Share

Lifesaving's Billson continues her winning ways in PE

accreditation
Carmel Billson (topfoto.net)
Carmel Billson (topfoto.net)

Cape Town -  Everything that is strong about South African lifesaving was on display in the pool and in the surf at the General Tire National Championships in Port Elizabeth, with the established stars of the sport standing tall and the next generation of superstars emerging in the form of Durban Surf's dynamite female Nipper double act of Tatum Botha and Tannah Smith.

East London's Jordan Fenn also confirmed his immense potential in winning the Boys U13 Nipper Iron to add to his earlier success in the Run/Swim/Run.

Several of South Africa's premier senior 2017 National Squad have opted to compete in the Pool National Championships at Newton Park and also the Surf National  Championships at King's Beach.

And their success in the Pool emphasized their class, with South Africa's renowned Beach Sprint Queen Mandi Maritz combining with Alicia Gilmore to take gold in the Female Open 50 metre linethrow.

Carmel Billson, the sport's most celebrated South African female athlete in 2017, transferred her winning ways from the Surf to the Pool to win the 200 metre Female Obstacle Open.

Tuks's Pool specialist and a regular for Team South Africa Johan Lourens also won gold.

Billson, the 2017 General Tire Lifesaving South Africa Female Athlete of the Year, and Maritz will no doubt feature prominently in the latter part of the week then they take to the Surf and Sand respectively. But for now the headline act belonged to youngsters (Tatum) Botha, (Tannah) Smith and Fenn.

The Nipper Iron Event is the marquee event and Botha triumphed for U14's and Smith won the U13s. Scottburgh's Caleb Daley won the U14 Boys Iron Nipper.

Botha, earlier in the week, claimed the gold in the U14 Run/Swim/Run and Smith took the honours in the U13 Run/Swim/Run to take her National Nipper titles to 10.

Botha has also in 2018 won two Interprovincial Surf Lifesaving Titles and four South African Open Water Lifesaving Titles.

Botha is the daughter of South African Lifesaving icon Dylan Botha, while brother Connor is without equal among the country's U16s.

(Tannah) Smith, so impressive in the Nipper Iron and Run/Swim/Run, was surprisingly beaten in the U13 Surf Swim, when Clifton's Savannah Voight powered to victory in a dramatic final few metres.

Voight's stunning victory aside, Tuesday's action also provided a fairytale win for the Body Board Team from the Scottburgh Lifesaving Club Boys in the U10 age group.

There was also an upset win in the Boys U13 Surf Swim when Elijah Dredge of Tuks created history in securing the first win from an inland club of a major ocean swimming event.

Durban Surf has for the past five years been without comparison among the Nipper and Junior Clubs, both at Interprovincials and National Championships. This week has been more of the same with wonderful performances from Durban Surf's squad in all Nipper and Junior age groups.

Botha and Smith led the way in the U14 and U13 age group respectively and Durban Surf's Caine Letscher and Gemma Footit also triumphed. Letscher won the Boys U12 Body Board Event and Footit was first in the U12 Malibu Board Race as Durban Surf edged Fish Hoek into second place.

Ozzy Aromin continued the trend of Durban Surf taking gold when he beat race favourite Naor Lombard (Clifton) in the U14 Surf Swim.

King's Beach's Joshua Voight beat (Caleb) Daley in the final of the U14 Beach Run and made it double in taking the Beach Sprint. Scottburgh's Christina Stanton also completed the double in winning the U14 Female Beach run and the Beach Sprint.

The brilliant Amica de Jager, equally good in the Pool and Surf, won the Girls 14-18 LC metre obstacle race at Newton Park, while Marine's Sasha-Lee Corris Nordengeden was also strong in the heats.

Team South Africa's (Durban Surf) Milan Erasmus was also dominant in the Boys 14-18 Linethrow.

*Visit lifesavingsa.co.za for all the Pool and Surf Results from the General Tire Lifesaving SA National Championships currently underway in Port Elizabeth.

Images: topfoto.net

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1272 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1469 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE