Report Back - 100 Plus O-week Sports Tournament and Showcase

On the 6^th and 7^th of February 2012 the SRC hosted the inaugural O-week Sports Tournament and Showcase in the Sports Centre and on the Green Mile. The event was sponsored by isotonic sports drink producer 100 Plus. Secondary sponsors included Kauai, Savas Hair and Virgin Active.

For a brand new event on the UCT calendar it was a success on the whole. Some trouble was had with teams arriving late and some not arriving at all but that was expected with the other events on plaza and a few academic commitments that took precedence.

After setting up the sports centre with music, tables and chairs, sponsor branding and a fridge of cold 100 Plus the event was ready to begin.

The event opened with the Ultimate Frisbee tournament in sports hall 1 at 9am on Monday the 6^th of February. Teams were 5-a-side with rolling substitutions. The turn-out was decent and the Ultimate Frisbee committee did an excellent job of managing the tournament. The final was hotly contested between a combined team from Marquard and Tugwell and a team of individual sign-ups. Marquard and Tugwell took 1^st place.

Special mention must be made of Jenny Leonard and Nick Zaloumis from the Ultimate Frisbee committee for putting together fixtures and managing the Ultimate Frisbee tournament.

The football tournament started with the early knock-out stages of the men’s draw on Monday 6 Feb in sports hall 2. Teams were 5-a-side with rolling substitutions. Winning teams went through to subsequent rounds which extended to Tuesday 7 February. It took a little while for the tournament to gain momentum with teams arriving late and some not arriving at all but all, but the football club committee managed to host a successful tournament nonetheless.

The women’s draw saw a team of international students named IES take the final from Glenres. The men’s draw was won by the Waldarf Warriors who beat the B Team in the final.

Thanks must be given to Dustin Holohan for putting together the fixtures and Langalakhe Mahambe-Sithole for pulling the tournament together so successfully over the two days.

The Netball tournament took place on the 7^th of February in half of sports hall 1. Bar a few missing teams the tournament proceeded effectively with Tugwell and Fuller contesting the final. Fuller took first place.

Special mention must be made of Zaningi Madonsela, Zanele Nzima and Nwabisa Dyonashe, as well as other members of the Netball committee for putting together fixtures and running the Netball tournament.

The Touch Rugby tournament ran on the 7^th of February on Green Mile field B. It got off to a surprisingly slow start with only a few teams pitching. Some casual games were played before a small tournament was pulled together after lunch. Marquard took first place beating Glenres in the final.

A big thank you to Andrzej Ogonowski for putting together fixtures and managing the touch rugby tournament.

Prizes for each of the winners included Virgin Active bags, Kauai vouchers, Savas Hair vouchers and cases of 100 Plus. Runners up also received two cases of 100 Plus.

Dino Talotti from Ikeysvibe secured the secondary prize sponsorship from Virgin Active, Kauai and Savas Hair.

The lucky draw prize for a weekend away was awarded just before the football finals and went to a player from the Varietas Netball team.

The showcase on Tuesday 7 February saw demonstrations of tai chi, volleyball, fencing, gymnastics and goal-ball which was played by the League of the Friends of the Blind.

The Tai Chi club did a lengthy demonstration in half of sports hall 1, next to the netball tournament. Following them was the League of the Friends of the Blind who played a game known as goal ball. Thereafter the gymnastics and fencing clubs set-up and gave the audience an opportunity to try their hands at a few basics. The showcase was wrapped up by a demonstration from the volleyball club.

Unfortunately plans to use sports hall 3 did not work out as there was not enough activity in the sports centre. The rowing club also found that there was little point doing a demonstration in the tank beyond sports hall 3, and rightly so. That said, the football tournament in sports hall 2 always had a decent crowd.

Various residence sports reps and members of the Student Sports Union Executive assisted with the important grind of putting together such an event. From typing up sign-up sheets to manning tables to assisting with the running of the tournaments, the different student governance structures within UCT sport put in a big effort.

With time the event can become a well known feature on the orientation calendar that draws many people to the sports hall to see the variety that UCT Sport has to offer firsthand.