Sport Legends 2011 | Western Cape Government

Sport Legends 2011

Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport
(Western Cape Government)
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Summary
The Annual Sport Legend Ceremony that is hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) grants an opportunity to honour legends, heroes and icons, who have contributed uncompromisingly to the development, transformation and growth of sport in South Africa and more specifically in the Western Cape. It is the task of our High Performance Sport Promotion Unit to recognise sporting heroes and contributors who qualify as worthy of an award for their contribution in sport.

This year marks the 7th year that DCAS will be recognising the shapers of sport as Western Cape Sport Legends on 15 December 2011 at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens by honouring them in identified sport codes for the roles they have played in ensuring the growth, development, and transformation of sport in difficult circumstances. It also serves to acknowledge the contributions made by individuals as sporting activists, sporting heroes and sporting icons in shaping the future of sport in the Western Cape. In the past it had linkages with the Christmas Tinto Cup.

The linkage creates an opportunity for young and old to rub shoulders and share experiences, and hopefully the youth will also obtain wisdom from legends. The sport codes that will receive focus during 2011 are baseball, bowls, football, golf, gymnastics and netball, and the criteria include people who have made a significant contribution to sport and who are regarded as icons in their communities. This also provides an opportunity for people who gracefully gave sport their all and who played a role.

Nominees must be aged 50 or more and should preferably be in retirement, except in outstanding cases where the qualifications of the candidate speak for themselves.

Speech delivered by Dr Ivan Meyer at the 2011 Sport Legends Awards

Badminton
  Finn KofoedStender (77), Province: WP (Wynberg)

In a career that has spanned more than sixty years Finn Started playing badminton in Denmark in 1944. He went on to represent Canada at the USA championships in Chicago in 1961. Soon after immigrating to SA in 170 he started serving badminton in various leadership and executive positions at provincial and national levels. During this period of Finn's leadership the growth of badminton in WP has been significant. His strong emphasis on transformation has resulted in the sport today being played in most Cape Town communities. He is a Honorary President and Life member of Badminton.
  Karel Sebastiaan Van Heerden (68), Region: WP

Karel started playing badminton in Strand in 1962. A dedicated servant of the game he has represented Boland at Seniors, Veterans, Masters, Grandmasters, Silver Eagles and Golden Eagles levels. He is currently the Chairman of False Bay Badminton and Boland Badminton and continues to serve on the Executive Committee of Badminton SA. He was also manager of the national side that won the African Cup in Morocco in 2011.
 

Jan Fourie (62), Region: SWD

Jan Fourie is described by his peers as a passionate squash player who has served squash well.

He is the current chairperson of the Sedgefield Squash Club and selector of the Southern Cape region for 20 years. As a player he has competed in 25 SA tournaments, successfully coached a number of who have gone one to attain Southern Cape and SA Colours. Through his efforts and enthusiasm and tireless dedication the sport was developed and introduced to a broader audience. This tireless servant of squash continues to contribute to the development of the sport in the Southern Cape.
Canoeing
  Andre Collins (63), Region: Western Province (Sunset Links)

Andre began his paddling career in 1968. Since then he has represented SA at Senior World Marathon Championships, won 6 titles at the Masters World Marathon Championships, won the senior Presidents Trophy for WCCU and win his categories up to Grand Masters level. He has won the Berg River Canoe Marathon twice and the Breede River Canoe Marathon eight times. Andre has played a major role in assisting WP Canoeing to transform the sport. He is currently the chairman of the Organising Committee of the Berg River Canoe Marathon, serves on Canoeing South Africa Marathon and Sprint sub-committees. He is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Western Cape Canoe Union as well as the Milnerton Canoe Club.
  Michiel Nicolaas (Giel) Van Deventer (62), Region: Boland (Paarl)

