Sporting Chance, together with Kenridge Primary hosted the annual Sporting Chance/Kenridge u13 Inter-Schools hockey tournament at the Stellenbosch University hockey complex on Friday 26^th August 2011.

Twenty four teams, involving over 300 boys and girls from primary schools throughout the Northern Suburbs and Helderberg participated in the tournament, which has become a prestigious event on the junior hockey calendar.

The u13 format means it’s full field hockey, with made the Stellenbosch hockey complex abuzz with activity as matches were played on both the grass and astro turf fields. Teams played a series of round robin matches, before the play offs and finals being played under lights in front of hundreds of proud parents and spectators.

The matches were tightly contested from the first ‘hit off’ and it was a superb spectacle of hockey. After a busy afternoon it was Somerset House, Kenridge, Eversdal and Gene Louw in the girls semi finals and Monte Vista, Bastion, Kenridge and Somerset House in the boys. Two of the semi finals went down to ‘one on one’s’ with the keepers, which is a new format introduced to take the place of penalty flicks and provides excellent entertainment.

At the final whistles it was both the Kenridge teams that emerged victorious achieving the much sought after ‘Double’ which made the host school very proud.

The evening was concluded with a prize giving that saw the individual winners and teams honoured with prizes. The winners and runners up received medals and trophies along with prizes from Sportsmans Warehouse.

The individual winners received awesome prizes from TK hockey and respective recipients were as follows:

Sarah Wilmans (Som House) - Girls Player of the Tournament with her new stick from TK

Top goal scorer:

Boys: Christiaan Coetzee (Kenridge)

Girls: Caitlin Butler (Gene Louw)

Best goal keeper

Boys: Keiron-Bruce Robertshaw (Monte Vista)

Girls: Julia Masureik (Kenridge)

Player of the tournament:

Boys: Jason Vermaak (Kenridge)

Girls: Sarah Wilmans (Somerset House)

A welcome addition to the prize winners was the sportsmanship award which rewards a member from each team that is nominated by their coach. No players

Jason Vermaak (Kenridge) - Boys Player of the Tournament with his prizes

went home empty handed as with the support of sponsors Flip File and BIC Sporting Chance gave each participant some products to take with them.

It was a wonderful occasion filled with fun competitive matches and was an excellent showpiece for Western Province schools hockey. Well done and thank you to the Kenridge staff for their outstanding organization and thanks to all the sponsors and spectators that supported the event.

The weather has been sublime and we couldn’t be more grateful to have had a warm week in the middle of July. Not sure if it’s climate change or just pure luck with the timing, but it certainly made the clinics run well with everyone enjoying the winter sunshine.

The Constantia venue has again proved popular with both the rugby and soccer clinics being well attended. Of particular interest was the amount of players that come from the traditional Southern Schools that enjoy soccer and would like to see the sport being introduced into their school sports structure… we will have to watch that space.

Bellville and Somerset West venues have been busy with the three sports codes producing good results. Kelvin Grove was buzzing with activity as the soccer and rugby boys and girls were put through their paces.

The highlight of the week must be the awesome vibe and amazing performance of the close on 100 juniors and seniors at the WPCC astro hockey clinic. The coaching team was phenomenal featuring a group of provincial and top level club players and SA women’s hockey player, Cindy Brown and SA u21 representative, Taylor Dart. To have a coaching team with such experience and hockey pedigree is fantastic and the skills certainly rubbed off on the eager participants.

SA cricket icon Herschelle Gibbs was once again passing on his expertise and incredible skills. His presence was well received by the young Sporting Chancers and their parents alike.

Many thanks to our Sporting Chance team of coaches and our sponsors Flip File, Sportsmans Warehouse, Second Skins, GM, BIC, TK hockey and SuperSport Let’s Play for their continued support.

The Sporting Chance coaching clinics have been one of the most popular and affordable children’s holiday activities for almost 21 years. Kids get to choose between hockey, soccer and rugby and, as over 2000 children that have done our clinics in the past will testify, there is no better way to enhance your sporting skills and have fun at the same time. 

For more information on venues, times and costs please visit our website or contact Marike on 021 683 7299.

Two hundred u12 boys and girls from 16 primary schools throughout greater Cape Town participated in the round robin tournament, with the highlight of the day’s event being the play offs and finals which were played under lights in front of hundreds of proud parents and spectators.

