KZN MASTERS SWIMMING NEWSLETTER 2012/2013 NO 4 29 th November 2012

WILLIE GERTENBACH

It is with sadness that we announce the passing away of a KZN Master Swimmer. The tribute by a close

friend, Godfrey Mocke follows

“Hello my Durban Surf friends I've just heard the sad news of longstanding Durban Surf member, Willem Gertenbach's, passing early this morning (5th November) in the Westville Hospice Clinic. Willem was diagnosed with a brain tumour too large & dangerous to remove surgically, barely 3 months ago Willie's sister Marianne Gertenbach who lives in Cape Town just phoned to break the sad news to me. His wife Carol & 13yr old daughter Jamie are distraught as the grief at their home on Westville....please consider calling her and offering your condolences at +27 (0) 312620925, as I just have done. As a Westville Boys High School Old Boy in the mid-1960's & through the 1970's, I remember as Natal Provincial swimmer, 'Willie' contributed significantly in many of the overwhelming Durban Surf 'A', 'B', 'C' & 'D' surf swim teams' victories at national inter-club level and will always be remembered for his impish Cheshire-cat smile & infectious giggle, usually at the expense of someone else's mishap or 'slip' somewhere along the line....as he was a shrewd & keen observer of what was going on around him all the time. Willie Gertenbach was also a potent middle-distance (& bit of a part-time marathon) runner & I know he held the weekly-time-trial record for the 8km course in Pinetown/Westville Athletic Club for some good while & also won the Durban Surf 'Victor Ludorum' Competition' long-run to Blue-Lagoon & back along the beach on more than one occasion...

Apart from winning numerous SA Masters Swimming Association Championships age-group gold-medals & national records, some of you may remember too that Willie (with absolutely zero bike mileage!) managed a gold-medal (top-10) finish in the Durban (Carling) Ultra-Ironman competition on at least 3 attempts - in the day (1984 - 1987) when we swam 5km from Addington to that black-beach just past Pirates' Country club Beach near the Blue-Lagoon, rode 115km on our bikes up the North Coast road & finished-off with a 42km road-running marathon.[Wayne Girkie & the late Denny Wilson would've verified that!!] That was Willie for you!

After RSA's political emancipation on 2nd February 1990 Willie, as a keen modern-pentathlete saw an opening to make the re-admitted RSA-admitted Barcelona Olympics team and as South-Africa's no 2 rated modern-pentathlete at the time, missed cracking the Olympics by a whisker....that's where athletes swim, horse-ride equestrian-jump, fence (foils), pistol target-shoot & run....so how good was that!! Always a loner & dark-horse with the chicks, the eternal 'Durban-Surf' bachelor with dashing good-looks, Willie Gertenbach (at the ripe old' age of 50yrs nogal!), finally succumbed to the magical charm of a beautiful blonde New Zealand equestrian lady 'Carol' - whom he met up at the Kloof riding-school - and promptly married...some 14 years ago now as I think back.... and have lived as a happy couple in the Westville area since then. Willie is survived by his two sisters, his wife Carol & their 13yr-old daughter Jamie. Rest in Eternal Peace my friend! Godfrey Mocke Fish Hoek SUN CITY SWIM

Seven Highway Masters swimmers Theo van der Merwe and family, Alison Mcbey and family, Bev Shuttleworth, Sue Robinson, Dawn Rode, Maretha Heymans and Ann Gray travelled up to Sun City to take part in the Sun City 3km or 1500m swim on Saturday 20th October. The swim took place at the Waterworld Dam in front of the Cabanas. Three of the Highway ladies Ann, Bev and Sue were asked to assist at the finish of the Men’s and Boys’ Race. Thereafter all went to the Valley of the Waves and spent the afternoon there, with some enjoying cocktails around the Roman Pool whilst others watched the Sharks win their semi-final. Bev Shuttleworth came second in her category

Dawn Rode, Maretha Heymans, Sue Alison McBey Theo van der Merwe Robinson, Bev Shuttleworth and Ann Gray LAKE ELAND SWIM At the beginning of November, Jill Hanass- Hancock took part in the Lake Eland 3km and Mile swim (1600m) inland from Margate. Jill writes: “My open water swims and prize money were dedicated to the Extra Mile (www.e-mile.org ) which is an initiative to

raise awareness and funds for people with disabilities in KwaZulu-Natal. The lake eland event collected further

55mile dedications for the Extra Mile among those from Troydon Prinsloo and Charl Crous. The pictures are also on

our website. I have also attached one picture of one of the boys whose therapy is supported by our initiative.