Michiel has completed more than 800 canoe races in his career, including 42 Berg River Marathons, 29 Breede River Marathons and 16 Fish River Marathons. He has successfully represented South Africa in three World Marathon Championships. Together with Lance King and Heinrich Schloms he is the current SA K3 champion and was awarded the highest honor of WCCU, the President?s Trophy, for winning the Grandmasters class for the past two years. He is the current statistician for both Canoeing South Africa and the Western Cape Canoe Union and selector for the Western Cape Canoeing Union. Michiel is an Honorary Lifetime Member of CSA, WCCU and Paarl Canoe Club.
  Jan Adriaan Smith Malherbe (72), Region: SWD

A co-founder of the first canoeing club in the Western Province and a member of the first SA canoeing team Jan began canoeing in Paarl in 1962. He then went on to win the Berg river canoe marathon thrice, was crowned SA senior Champion in 1967 and Grand Master in 2009 and 2011. Jan who still competes at the age of 71, is an inspiration to the many young canoeists he trains.
  Prof. Willem Van Riet, Region: SWD

Willem Van Riet together with his father, "Oom" Willem Van Riet initiated the first Bergrivier Canoe Marathon in 1962. He attained Springbok colours in Canoeing when he became a member of the first Springbok Canoeing team. Willem has won the "Dusi" Canoe Marathon thrice, been SA White Water Champion on numerous occasions and won the Bergrivier Canoe Marathon in 1967. Described as an adventurous young man Willem took on every river in Southern Africa with his canoe. A book that Willem wrote about his adventures, "Stroomaf in my Kano", has been a popular prescribed book within schools for years.
Dance Sport
  Gladys Cathleen Bullock (56), Region: Metro (Strandfontein)

A highly qualified dance coach who acquired all her qualifications internationally Gladys Bullock coaches and conducts workshops throughout South Africa. She has won numerous awards including runner up Soprite Checkers "Woman of the Year" in 2002 and the Elle Magazine "Woman of Worth Award" 2002 - runner up. An internally recognised adjudicator Gladys is considered a pioneer in her field. She teaches ballroom and Latin to disabled persons, is active in promoting dance for the arts, theatre and dance sport for competition to the disabled communities.
  David Oransie (65), Region: SWD (Ladysmith)

David who has close to 15 years of community involvement experience has been actively involved SWD Fedansa since 1996. During this period he has successfully impacted on the lives of his students. A highlight in his career has been the awarding of provincial colours to two pairs of dancers (4 dancers) whom he coached.
  Katy Britz (54), Region: SWD (Oudsthoorn)

This founder member and pioneer of ballroom in the South Western Districts has served as deputy Chairperson, trustee and Treasurer on various structures of Dance Sport. A committed servant of her community she continues to impact on the lives of others through dance sport.
  Jacob Philip De Bruyn (53), Region: SWD (Beaufort West)

Jacob began his involvement in Dance Sport in Beaufort West in 2006. He has served three terms as Regional Chairperson of Dance Sport in the South Western District Region. A number of his dancers have attained South Western District colours and between 2005 and 2010 six pairs of dancers who were coached by him were invited to attend International World Trials.
  Roberta Aletta (63) & Bernard Hendry Johnson (62), Region: Metro

Bernard and Roberta who both hold international Dance Sport teaching qualifications were introduced to competitive dancing in 1971 and began their professional dance careers in 1977. Following a successful stint as professional dancers they established Robert Dance Studio in 1979. Between 1985 and 1993 the 5 available South African Championship titles have been won by Robert Dance Studio has each year while the professional section was won by the studio between 1997 and 2000. Currently Robert dance Studio coaches the SA Champions in the Junior, Youth and Adult Ballroom Competitions.
  David (77) and Alice (77) Jacobs, Region: Metro

David and Alice started dancing together in 1958 and over the years performed at many a SA Championship ending consistently in one of the top three positions. In 1981they began teaching dance. During the apartheid era David and Alice held practice sessions at the Nyanga East Civic Centre. With a teaching career spanning almost 30 years they have contributed to the development of dancers such as Lily Ford, Basil Bean, Kevin Juul, Donovan Forbes, Cheslyn Paris and Kim Lee Isaacs. These Internationally qualified coaches and adjudicators have done much to develop dance sport in all communities of the Western Cape.
Netball
  Doreen Liston (74), Region: WP

Doreen Liston became a member of the Bellville netball Club in 1958 and five years later she represented South Africa at the 1st World Tournament in Eastbourne, England and went on to captain the SA team at the Second World Tournament, in Perth, Australia in 1967. A founder member of the WP Referee Union and WP Coaching Union, Doreen played an important role played an important role the unity talks and negotiations and was closely involved with development of netball in Western Province. She has also held various leadership positions within netball including that of President of WP, Head of the SA Referees Union and President of Netball SA.
 

