The Rhodes University Sports Council Awards, the highlight on the university' annual sporting calendar, took place last Friday evening.
The Rhodes University Sports Council Awards, the highlight on the university' annual sporting calendar, took place last Friday evening.
The event saw performances, clubs and members recognised for their contribution to sport at Rhodes. In his welcome address Mandla Gagayi, head of sport at Rhodes Sports Administration, highlighted the fact that there were attempts to “professionalise and commercialise" student sport.
This, Gagayi said, should not be done to the detriment of students' academic endeavour. "All parties must always keep in mind the principles of academics as the core business of the university," Gagayi said. "Only bona fide students participate in student sport events, and the right of every student to participate fully in the sport and recreation activities of the university must be respected.”
The most prestigious awards were the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, which went to Andrew Lowndes and Alexandra Adie. Lowndes, a member of the Athletics Club, said he was really proud to add his name to"an incredible list of athletes”. His highlights through the year included:
– Breaking the Rhodes Half Ironman Record, finishing in five hours 18 minutes.
– Breaking the three-hour marathon mark at the Knysna Forest Marathon (2 hours 57)
– Finishing 11th in the Otter Trail (5 hours 14)
– Running the Two Oceans Ultra in 4 hours 19
– Finished fourth in the 2011 Beijing International Triathlon Union Aquathlon World Championships (20-24-year age group) in 34 minutes 57 seconds.
– Finished ninth in the 2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Grand Final in Beijing in 2:11:49.
Adie said: “Sportswoman of the year has always been something I have wanted to achieve while at Rhodes, so it was great to finally be awarded it”. Her highlights for the year include:
– Making the Eastern Province duathlon team
– Finishing first at the Breede Canoe Marathon
– Finishing fourth in the Dusi Canoe Marathon
All the awards made at the awards dinner:
Inter-Res (male and female) – Team Oppie
Spirit Award – Guy Butler House
Administrator of the Year – Cari-Lee Haarkonsen (Aquatics)
Coach of the Year, student – Tyron Theessen (rugby)
Coach of the Year, staff – Neil Smuts (tennis)
Performance of the Year – Rugby Club
Committee of the Year – Table Tennis
Most Improved Club of the Year – Table Tennis
Club of the Year – Underwater and Athletics
Sportsman of the Year – Andrew Lowndes
Sportswoman of the Year – Alex Adie
