The Rep 10 November 2017

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Bonkolo triumphs
ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
Q
OKOLWENI Club athlete
Zuko Mambula, from
Mthatha was the first to
cross the finish line in the
Twizza Bonkolo Marathon on
S at u r d ay.
The day started relatively cool, but
temperatures soon soared. The
numerous water points, however,
assisted the runners and walkers.
A total of 620 participants
enjoyed the race this year, the same
number as last year.
INSIDE: AWARDS FOR YOUNG SOCCER STARS - PAGE 19
Mambula claims top spot in tight race
Mambula, who has been running
since 2008, completed the race in a
time of 2:35:38 and walked away
with R2000 as his prize.
It was Mambula’s first
appearance at the Komani-based
run after he decided to enter
following the sudden cancellation
of the Rustenburg Marathon.
Old Mutual Athletic Club’s Pule
Hlabahlaba from East London was
second in 2:36:25 and won R1500.
Nedbank Club member
Thandabantu Rhafuza received
R1 000 after finishing third (2:37:09).
In the 42km female category
Hlazo FC athlete Xoliswa Bici came
first in 3:31:14 and claimed the
R2 000 winning prize. This was her
13th run and she has won every
time, but has not been able to
break the record.
In second place was Oxford
St riders’ Brenda Graham who won
R1 500 (3:36:38) and third Indwe
Runners athlete Mariette
Stapelberg (3:48:21).
In the 21km half marathon male
category All Stars Club runner
Bulelani Mgubo claimed first place
(and that on his birthday!) in a time
of 1:12:39. The East London athlete
walked away with R1000.
Mgubo won the race in 2015 and
ended third last year.
He said the most challenging
aspect of the marathon was the
taxing hills.
Lady Frere Sprinters’ Sakhumzi
Matiso from Sterkstroom was
second (1:12:44) and won R750,
with Oxford Striders’ Vusumzi
Zondo third (1:14:14), winning R500.
The top three in the 21 km half
marathon women's category were
Aliwal North Runners’ Chantel
Lombard (1:39:51) who won R1000,
Oxford Striders’ Melanie Elsdon
(R750) in second place (1:43:16)
and Born2Run’s Karen Davis took
home R500, ending third (1:45:25).
ON THEIR WAY: Runners in the Twizza Bonkolo Marathon make their way into the Berry Dam area
Royals cricket
squad claims fine
win over Gwaba
SIVENATHI GOSA
THE QUEENSTOWN Royals
Cricket Club were
supposed to play their third
league game against
Mdantsane team Gwaba
Cricket Club on Sunday at
Queen’s College.
As Gwaba could not get
to the match on time,
Royals were awarded the
game with a bonus-point
win. The teams, however,
decided to play a friendly
match in a 40-over game.
Royals won the toss and
decided to bowl first,
asking Gwaba to bat.
Spinners Reinhard Stride
and Anathi Joe started off
well, managing to remove
G wa b a ’s opening batsmen
within two overs.
The Gwaba batsmen
managed to secure 192
runs. Marvin Groep, Stride
and Ilano Smith took two
wickets each.
Royals scored 283, losing
two early wickets before
the third wicket partnership
of 61 runs between Ethan
O’Connor (33) and Mkululi
Takane (46).
Siphiwo Ndaba made 81,
Justin Kuyler 16 and
Keagan Isaacs 17. The
Gwaba bowlers took six
wickets for 53 in 11 overs.
Royals fell 34 runs short
with three overs to spare.
On Sunday, Royals will
take on Black Lions Cricket
Club in Komani at the QC
T W Higgs fields.
GIVING IT STICK: The Komani Royals in action in a friendly
match at the weekend
Picture: SIVENATHI GOSA
GOT THIS: The Twizza Bonkolo Marathon 21km winner, Bulelani
Mgubo, followed by Sakhumzi Matiso, who ended in second place,
Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA at the Bonkolo Dam
Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
Ko m a n i ’s Alan Dell making
strides for rugby in Scotland
MAXWELL LEVINE
FORMER Queenian
Allan Dell is hoping
for a place in the
Scottish World Cup
campaign in 2019.
He is making a
name for himself
abroad after being
capped by Scotland
10 times. The prop
qualifies to play for
Scotland through his
grandmother, Joan
Carmichael, who was
born in Paisley and
brought up in
Edinburgh.
At school, Dell was
a constant member
of the Queen’s
College rugby teams
and played for the
Border Bulldogs from
under-13 to U18 level.
RISE TO GLORY: Former
Queenian Alan Dell is
making his mark in
Scotland Picture: FILE
He got his big break
when he moved to
the Sharks in 2011,
where he played for
the U19 side. Dell
was a member of the
victorious South
African U20 team at
the IRB Junior World
Championship,
including playing in
the final against New
Zealand.
For the Sharks Dell
made his debut in
the Vodacom Cup in
2010. He signed for
Edinburgh in 2014.
He was rewarded for
his performances for
Edinburgh with a
call-up to the
Scottish national
team last year. He
was called up for the
British and Irish Lions
tour to New Zealand
for the two final
games against the
provinces when he
made one substitute
appearance.
Prospects of him
representing
Scotland at the World
Cup are good.