Marigold Kokosky (71), Region: WP

Marigold is a founder member of the Municipality Netball Club in Rygersdal which later became became the Rygersdal Netball Club. She served the club in various capcities including that of chairperson. Her contribution to netball and sport in general was recognised when she was honoured as Chairperson of the Year by Rygersdal Sport Association in 1973 and 1993. Marigold also served the Western Province Netball Union as Chairperson of the Functions and Refreshments Committee. During this period she also assisted with general administration and the translation of the WP
Netball Union constitution from Afrikaans to English and compiled other documents such as the WP Manual, Players Contract and Financial Guidelines. She was also involved in the unity talks in the 1990's.
  Marina Klusmann, Region: WP

In a career spanning more than thirty years Marina has served netball as player, coach, administrator, selector and manager at club, provincial, national and international levels. In 1987 the Bellville Sport Federation acknowledged her as Administrator of the Year. She has also been honoured by Bellville Western Province Netball and Netball South Africa for her loyal service.
  Marlene Wagner (70),Region: WP

Marlene's coaching career started as a player and coaching junior teams at Bellville Netball Club. Since then this dedicated sport woman has gone on to coach the SA national team winning the 1st test series against England, COSANA Games, ALL Africa Games, and Silver medal at the 9th World Netball Championships in the 1994/5 season. Marlenewas awarded the Mayoral Award from the Bellville Town Council for outstanding achievement in Netball. She is currently coaching at the University of the Western cape.
 

Kosie van der Merwe (55), Region: West Coast

As a dedicated netball coach Kosie made her mark on school netball in the Northern
Cape, Boland and West Coast. In 1995 she obtained her SA Umpires Grading and in 1997 was appointed as the Boland School Development Official. In 2008 she was honoured with honorary membership of the West Coast Netball Union and in 2007 Recognition from the Department of Sport and Recreation recognised her for her contribution to netball within the West Coast.
  Marie` Schon (66), Region: Boland

Marie`Schon has left an indelible mark on school netball in the Eastern Cape, Boland and South Western Districts. As coach, referee, manager and administrator she has served netball at school, regional, provincial and national levels. A highlight in her career was the organising of the SA Schools Championships which was held in Wellington in 1992.
Sailing
  Colin Bruce McCurrach (74), Region: SWD

Bruce McCurrach excelled in the sport of sailing specialising in Finn Olympic dinghy class. He gained selection and participated in three Finn Gold Cup regattas (the World Championships for Finn Dinghies), for which he was awarded Springbok Colours. Bruce McCurrach was also involved in the promotion of the sport. He established Performance Sailcraft, which built many dinghies (Finn, Sprog, Laser, etc.) resulting in and an upsurge in sailing in this country. Since retiring to Knysna, Bruce has been involved with Knysna Yacht Club - in imparting his sailing knowledge to keelboat sailors.
 

Roger Graham Bartholomew (75), Region: Boland

An accredited international Sailing Federation (ISAF) international Race Officer Roger who has been sailing since 1946 excelled in various categories of sailing. He was awarded his national colours National Colours by SA Sailing. Between 1981 and 2011 he has served in various portfolios of WP Sailing and SA Sailing Western Cape in and in 1982 and 1983 was awarded the Mouat Trophy by SA Sailing for services to Sailing in the Western Cape. In 2009 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award by DCAS, Western Cape.
  David Beresford Hudson (65), Region: WP

