Nelson Mandela University students have once again shown their sporting prowess with Jason Sheehan being selected for the Eastern Cape team to compete at the SA Fencing Championships and The Madibaz women’s rowing crew competing at the annual intervarsity competition.
FENCING:
Mandela University student Jason Sheehan has been selected for the Eastern Cape team to compete at the SA Fencing Championships in September in Gauteng, after only being active in the sport since March this year.
Jason wanted to see what fencing was about at the demonstration at the University’s Campus Life Festival in March this year. “Ever since I’ve started, fencing has become integral to my life now. There is no other sport engaging both physically and intellectually like fencing, and I recommend it to anyone looking to push the limits of their reflexes and quick decision-making skills”, he says.
Another two students, Moyisi Tunzi and Jessica Noome, who started with Jason, also participated in the recent Eastern Cape trials at the Eastern Cape Fencing Championships in Port Alfred.
“Jason can think strategically and solve problems while in motion. This is what makes a good fencer. All three students are eager to learn new skills and show much talent”, says their coach Jessica Raper, from the School of Accounting. She mentors top accounting students for future leadership in the Pinnacle Leadership Programme at the School.
“I enjoy martial arts and the challenge to overcome yourself and your opponent. Fencing forces me not to flinch in the face of someone trying to stab me, but to attack instead. There is a subtle subconscious importance in learning to face challenges, without flinching that translates into other aspects of life. Some would say it teaches bravery” Moyisi says.
He is a second-year BPharm student, who also saw the demonstration and started fencing a few weeks later. He also has a BSc degree in Biology from Walter Sisulu University and is 30 years old.
Jessica Noome watched a YouTube video about the sport and thought it would be great for fitness, and making friends, and once she realised it was a very mental sport that didn’t involve running, she was sold. She started fencing in April.
The University does not currently have a Fencing Club, but Jessica and her son BCom Financial Planning graduate and Mandela University alumnus, Jon-Paul Raper, are the service providers at the Excelsior EC Fencing Academy at the Walmer Town Hall. The club offers students a discounted fee for coaching at this established club.
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ROWING:
The Madibaz Rowing Club will strive to back up its recent growth in personnel with strong performances at the Universities Boat Race in Port Alfred this week.
The Madibaz women’s crew that competed at the annual intervarsity last month are ready to row at the Universities Boat Race on the Kowie River in Port Alfred from 7 to 9 September.
The prestigious event on the Kowie traditionally sees the top crews from around the country go head-to-head, with the young team from Gqeberha hoping to hold their own.
Although coach Alisdair Macphail expected choppy waters for his charges, he confirmed that Mandela University would compete in both the men’s and women’s A races from Thursday to Saturday.
At last month’s intervarsity – which also involved Rhodes, Walter Sisulu and Fort Hare – the Madibaz’s lack of experience came to the fore. However, their mentor felt that the lessons learnt would stand them in good stead for the university race.
There they will have another chance to measure themselves against their Eastern Cape neighbours while going line astern with South Africa’s traditional rowing powerhouses.
“Most of our athletes are novices,” Macphail explained. “Our goal is to do our very best and then to build on the results we do achieve.”
The logistics of preparing out at Redhouse on the Swartkops River proved a challenge but Macphail said they had persevered and declared his teams ready to race.
The Madibaz were unable to field a full women’s crew last year but the spurt in members of late will see complete women’s and men’s teams on the start line in 2023.
“We have had a lot of internal success over the past 12 months, especially in terms of growing the club. This is a huge accomplishment on its own,” a proud Macphail proclaimed.
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