Durban Surf’s incredible dominance of junior lifesaving showed no let-up with a crushing win at the General Tire Lifesaving SA KZN National Provincial Championships.
Durban Surf’s very talented Tatum Botha claimed the prestigious Iron Nippers U14 female title and Leshen Pillay gave hosts Marine the greatest cheer with victory in the Iron Nippers in the U14 male category.
Durban Surf nationally and provincially have been supreme among the juniors for the past five seasons, and last year, only inclement weather conditions denied them taking national honours in Port Elizabeth.
There was no national winner because only one of the two days were completed.
Weather conditions couldn’t beat Durban Surf this time around, and neither could the next best, with the highly rated Umhlanga Rocks squad a distant second.
Durban Surf totalled 1037 points to be crowned champions of KZN. Umhlanga Rocks were second with 776 points and Suncoast Pirates third with 331 points.
More than 400 juniors (aged 8-14) competed for bragging rights at Durban’s Addington Beach in a weekend programme of swim, board, body board, run-swim-run, iron Nipper, flags, sprint beach relay, board relay, body board relay and Taplin events.
Durban Surf’s Kira Ribbink wore the crown of top U14 female and Scottburgh’s Caleb Daley was the U14 male overall winner.
Durban Surf, so successful at junior level, will again be the favourites at the General Tire Lifesaving SA National Championships, to be held again in Port Elizabeth in April.
Results:
U14 overall male champion: Caleb Daley (Scottburgh)
U14 overall female champion: Kira Ribbink (Durban Surf)
@mark_keohane