SA Champs: Reigning Champs ahead after Day 1

Kelly Footit
29th September 2003
Day one of this year's South African Champs greeted the contestants with some decent, although small, early morning conditions. However, as predicted a deteriorating swell and onshore winds resulted in some trying conditions for those fighting it out for the SA Championship crown and ultimately the SABA circuit title. SA Champs is the final event on the circuit which includes the Cape Classic (Cape Town), The Wimpy-Rossi Classic (Margate), The Wedge Classic (Plettenberg Bay), BZ-Morey Classic (East London) and this year's champs in Durban. The following bodyboarders are leading their respective divisions prior to the Champs and will be hoping to maintain their lead to secure the title:

Darren Halse (Pro)
Daniel Worsely (Juniors)
Emile van Vollenhoven (Boys)
Terrence Pieters (Boys U12)
Catey Mellish (Girls U16)
Simon Hagen (Dropknee)
Inge Pieters (Women)
Kevin Morley (Masters)
Wayne Beekman (Men)




Day one saw the Boys U12, Boys, Girls U16, Dropknee, Women, Men and Masters divisions competing in their first round of the event. The first two rounds covering the first 3� days, sees each rider competing twice. These scores count towards the provincial totals to decide the team champions along with selecting the top riders who will advance through to the individual event to decide the champions from each division.

At the end of Day one, the reigning champs Southern Kwa-Zulu Natal (SN) are leading with Central Kwa-Zulu Natal (CN) and Western Province (WP) in second and third respectively. Day 2, however, sees round 1 of the Junior & Pro Divisions, which are undoubtedly the most fiercely contested divisions where the hosts, Central Kwa-Zulu Natal, whose strength lies in their Pro division, will be hoping to claw back at their deficit.


The following riders excelled to win their first round heats:

Boys U12

Heat 1: Terrence Pieters (SN)
Heat 2: Ian Campbell (CN)

Boys

Heat 3: Emile van Vollenhoven (SN)/Jason Duvenhage (CN) (Tie First)
Heat 4: Bradley Horn (CN)
Heat 5: Joshua Kleve (WP)
Heat 6: Bjorn Coetzee (SC)
Heat 7: Paul Morkel (Bol)
Heat 8: Jaryd Enslin (SN)
Heat 9: Adam Morley (SC)

Girls U16

Heat 10: Karla Wickens (SN)

Dropknee

Heat 11: Simon Hagen (WP)
Heat 12: Rheinhard Du Toit (NN)
Heat 13: David Lee (SN)
Heat 14: Darren Halse (SN)
Heat 15: Marc Jucker (EP)
Heat 16: Sasha Taljaard (CN)
Heat 17: Sacha Specker (WP)

Women

Heat 18: Inge Pieters (SN)
Heat 19: Lyndall Pells (EP)
Heat 20: Kamala Botha (CN)

Men

Heat 21: Wayne Beekman (SN)
Heat 22: Martin Otto (SN)
Heat 23: Pieter janse van Rensburg (Bol)
Heat 24: Michel Brink (Bol)

Masters

Heat 25: Brad Keets (CN)
Heat 26: Kevin Williams (SN)




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