Russian synchro champ makes a splash in PMB 

World and European junior synchronised swimming titleholder, Anna Esavkina, made a special trip to Pietermaritzburg recently to share her expertise with Midlands-based up-and-coming synchronised swimmers. She was hosted by Epworth School where she spent an afternoon coaching a group of girls ranging from grades three to 10. Temporarily coaching at Cygnus Amateur Swimming Club in Durban, 20-year old Esavkina was brought out from Russian to perfect the club swimmers’ routines as she is renowned for her skills in choreography. According to Acting KZN Synchro Convenor, Wendy Sloley, Cygnus is offering PMB swimmers routine training for team events.  However, they have to travel to Durban be a part of this as Esavkina is busy coaching a junior team for the end-of-year South African National Age Group Competition.“We just wanted to make sure that PMB did benefit, even if it’s in a small way,” said Sloley. Esavkina is the winner of two gold medals at the World Junior Synchronised Swimming Championships and is a four-time European junior champion. Unfortunately she has been forced to give up competitions due to health problems and is now focusing on coaching. Epworth High School Head of Sport, Lee Jenkins, said the Russians are world renowned for synchro and that the Midlands swimmers were privileged to have someone of Esavkina’s calibre assist them with their routines.

Epworth girls take center stage at Dusi

It was a bumper year for Epworth at this year’s Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon.  Current and former Epworth girls featured prominently amongst the prize winners at the Blue Lagoon finish in Durban on Saturday. The Girls Under 18 category was dominated by Epworth – Bianca Haw, Jordan Peek and Camilla Pennefather claimed the top three places and also placed fifth, sixth and 11th overall in the women’s race – a remarkable accomplishment considering they are all young school pupils. “Having all three Epworth girls on the podium was very special,” said Epworth canoeing coach, Les Willows. First, second and eighth placed women, Robyn Kime, Abby Adie and Brittany Petersen are all former Epworth pupils who did the school proud with their excellent results. A total of nine present-day Epworth pupils participated in the Dusi, five in K1’s and four in doubles. The doubles participants all young up-and-coming paddlers who, like Robyn and Abby in their early school days, were accompanied by experienced adult paddlers, providing them with the necessary skills for later success. Willows, who also completed the Dusi with Epworth pupil, Emily Stapylton-Smith, was very proud of all the girls. “These amazing results are the culmination of many months of hard training, perseverance and commitment to their goals,” he said.

Epworth Mudman

Epworth Mudman pulls top sports stars Ideal weather conditions greeted the 1353 entrants in the Epworth leg of the Mudman Series which took place on Sunday, 3 March at Albert Falls Dam.  Mudman veterans and sports celebrities featured amongst the mix of young and old who participated in the popular multi-sport event as individuals or in teams of three and in full or half-distance events.  Competitors also had the option of paddling or swimming the first of the three legs. Prizes were awarded in 76 different categories.  Tyronne White, who remains unbeaten in the Mudman Series over the past two years, was the first man home in the full-distance event and seasoned athlete, Sue Don-Wauchope, won the ladies event.   First in the team competition was Russell White Academy who finished about one and a half minutes behind White.  London Olympic bronze medallist, Bridgitte Hartley, was put to the test by local athlete Penny Meakin who was first lady overall in the full-distance paddle event.  Hartley placed second overall but won her age category. She said she really enjoyed the event and tweeted that she will be back in 2014. Youngest-ever winner of the Roof of Africa enduro motorcycle race, Wade Young, took first place in the half-distance swim and Natalie Ferguson was the first woman. Epworth pupil, Cana Peek outclassed all the boys in the half-distance paddle by finishing first overall.  Twenty-nine Epworth-sponsored participants from Fulton School of the Deaf and Seed of Hope Community Development also participated.  The Spur Mudskippers event, which catered for under 12’s, saw 362 young aspiring-athletes competing in four different age categories. Epworth Mudman coordinator, Gavin Starr, said he was pleased with the turnout   “Entrants were up by 16% on the 2012 figures…we were also very lucky with the weather which added to the fun family day”, said Starr.

Tennis Tournament

Epworth clinched the Invitation Independent Schools Tennis Tournament held recently on the Epworth campus. They outclassed teams from seven other independent schools from afar a field as Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg. They beat Herschel in a close final with St Annes narrowly defeating Springfield to end third. Pictured is the Epworth team.