Tristan and Jill, Sebastian Crawford and Troydon Prinsloo

The Extra Mile initiative has also a new face a disabled young swimmer Sebastian Crawford. He is leading our

fundraising initiative towards Midmar 2013 as our lead swimmer and hopefully will win the disabled event. We

would love support from East Coast Masters, Highway Masters and Seals Masters swimmers as well. People can

dedicate their mile to our initiative if they swim Midmar 2013 and/or help us in our fundraising efforts (and we really

need some support). They can contact us via our website or me at Hanasshj@ukzn.ac.za .”

KZN ATHLETICS AND CYCLING AWARDS – Our Multi talented Swimmers.

Gill Tregenna Adrian Schoeman Gill Tregenna was chosen for the KZN Athletic team. She participated in the SA Interprovincial Championships at the following venues. Kimberley – 10km, Cape Town - 21km and Durban – Cross Country. She achieved “gold” in all her events in her age group category. At the KZN Road & Track Cycling awards evening Adrian Schoeman received his KZN colours for track Cycling. Michelle Bloxham came first in the KZN road series in the 50 to 55 category. 20th CAPITAL K KZN Masters Swimmers did extremely well in the Capital K Swim which was held on 25th November at Midmar Dam. Mandy Koegelenberg (Highway) won the 31 to 40 age group; Jill Hanass- Hancock (East Coast) won the 41- 50 category, followed by Alison McBey (Highway) and Terry Thompson (Highway). Bev Shuttleworth (Highway) won the 61 to 70 category Les Hadenham and Jimmy Hughes (both East Coast) came first and third respectively in 61to 70. Adrian Schoeman won the Men’s 71+ category. Bev Shuttleworth and Ann Gray also received their 20 year participation awards for having completed all 20 Capital K swims.

Rita & Ted Townsend, Bev Shuttleworth, Adrienne Loraine Hicks, Jimmy and Di Hughes at the Capital K. Champion and Ann Gray Les Hadenham, John Harley and Peter Larcombe took part in the 3km event. Others who took part in the 1km event were Dawn Rode, Bronwen Griffiths, Di Hughes, Loraine Hicks and Ann Gray and new Highway member, Desiree van Noordwyk.

Di Hughes getting some tips.

DOLPHIN MILE SERIES The next Dolphin Mile Series Swim is on Sunday, 9th December. Registration is at Marine Surf Lifesaving Club from 6am.. This is an ideal opportunity for “out –of – towners” to kill two birds with one stone, namely the Surf Swim followed by our December Gala. For further info go to www.roag.co.za. R80.00. Start at 7am KZN MASTERS SWIMMING GALA and CHRISTMAS BRAAI The Gala will be on Sunday 9th December from 9.30 for 10.am start at Gordon Road School .followed by our traditional Christmas “Bring and Braai”. Certain people will be asked to make a salad. SUMMARY OF UP AND COMING EVENTS

9th Dec - KZN Masters Swimming Christmas Gala at Gordon Road 9h30 for 10h00 16th Dec - KZN Open Water Champs Albert Falls 5km and 1km 5th Jan – Long Course Time trials. Details to be sent later 13th Jan – KZN Gala at Gordon Road 27th Jan – Chelmsford dam swim. www.swimnewcastle.co.za 30 Jan – Your entry forms for nationals plus payment to your Club secretary 9th and 10th Feb – Midmar Mile at Midmar Dam www.midmarmile.co.za 16th Feb – KZN Long Course Champs.12h30 for 13h00. Venue to be confirmed. 17th Feb - KZN Long Course Champs 9h00 for 9h30 Venue to be confirmed. 13th to 17th March – SAMS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS PORT ELIZABETH (Open Water Swim on 17th March)

December January February 5 Rosemary Clark 11 Gill Tregenna 3 Ray Baker 24 Eddie Baker 11 Mandy Koegelenberg 5 Heather Goldstein 24 Mandy Dragt 15 Annette Thatcher 5 Dave Letschert 29 Sue Robinson 18 Theo van Der Merwe 8 Vaughn Seid 30 Kim Batterson 19 Gerard van Rooijen 12 Des Stieger 17 Debbie Nortjie 28 Frank Lilford Wishing you all everything of the best over the holidays and festive season.

Cheers for Now The Cycling Turtle

KZN MASTERS SWIMMING ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE 2012/2013

President: Rosemary Clark 083 7509888 East Coast Rep: Rosemary Clark 083 7509888 Highway Rep: Heather Goldstein 084 2064484

Seals Rep: Bernadette Carmody 083 4450578

Treasurer: Sven Dahlmann 084 6801112. Secretary: Dawn Rode 083 7933094

Registration/Gala Secretary: Les Tooms 0314673223 Public Relations: Graham du Toit 082 5664234

Records Clerk: Colleen Bailey 084 4444842 Equipment: Les Hadenham 082 5749872

Newsletter/Open Water: Ann Gray 082 8280401