The Carrick Wealth Management SA Schools’ Water polo tournament held at the Joan Harrison Complex and various schools around East London, came to its conclusion with the various playoffs and finals being contested on Monday.
The finals produced some outstanding water polo.
According to tournament director Andy Reeves, the event was a huge success.
“We had about 1,600 school children here from all over South Africa and Zimbabwe, and altogether I would guess there were about 4,000 visitors in East London. The B&Bs and hotels were all full, restaurants were full and they probably spent between R10m and R12m, so this was awesome for the economy of the city,” said Reeves.
“The weather has been great, and we’ve had positive feedback from everyone – players, coaches and spectators.”
Reeves was most upbeat because various boys’ and girls’ age-group squads were selected and some of them are scheduled to tour Namibia early in the new year, while fellow-selector Richard Irvine added: “This has been the biggest event on such a level ever, I must praise the Local Organising Committee – everything has gone swimmingly, please excuse the pun.”
Reeves said on Monday that the selectors were also happy to announce the names of the top U19 boys and girls at the tournament and they would receive national colours as a reward for their good play during the week.
Five U13 Gauteng players related how excited they were to be in East London for the tournament.
The five, Ross Stuart, Zain Newman, Mac Lecuona, Nicholas Franklin and Dillon Botha, all remarked that the majority of their squad consisted of U12 players playing against U13s, and the experience they gained this year would stand them in good stead at next year’s tournament.
“We were a bunch of mediocre players, really, but when we played together as a team, we became stronger,” said Lecuona.
Botha added: “It was a great tournament, planned very well. We had some big challenges but we managed to push our opponents.”
Final results:
U19 Boys: KZN A 9 Gaut Central A 8.
U19 Girls: Gaut Central A 12 WP A 8.
U16 Boys: WP A 12 Namibia A 5.
U16 Girls: Gaut Central A 6 WP A 5.
U15 Boys: WP A4 Gaut Central A 2.
U15 Girls: WP A 5 Gaut Central A 3. Bronze medal: Border.
U14 Boys: WP A 8 WP B 1.
U14 Girls: WP A 5 Gaut Central A 3.
U13 Boys: Gaut Central A 6 WP A 6.
U13 Girls: Gaut Central A 6 WP A 5...