The matches were tightly contested throughout the day and it was a wonderful spectacle of junior hockey. The semi finalists were the expectant power houses of Southern Suburbs hockey with the top four girls teams being: Rustenburg, Mickelfield, Springfield and Herschel while the boys were WPPS, SACS, Bishops and Rondebosch. Defending champions Herschel and Bishops were on track to put up a stern defense of their titles, however it was not be for Herschel on the night, as old rivals Springfield eliminated them to the 3^rd/4^th play off and headed onto the final to take on a resurgent Mickelfield. Bishops however triumphed over WPPS to set up a popular duel with hockey nemesis Rondebosch.

The lights were on, the SuperSport Let’s Play camera was rolling and the stage was set for two much anticipated finals. The action on the astro didn’t disappoint the crowds of cheering supporters with both matches providing end-to-end, riveting entertainment.

Springfield scored against Micklefield and after full time they were victorious which allowed them to reclaim the trophy they have won several times in the past. The boys final was not as straight forward and couldn’t produce a winner in full time and ‘golden goal’ extra time and so it came down to the new format ‘one-on-one’s’ against the keeper. In the closest final for years it was a difficult way to decide the winners, but in the end it was Rondebosch that edged ahead to take the coveted title.

The evening was concluded with a wonderful prize giving that saw former SA cricket icon Herschelle Gibbs revisit his Alma Marta to hand out the prizes on this auspicious occasion. The winners and runners up received medals and trophies along with generous vouchers from Sportsmans Warehouse. The ‘top strikers’ were hounored with Kirsty Orton (Springfield) and Josh Scheepers (Sweet Valley) taking the individual prizes, which were sponsored by SuperSport Let’s Play and TK hockey.

It was an occasion of fun, camaraderie and a showpiece for Western Province schools hockey. Well done to Bishops Prep on their outstanding organization and thanks to all the sponsors and spectators that supported the event.

The day-night action!

Two hundred u12 boys and girls from 16 primary schools throughout greater Cape Town will participate in a round robin tournament, with the highlight of the day’s event being the play offs and finals which will be played under lights.

Brad Bing, MD of tournament sponsor Sporting Chance, commented “This annual tournament is always a great success and helps to promote hockey amongst the children. It also helps them to stay active, assists with talent identification and will contribute to the children’s motivation to continue participating in sport.”

Defending champions Herschel and Bishops will be looking to regain the winner’s trophies. Fantastic prizes are up for grabs on the

Defending girls champions - Herschel

Prize giving is at 20h00.

The first week of the popular Sporting Chance holiday coaching clinics ran from the 29^th June to the 3^rd July. The weather was perfect with the sun shining for all five days! The kids had a fantastic time, learning sport specific skills, being educated about nutrition and goal setting and also making new friends. See below what a few parents had to say:

“Just a quick ‘thank you’ to all at Sporting Chance.  Nicholas loved every minute of this weeks Astro Hockey. He was so excited to go back each day and as this was his introduction to hockey, he is a firm convert. I was particularly impressed with the quality of coaching. Great long warm up/stretch sessions soon got rid of the first day’s stiffness and plenty of exercise during the day ensured he was asleep early each night.”

“Loved it – thank you. Should have done this years ago with my other boys!!”

“It was a brilliant clinic and he learnt a lot. Look forward to the next one.”

Be sure not to miss the next clinic running from the 13^th – 7^th July.

Please visit our Website to see photos from each clinic

Sporting Chance Friday Afternoon Coaching Clinics at Norman Henshilwood start Next week friday the 24 April untill 19th June. Rugby, Hockey and Soccer will be on offer for all you sports fanatics wanting to improve your skills. So anyone from the age of 4- 13 come and join us.

For more information phone and email Sarah Kemp:

Email: admin@sportingchance.co.za

Phone: 021 6837299                              

Hockey

Soccer

Dear Sporting Chancer’s

EASTER HOLIDAY CLINICS:

Improve your cricket, rugby, soccer or hockey skills

Can you believe the first school term is nearly at an end and the holiday break is upon us? The Easter holiday is short, but Sporting Chance will ensure it is sporty. Our action packed Easter holiday programme includes all your favourite sports with cricket, rugby, soccer and hockey clinics to choose from.

Tiny Tots (4 & 5 years): The focus for this age group is to encourage participation with loads of fun and enjoyment while learning the very basics of the game.

Juniors (6 -8 years): The focus for this age group is to advance the development of fine motor skills, as well as sport etiquette.

Seniors (9 – 13 years): Here we focus on improving technique, fitness and discipline, as well as developing a full understanding of the game.

So, grab your siblings and friends and join the holiday clinics.

Please see attached the clinic schedule, cost structure and clinic entry form.

All the best and we’ll see you at the clinics!

Brad Bing & the Sporting Chance team