What a sporting year 2024 has been on the local front

WHO can actually believe that we have come to the end of 2024? What a whirlwind year it has been on all fronts. It’s as if the world was being tossed around in a tumble dryer.

However, on the sporting front, there was less turmoil, and more triumphs on the local scene. So let’s very briefly take a whirlwind tour of what happened in sports on the local front over the past year. See if you remember these selected morsels.

Back in January, the Skema 2 Sea cycling team completed an extraordinary 24-hour journey covering an impressive 450 kilometres.

The trip, started in Hartswater and culminated near the Eswatini border in Clarens, saw this 10-member peloton pedalling tirelessly to support 18-year-old Jan Roux in his battle against an exceptionally rare form of cancer.

The DFA’s Danie van der Lith was on this marathon trip, capturing the adventure and experience of the riders during the gruelling trip.

Then in February, Katherine Williams etched her name in the history of scouting, achieving the coveted Springbok Scout Award in just six months.

Also in February, Shihan Peter Stegmann from the Zanshin Karate-Do in Kimberley was named one of the national coaches for Karate South Africa for a third consecutive year.

Also around this time, the Kimberley Pirates Tug of War Club hosted their inaugural tug of war competition for 2024, bringing together a total of 337 pullers from 10 different clubs across the province on their fields.

The event showcased the growing popularity and improvement in the quality of tug of war, drawing enthusiasts from various regions.

But Pirates were not the only tuggers doing their thing in Kimberley’s relentless heat, as the Flamingo tug-of-war club also started off the year with a bang.

Meanwhile, Kimberley-born soccer star Emile Witbooi was officially signed by Cape Town City FC, and just look at what leaps this young man has made in such a short time.

March kicked off with the news that after a thrilling showdown at the Kimberley Diamond Oval, the Northern Cape Heat cricket team secured their place in history with a stunning victory over the Itec Knights in the CSA Division 2 Four-Day Series. This triumph marked an unprecedented achievement, as the Heat claimed the Four-Day trophy for an incredible third consecutive year.

And who can believe that Suzuki Auto South Africa partnered with the Griqualand West Rugby Union in March? Suzuki Auto was revealed as the naming sponsor for both the team and their home grounds. As a result, the team adopted the name "Suzuki Griquas," and the stadium was officially renamed the Suzuki Stadium.

April was the time for the youth, when a promising young talent with an already impressive list of achievements made his entrance on the local chess scene. At just seven years old, Adam Meyers, a Grade 2 student at Staats Primary School, was already making significant strides in the game.

Not to be outdone, just a few months from her 14th birthday, 13 year-old Willene Wiid once again became the talk of the town after her outstanding performance at the South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled National Championships held in Bloemfontein.

Also in April, padel, a unique blend of tennis and squash, arrived on the scene thanks to the arrival of AP Padel Courts.

May in Kimberley saw the good old Classic Clashes. For eighteen years running, the sports fields of Diamantveld and Northern Cape High School witnessed the fierce annual contest as students from both institutions converged to compete in rugby, netball, and hockey.

And at the end of the month, in a spectacular finish to a perfect season, the Suzuki Griquas triumphed in the SA Cup, securing their first major trophy in a decade with a thrilling 46-24 win over their arch-rivals, the Pumas.

At the midpoint of the year, in June, players from Kimberley’s very own C-Pac 2 Pool Club performed well at the SA Blackball Pool National Championships held at the Sun Coast Casino in Durban.

And later on in June, at the Northern Cape Bowls Open Masters Championships CP Mathewson demonstrated why he is considered a formidable force on the NC bowls scene after clinching the title following a hard-fought battle against Barry Minopetros.

July saw Kimberley’s own evergreen powerlifting powerhouse, Ricardo Fitzpatrick, adding another gold medal to his collection at the second Asia/Pacific/Africa Classic and Equipped Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.

Tragedy also struck in July and family, friends, and the skateboarding community came together one icy Friday night at the Kimberley skate park to celebrate the life of Damian Bramley, a beloved figure in the skateboarding world.

Even today, Damian is deeply missed but his infectious enthusiasm continues to skate alongside those who knew him, a testament to his enduring legacy.

August saw the Zanshin Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Elite Development Open Club host a highly successful tournament at their dojo with the Zenkutsu Karate Club from Galeshewe in attendance. This cooperation between clubs signalled a positive boost for the discipline in the city.

In September, the Sol Plaatje University Rugby First Team etched its name into history by securing a place in the prestigious 2025 Varsity Shield League for the first time, following back-to-back victories over Tshwane University of Technology.

October will, of course, be remembered for the Diamantveld T20 Cricket Festival. Indeed, despite the fierce competition on the field, the atmosphere remained warm and welcoming all around it.

And what about last month? Of course you have to remember how the Northern Cape Heat’s right-arm fast-medium bowler Hardus Viljoen cemented his place in cricketing history by reaching the remarkable milestone: taking 500 first-class wickets.

As for December … maybe it’s too early to say. We are not even halfway through the month. But if anything on the local sports front stood out for you, our reader – in December or through the year – please feel free to send us a message on Facebook Messenger, or pop us an e-mail at info.dfa@acm.co.za with the subject line: “Sports highlights of 2024”

• All stories in this list were contributed by DFA reporter Danie van der Lith.