Dam Regatta (5 November)The Dam Regatta was support to take place on the Tyume Dam in Alice. Together with the Eastern
Cape Rowing Association, Rhodes University and Fort Hare University, we are trying to develop
the dam for rowing competition and to start a community based rowing club at the dam, based on
the concept of Nemato Rowing Club. The dam is very suitable to for competition. It is easily
accessible and has the right size to develop the first Olympic standard 4000m course in the
Eastern Cape. The competition didn't work out the way we planned it. The night before we wanted
to load the boats, the wheels got stolen from the boat trailer. The only way out was to move the
competition to Settlers Dam in Grahamstown where St. Andrew's College is training and use their
trailer to fetch our boats. There is not enough space at Settlers Dam for 4000m races, but it
was still a nice competition. Buhle Ngcelwane Lindokuhle Nikelo Akhona Quma Qhamani Isaac Sphelo Sneyi (cox) Lifa Nxopho Xolisani Hina Onele Veto Thembani James Aphelele Makeleni (cox) |
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Eastern Cape Champs (29 October)The Eastern Cape Junior Championships took place on Saturday the 22nd of October on the
Buffalo River in East London. It was a good competition with participants from all
schools and junior clubs in the province. Nemato won some nice medals. Buhle Ngcelwane Lindokuhle Nikelo Akhona Quma Qhamani Isaac Sphelo Sneyi (cox) Lifa Nxopho Xolisani Hina Onele Veto Thembani James Aphelele Makeleni (cox) |
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Durban trip (6-10 October)The KwaZulu-Natal Champs fitted perfectly into our competition program, and a nice opportunity to visit Durban for our annual 'reward for working hard' trip. It was very disappointing that all expected participants from KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng pulled out, leaving us without competition. For a second year in a row our reward trip was without competition. Last year Cape Town could not offer us any competition. What is going on with rowing in our country? Not too much it seems. Anyway, in our township, filled with apathy and empty promises, we can not say to our active youth: "Thanks for working hard all year, but sorry, no reward, no trip this year." A large group of 14 rowers qualified for the special trip and visited Durban, first time for all. It was very nice. The highlights were visits to the Moses Mabhida Stadium and the uShaka Marine World. Well done to the 14 rowers for the enthusiasm and working hard all year, the trip was well deserved! Thanks to Lottery and our sponsor J-Pak for making the trip possible. |
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President's Award (23 September)Last year we started offering the President's Award program for our
members, who can volunteer to participate. To qualify for the bronze
award you have to do 25 hours of sport (easy for us), skills development,
community service, and an 'adventurous journey. All together 100 hours of
hard but rewarding work. The minimum age is 15. Most of our members
are too young to participate. The award leader in our organisation is
Lunga Vulindlu. Our first Award event was in King Williams Town. |
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Head Regatta (17 September)The Heads Regatta on the Buffalo River in East London is the last long
distance competition of the season. It was a nice event with good weather
and great results for the Nemato rowers. Zongeziwe Nxesi Odwa Quma Zolani Fandeso Bongisani Magopheni Thulani Magongo (cox) Thembani James Lifa Nxopho Onele Veto Xolisani Hina Aphelele Makeleni (cox) |
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Nemato Sculls Head (23 July)Nemato Sculls Head is our annual long distance competition for single sculls. We had participants
from ZRC, NMMU and Grey High School, all from Port Elizabeth, and from our own club. Nemato won
3 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals. |
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Rowers meet Zuma (13 July)Three members of Nemato Rowing Club were invited to Grahamstown by the President's Award to meet President Zuma in a 'Youth Dialogue'. The invited rowers were: Bongisani Magopheni, Thulani Magongo (both bronze medallists) and Lunga Vulindlu (award leader). |
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Youth Day (16 June)Youth Day is a very special day for our organisation. It commemorates the uprising of school children against the educational system introduced by the apartheid regime. The upraising started on June 16, 1976. The police used brutal force against the children, killing and torturing many. The photo of the killed Hector Pieterson shocked the world. The uprising is seen as the turning point in the history of the apartheid regime, leading to the freedom we have now in South Africa. But many youth still enjoy very little freedom. They live in poverty and have little change to get a better future. Our organisation started on June 16, 4006 with the opening of the rowing club by National Minister of Sport Rev. Stofile. We continue the struggle for a better future for our youth. On Youth Day we reward our dedicated athletes for working hard. Prizes for 11 athletes for doing exceptionally well, and certificates for 43 dedicated athletes. Cake and cool-drinks for all. Four prizes were donated by Child Welfare Port Alfred. |
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Surfing (23 May)We were invited to try surfing on the big Indian Ocean. Great fun and some talent discovered. |
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Horse Shoe Bend row (15 May)The long row on our beautiful Kowie River to the Horse Shoe Bend. Up and down in total 42km. 20 rowers participated and all completed the challenge. |
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Beginners courseIn the summer holiday we started a new beginners course at Kiddies Beach, our little shallow lagoon. After passing the rowing and the swimming tests, the beginners are allowed to row on the river. At the start of the Easter holiday, all beginners passed the tests and are rowing on the river. |
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