Bulletin

The annual 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗢 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔, held at Hoër Volkskool this afternoon, Wednesday, 18 February, once again brought together talented swimmers from across the region.

In addition to the Union participants, teams from Gill, Cradock, Volkskool, Marlow and a group of home-schoolers competed in an exciting event that celebrated both individual excellence and teamwork.

In the primary school category, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭 𝘁𝗼 𝟳 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 with an impressive 367 points. Laer Volkskool followed closely with 344 points, while Gill (284) and the Homeschool team (125) completed the standings.

In the high school section, Union High School’s girls finished in a strong second place with 179 points, just behind Hoër Volkskool (196). The boys’ finished third with 77 points against tough competition from Hoër Volkskool (137) and Marlow (116).

A massive congratulations to 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗟𝗲𝗺𝗸𝗲 on being named Senior Victor Ludorum following last week’s 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗢 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔. We are equally delighted to celebrate 𝗧𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯𝘀, who was crowned Junior Victrix Ludorum after a phenomenal set of swims.

Taylor not only secured six 1st places in the U14 Primary division, but also broke the 50m Backstroke record in an impressive 34.89 seconds. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦!

A special mention to 𝗭𝗼ë 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 for her outstanding four 1st places and to 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, who claimed six 1st places in the U14 Primary division and broke the 100m Freestyle record in 1:08.49.

Well done as well to 𝗚𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘆, who earned three 1st places and one 2nd place in the U12 category and to 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, who secured one 1st place and three 2nd places.

Congratulations too to 𝗔𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗽, who achieved three 2nd places and one 1st place in the U16 Girls division and to 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗞𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮-𝗞𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘇𝗮 for her excellent three 2nd places in the U14 Girls category.

We are 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗗 of every swimmer who represented the school with pride and dedication.

𝘞𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴.

Congratulations to our Union High Schoolswimmers who represented the school at the 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗦 this past Saturday, 14 February.

The team delivered a host of outstanding performances, with numerous podium finishes and impressive personal bests. 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 led the charge with a 1st place finish in the 200m Breaststroke and a string of 2nd place finishes across multiple events. 𝗭𝗼ë 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 and 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲 also shone brightly, each claiming victories and consistently placing among the top competitors. Strong performances from 𝗨𝘇𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲, 𝗘𝘀𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘂 𝗠𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮 and 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 further highlighted the depth and strength of our squad.

We now eagerly await the final team announcements, hopeful to see many of our talented athletes earn the opportunity to represent the District at the Provincial Trials in East London on 28 February – 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭.

Several of our Union High School, Graaff-Reinet swimmers represented the school at the recent 𝗕 𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔, delivering a series of determined and encouraging performances across the various age groups.

Notable highlights included a superb 1st place finish for 𝗔𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗽 in the Girls u16 50m Freestyle, along with strong podium finishes from 𝗭𝗼ë 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 and 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 and an excellent 1st place in the Girls 17 & Over 100m Breaststroke for 𝗘𝘀𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘂 𝗠𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮. 𝗖𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗼𝗻 also impressed with multiple top 5 finishes in a highly competitive Boys u13 age group.

Beyond the podium, every Union swimmer contributed to a proud showing, with many achieving personal milestones and gaining valuable race experience.

Swimmers such as 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗨𝘇𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲, 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁, 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘇𝗮 and 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲 are to be commended for their dedication and willingness to give their best.

𝘞𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘭.