaret (Hwiti).
Mens u/15
- Gold: Kwena Mohale – Sello Maduma 2011.
- Silver: Yoshka Macmillan – Sello Maduma 2013.
- Bronze: Prince Mangena – Frans Mohlala 2012 and Mapitsa Mmasebutje (Sello Maduma).
Women’s u/15 épeé
- Gold: Margaret Ramoshai – Hwiti 2011.
- Silver: Thuso Ramoshai – Frans Mohlala 2011.
- Bronze: Amogelang Moloko – Frans Mohlala 2013 and Ramonyai Paulina (Frans Mohlala).
Womens u/13 épeé
- Gold: Mathipa Mathukhu – Hwiti.
- Silver: Moloko Amogelang – Frans Mohlala.
- Bronze: Ramaesela Letsoalo – Ditlalemeso and Mogowe Kankati (Ditlalemeso).
Open u/11
- Gold: Liam Sinclair – Sello Maduma 2015.
- Silver: Levi Sinclair Sello Maduma 2015.
- Bronze: Blaser-Mapitsa Correy Pilwane – Sello Maduma 2016 and Rookaya Khan (Sello Maduma).
