WeeklySA_AdminFIRST ON AFRICAN SOIL: Local hero John Price (93) will be the oldest rower at the championships
By Ali Mphaki
News of a stray leopard in and around the Roodeplat Dam in Pretoria last week has only heightened the lure to the forthcoming World Rowing Masters Regatta from September 21 to 24.
The search to track down the leopard continued throughout the weekend after the predator was reported to be on the loose since Friday.
“Unfortunately we have not spotted the animal and the search continues”, sai Mpumelelo Mci, the control biodiversity officer at the nature reserve as quoted in the local media, addng that the animal didn’t belong to the nature reserve and its owner was unknown.
“We don’t keep predators in the nature reserve,” he said, a message which will hopefully offer some comfort to the more than 2 000 spectactors expected for the four-day event though it would ease everybody’s nerves to know the leopard has been spotted, darted and taken to a sanctuary.
Whether by accident or design, the leopard story only adds an extic touch to the beauty of nature and incredible wildlife that South Africa is famed for, especially with this being the first World Rowing Masters Regatta on African soil.
The 2023 chapter will feature more than 850 athletes from 41 countries and five continents and highlighting the allure of the event, six of South Africa’s Olympic medallists – Ramon di Clemente (Athens 2004), James Thompson, John Smith, Sizwe Ndlovu (London 2012), Lawrence Brittain and Shaun Keeling (Rio 2016) – will be competing.
Di Clemente and Donovan Cech made history by winning South Africa’s first-ever rowing medal, a bronze in the men’s pair at Athens 2004.
In a reunion of sorts, the triumphant men’s lightweight coxless four crew from London 2012 will return to Roodeplaat Dam where they spent hours on end fine-tuning before delivering South African rowing’s magnum opus. All members of the crew, except for Matt Brittain, will be back on familiar waters. Thompson and Smith went on to win the men’s lightweight double sculls at the World Championships in 2014 before finishing fourth in the same boat in Rio 2016. Smith, who is vying for his fourth Olympics appearance in Paris 2024, will also be competing at the World Rowing Championships in early September.
“This is going to be the biggest rowing event that will ever come to South Africa. We are very proud to be the hosts of this event,” said Thompson, who was a member of the successful RMB national squad.
“The sport of rowing in South Africa has a much deeper history than a lot of people realise, and a particularly strong Olympic history. The sport has a high-performance team based in Pretoria which continues to strengthen.
The regatta will see no fewer than 12 South African Olympians take to the oars including Ivan Pentz and Andrew Lonmon-Davis, who were part of the men’s eight that competed in Barcelona 1992.
Other rowing legends include two-time Olympians Helen Robinson and Colleen Orsmond. The duo finished 11th in debut in Atlanta 1996 before finishing in a creditable fifth place in Sydney 2000 four years later.
Kate Christowitz, fifth place finisher from Rio 2016 and Beijing 2008 Olympian Rika Geyser will also be in action. Held annually, the World Rowing Masters Regatta involves rowers from 27 years of age and older. Races are separated into age categories, starting at those with a minimum age of 27 and continuing to crews with an average age of 89 or more. Local hero, John Price (93) will be the oldest South African rower at the championships.
Roodeplaat Dam, the home of South Africa’s elite rowing programme, has been upgraded for the global showpiece, leaving a lasting legacy for the future. Medals will be awarded to winners of each race or heat final. Singles finals will be held at the end of each day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the eight fastest finishers from the heats in each age category.
The Regatta caters to all rowers aged 27 and upwards is a club regatta that allows competitors to enter instead of qualifying for the showpiece through national selection nor do they represent their countries. The annual regatta has been held each year since its debut in 1974, except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CLIMBING UP THE MOUNTAIN OF SPIRIT
COMPELLING: A daring mission to spotlight and combat the scourge of GBV amidst the clouds
By Ali Mphaki
“We face a mountain to climb, one that symbolizes the path to women’s empowerment through education. This journey is the stepping stone to independence and self-reliance.”
So says Angela Yeung, the founder of the Impilo Collection Foundation and the ambassador of brand South Africa – play your part, as she gears up for an extraordinary climb up the daunting Manaslu,dubbed the “mountain of the spirit,” nestled within Nepal’s majestic Himalayas.
The mountain’s name is rooted in the Sanskrit term “manasa,” signifying “intellect” or “soul” and stands tall at 8,136 meters gracng the ranks as the eighth-highest peak globally.
This challenge surpasses her previous triumph on the Island Peak at 6,200 meters last year. The driving force behind Angela’s ascent is to spotlight and combat the harrowing issue of gender-based violence (GBV).
Her daring expedition aims to channel funds towards an educational sanctuary that will empower and uplift young women who have faced the brunt of GBV.
Angela’s philanthropic accomplishments are noteworthy, with this marking her fourth fundraising climb.
Partnering with The Sherpa Legends, including the illustrious Mingma Chhiri Sherpa, who has conquered Everest six times and Manaslu thrice, Angela seeks to leverage her climb’s impact and inspire change.
Her vision transcends personal achievements, aiming to establish an annual drive for essentials like bras and sanitary pads. Collaborating with fellow mountaineers, Angela endeavors to cast awareness amidst the clouds.
Impilo Collection Foundation has already demonstrated its prowess in addressing GBV through its #EmpowerHer campaign.
The campaign’s impactful display of 6,200 bras at Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill and subsequent distribution to GBV shelters during International Women’s Month 2022 has left a lasting impact.
The ascent is scheduled from September 1 to October 5, held in collaboration with international brands such as Cathay Pacific, GoPro, Sisley Paris, and Zara Wellness.
A thrilling revelation is Angela’s plan to carry their logos and the South African flag to the summit of Manaslu, elevating them beyond the reach of ordinary planes.
Most notably, Angela’s determination and courage could lead to a historic achievement. Should Angela summit at the highest point on Manaslu, she will become the first woman from South Africa to achieve this feat. In recent times, many climbers have chosen to ascend only after the confirmation of the summit by the renowned Mingma G.
Angela’s unwavering dedication is evident, having invested 630 hours in rigorous training and traversed a staggering 540 kilometres in preparation for the climb. While Angela has already injected substantial funding, the centre’s construction necessitates further contributions.
Angela emphasizes, “Our quest for an anti-GBV education centre demands the collective efforts of supporters, followers, climbers, and allies. Together, we will make this vision a reality.”
Generous benefactors will be commemorated with a keepsake symbolizing the metaphorical mountains scaled together.
Donations can be made at https://www.givengain.com/ap/angela-yeung-raising-funds-for-impilo-collection-foundation-63526/#updates towards the anti-GBV education centre and bras can be dropped off at one of the collection points. Please visit https://impilofoundation.org/ for further information.
Published on the 114th Edition