John represented SA in the Admiral?s Cup (1975), the Olympic Games (1992), the ISAF Games (1994), the Commodores' Cup (2010) and in the 15 World Championships between 1968 and 2010 winning 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. He joined Roger Hudson in 2008 to set up a development program for talented underprivileged young sailors via the Race Ahead Foundation and developed a powerful all South African sailing team, Team RaceAhead, capable of competing successfully in major international events. David has held various positions in different Sailing executives. He is a member of Royal Southern Yacht Club.
  Diana Pauline Hutton-Squire (54), Region: WP

Started sailing in 1966 as a crew and skipper. She is the current Chairperson of the Western Cape Race Officers Association.
Rugby
  Jack Arthur Juries (68), Region: SWD

Started his rugby career in 1956 and represented the SWD Federation from 1960-1985 in ±200 matches. He toured England as a member of the Protea Federation playing in seven matches against county teams and in 1977 was invited to attend Springbok trials. He has served as SWDRFU selector for many years and is currently serving on the Management Committee for the Great Brak River RFC.
  Mervyn Oscar November (63), Region: SWD

Mervyn started playing rugby at Pacaltsdorp Primary School in 1962. He went on to represent the SWD provincial team playing in ±80 matches. He won his 1st SARU cap in 1972 and played for them until 1975. Mervyn later began coaching Evergreens Rugby Club and until recently served on the club's management committee.
  Abraham Johnson (57), Region: SWD

Abraham "Awie" Johnson started playing his rugby in the 1960?s at Pacaltsdorp Primary School. He played for SWD Federation and later represented the Protea Federation. In 2000 he was recognised for his contribution to rugby when he was awarded Springbok Colours. He is the current assistant coach of the SWD Women's Rugby Team. Abraham is a lifetime member of the Evergreens Rugby Club.
  Dirk Stefanus Hahn (64), Region: WP

Dirk played rugby while at Hewat Teacher's College and went on to represent City Surburban, North Western Districts and Western Province Country. His exceptional leadership qualities were recognised when he was appointed captain of the North Western Districts and later Western Province Country sides. During his career he has hels several coaching positions at school rugby level. Dirk Hahn, former rugby player, community advisor and life coach is held in high regard by young and old. He is cherished and loved and regarded as a real icon in his community.
  Luyolo Stanford Mzanywa (65), Region: Metro (Gugulethu)

This talented rugby player who was honoured along with other veterans with Springbok Colours in 2000 began his rugby playing career in 1965. During the 1960's however he also made his mark as a talented athlete and was crowned the Border Athletics as well as Western Province Champion during this period. Luyvolo is a founder member of the Veterans Association and still assists assists with youth development.
  Sandi Thompson Magxala (68), Region: Metro (Khayelitsha)

In 1962 Sandi joined the Flying Eagle RFC. Soon thereafter he was appointed captain of the first team. During his career Sandi not only played for the Western Province and South African National Board teams, but also captained both. In 1974 he was a member of the team that played against the British Lions. He was elected president of the Western Province Rugby Association. In 1987 and after unification appointed senior selector of the Western Province Union.
  Charles Davids (81), Region: WP

Charles Davids, better known as "Charlie", started playing for Meltons Rugby Football Club in the Northern Cape as a young boy. He made such a mark as a hooker that he was selected to play for the Union team with teammates such as Mily Frieslaar, Blanchard and Canon. He captained the Meton's team with distinction for many years. In the mid-sixties he was selected to the Federation team that played against the Leopards and later the British Lions.
  Thelo Wakefield (60), Region: WP

Thelo started playing rugby at the age of 12 and went on to represent the Tygerberg Rugby Football Union. His passion for rugby resulted in him becoming involved in rugby at the Peninsula Technikon and led to his appointment as Manager of the South African Tertiary Institutions Team. He has also held various leadership positions at the Tygerberg Rugby Football as well as Western Province Rugby Unions. These include amongst others leading the Facilities Development Committee and the Administration, Relations and Transformation Committees at WPRU. In 2008 was elected Deputy President of the Western Province Rugby Union.
The content on this page was last updated on 15 March 2014