Bulletin

Sixteen Union swimmers – many of whom were newbies – participated in the 99th annual 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘 at the Sundays River Cannonville Slipway this Sunday morning, 19 February, joining hundreds of other swimmers who competed in this year’s edition of Africa’s oldest open-water swimming event.

All our swimmers successfully completed the 1,6 kilometre swim in good spirits and in good time, with our last competitor crossing the finish line in the 35th minute.

The results are as follows:

Union Preparatory School, Graaff-Reinet swimmers:
• Grade 3 learner 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 finished the Ladies’ Mile 70th overall and 23rd in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻 (Grade 4) crossed the finish line 78th overall in the Ladies’ Mile and 26th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗞𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗮𝗿𝘀𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗱 (Grade 4) came in 83rd overall and 27th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 (Grade 4) finished 87th overall and 30th in the 14 Years and Under category.
Well done to Grade 4 learner 𝗗𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 who finished the Men’s Mile 50th overall and 12th in the 14 Years and Under category.

Union High School, Graaff-Reinet swimmers:
• 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲 came in 46th overall in the Ladies’ Mile and 17th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻 finished 77th overall and 25th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 ended the race 85th overall and 28th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 finished 69th overall and 22nd in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗶 𝗩𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 crossed the finish line 47th overall in the Ladies’ Mile and 18th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘆 finished 64th overall and 26th in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗳𝘀𝗲𝗻 finished 65th overall and 27th in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 came in 111th overall and 42nd in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗱 came in 120th overall and 46th in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗔𝗝 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 came in 121th overall and 47th in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀 finished 63rd overall and 28th in the 15 to 29 Years category.

Well done to UPS swimming coach, Mrs 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, who claimed 1st place in the 35 to 39 Years category. We also extend our thanks, once again, to Mrs 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻, who swam behind our youngsters to make sure they crossed the finish line safely and to Mr 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘂 who transported all safely to and from Colchester.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 ‘𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨’ 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮.

Of course, a River Mile outing wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Nanaga Farm Stall, where the learners and accompanying members of staff enjoyed the tasty home-made pies and roosterkoek on offer, before hitting the long road home.

A large number of Union swimmers participated in the annual 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔 against Volkskool, held at the Union High School, Graaff-Reinet swimming pool on Tuesday evening, 14 February.

The event saw Union’s swimmers from Grade 1 through to Grade 12 give their utmost best, filling the lanes with their green swimming caps.

𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Our Grade 1 to 7 swimmers put forth a stellar effort, to win their section with 561 points to Laer Volkskool’s 402. Although our seniors had to admit defeat to their Hoër Volkskool counterparts with 253 points to 345, the overall point totals of Union’s 814, compared to Volkskool’s 747, still saw the results tilt in our favour.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to Union learner Ben Lemke who was acknowledged as senior 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 following Tuesday’s Interschools swimming gala.

Ben achieved four 1st places overall for the Boys u/16 4x25m IM, the 50m Butterfly, the Grade 8 to 12 100m Freestyle event and the 50m Freestyle as well as second places in the 50m Backstroke and 50m Breaststroke.

The senior 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘅 𝗟𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺, Volkskool’s Kate-Lynn Kruger, achieved six first places overall for the Girls u/14 4x25m IM, the 50m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke, Grade 8 to 12 100m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle.

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴!

Visit our Facebook page to view photographs of this event.

Congratulations to Grade 6 learner 𝗘𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗳 on excellent results achieved at the first archery competition of the year, hosted this past Saturday, 11 February, by Hoër Volkskool.

Elandri managed to claim two silver medals in the competition’s primary schools section for girls – one in the HVS Open and one in the Graaff-Reinet Open – while competing against archers from Uitenhage, Despatch and Jeffreys Bay.

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘌𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘪!

Thursday, 16 February, Union’s 1st XI took the field in a 𝗧𝟮𝟬 against their Cradock High School counterparts.

While the Union boys worked steadily towards a victory, spectators and fielders found it difficult to keep their eye on the action in the middle, with Mother Nature once again producing a mesmerizing backdrop to this cricketing encounter.

On Wednesday afternoon, 15 February, Union welcomed Laerskool Cradock Primary School’s cricketers to our campus for an u/11A and u/13A match.

𝘂/𝟭𝟯𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧

Union won the toss and elected to bowl first. Union’s bowlers bowled brilliantly to restrict Cradock to 91 after 20 overs. Owen Paxton, Salmaan Steele and Joubert Vorster claimed 1 wicket apiece.

Union chased down the target with 3 wickets down, winning the game by 7 wickets. John Henry King was the best batsman for Union, scoring 45 not out.

𝘂/𝟭𝟭𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧

Cradock won the toss and elected to bat first.

Cayden Thompson was Union’s best bowler with figures of 4 for 13 in 3 overs. Nathaneal Phillips also bowled brilliantly, with figures of 2 for 6 in 1 over. The Union team was brilliant in the field, with 3 run outs.

Union reached the target set by their Cradock counterparts in 10.5 overs.

Josh Kingwill was Union’s best batsman with 32 runs from 19 balls. He also smacked one massive six

Union won the match by 6 wickets.

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴! 𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶!

Monday afternoon, 13 February, saw Union’s 𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝟲 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦 𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗦 players face Volkskool on the tennis court in an enjoyable start to the 2023 season.

All the players put forth their best efforts on the day and certainly did the school proud. 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to the Top 6 girls who won their encounter 8 matches to 1 and to the boys, who won their encounter 6 matches to 3.

𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦 𝘵𝘰 𝘝𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘴𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵! 𝘈𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶!

𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗧 to our Top 6 senior boys and girls tennis players for showing their support to our juniors today as they took to the courts against Volkskool!

The busy seniors took the time out of their day to make an appearance next to the courts to watch the youngsters play for a bit.

𝘐𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴!

Well done to Union biathlete Ben Lemke, who claimed a silver medal in the Boys u/17 age group at the 𝗘𝗣 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗦 in Gqeberha on Sunday, 12 February.

Ben recorded a 02:17.94 (800m) run time and a swim time of 01:10.30 (100m)