Cycling

SA honours for new PE cycle team

Members make mark at national champs

African Pride are the best female cyclists to come from this area

Yonela Mofu mofuy@timesmedia.co.za

PORT Elizabeth-based cycling team African Pride emerged as the most successful side at the South African Championships held recently in Wellington.

The newly formed team consists of four talented young cyclists, who clinched two gold and two bronze medals in the competition.

Kelsey van Schoor, 15, secured the first gold medal for the team in the women’s U17 time trial category, while Mischka Strydom, 14, brought home the bronze medal for the team.

Monique Gerber, 20, competing in the U23 time trial category, received a bronze medal.

Kelsey managed to beat the time set by the winner of the U19 category.

The humid weather conditions proved to be a challenge for the team on race day as road temperatures reached a high of 53°C.

Monique, who is a former African Continental champion, said: “We were fortunate enough to visit the venue to train and familiarise ourselves with the course as well as to acclimatise before the actual race began.

“I believe we were well prepared because we knew what our bodies could do to get the best performance.

“It was different from what we had been accustomed to but we made it work.”

Manager and coach Frans Gerber said: “The young women are constantly improving. They work very hard to keep a balance with their school work. African Pride are the best female cyclists to come from this area in the country.

“The team is extremely talented and we are looking to do well in all the competitions we participate in this year.

“The youngest and most improving rider on the team, Mischka, had a bit of bad luck at the start of her road race when a gear cable on her bike snapped just before the start.

“She had to start riding a full five minutes after the bunch had pulled off. She showed a lot of resilience to come back and get fifth position.”

Framesby High pupil Mischka said: “Keeping a balance with school work and training can be a challenge sometimes but I always ride in the mornings and focus on my school work during the day.”

African Pride anticipate conquering The Herald Continental Cycle Tour on Sunday.

Two weeks later they will compete in the Cape Town Cycle Tour, and later this year will tackle the Track South African Champs, also to be held in Cape Town.

The team was formed at the beginning of this year after the girls had been training together but participated as individuals. Although they race as a team, the results are recorded individually. Members of the team would sacrifice themselves for one member to win.

The team’s fourth member, Anja Gerber, who also competes in the U23 category, did not participate in the South African Championships due to a heart condition that developed in December.

LOCAL Rugga

Heartbreak as WSU claim hard-fought victory against Harlequins

By YONELA MOFU

WALTER Sisulu University (WSU) broke the hearts of Port Elizabeth Harlequins when they won their Eastern Cape Super 12 club rugby fixture 14-12 at the Adcock Stadium on Saturday.

The “All Blacks” snatched the spoils in what proved to be a nail-biting clash. Both teams displayed an eagerness to win in their first match of the tournament but in the end it was WSU who came out on top.

The first 10 minutes between the sides proved to be equally contested as both teams made good use of their chances in the rucks.

The home side showed brilliance with the ball in hand attacking whenever they could and also using the wind to their advantage.

Harlequins got the upper hand in the 20th minute when WSU lock Bongile Ntoko was yellow carded for a high tackle.

The home side sneaked in two back-to-back tries through speedy left wing Irvin Kapara and right wing Chessy Lewack.

The home side were denied their third try when flank Ricky Williams knocked on the ball five metres from the tryline.

WSU got off to a good start in the second half when skipper and lock Lelo Gamashe scored their first try from a well executed set piece by the forwards. Bongani Zwane kicked the conversion.

Frustration got the better of Harlequins when they started deviating from the form they had shown in the first half.

They were seen defending deep into their territory with their forwards working overtime.

WSU capitalised on the infringements made by the home side and Gamashe got in for his second try in the dying minutes.

A cool-headed Zwane then broke the hearts of the home side when he converted the try with just three minutes on the clock to close out the victory.

Harlequins assistant coach Sebastian Hilpert said: “It was a tight game and the opposition used the wind to their advantage. Going into the next game we will stick to our game plan and obviously adjust a few things.”

WSU head coach Andile Ndondose said: “We definitely need to go back to the drawing and fix all the problems we had in the first half. Our players just need to build on their chemistry so that everything gels on the field.”