Take Your Teddy to Work Day

Everybody remembers their first teddy bear – and for many of us, they remain a source of comfort and companionship well into our adult life. Some enjoy a jetsetting lifestyle with their glamorous owners, others simply get a space  next to the pillow and a cuddle before bed.

Allowing your favourite furry friend to hang out with you at work or at play, the annual international fun day, Take your Teddy Bear to Work day is being observed worldwide tomorrow, (Saturday). Showing off their furry friends are twin sisters Nicola Eaton Gutzeit (in white) and Melissa Eaton (in blue) from Margate with Fudgey the dog and Wartie the Warthog. The twins both have a keen passion for wild life, animals and game reserves with a soft spot for dogs and warthogs.

The two golfing sisters are gearing up for the upcoming Cell C SA Women’s Open tournament that starts next week (16 – 19 October) at the picturesque course at San Lameer Country Club. Fudgey and Wartie will be accompanying the twins as they tackle the greens along with a strong field of international and national golfers.

The Teddy Bear made famous by American President, Theodore Rosevelt in 1902 is an essential item when growing up and often these furry little friends turn into great travelling companions and good luck charms. They hang off tog-bags in a variety of sporting codes.

Olympic Bronze Medallist, Bridgitte Hartley admits, “I have teddy bears as I love the little mascots. I have collected them from Olympics and some world championship events but they aren’t my lucky charms. Most of them sit proudly at my Mom’s house in Richard’s Bay. My little furry friends come from the Beijing and London Olympics, a bear from Canada and my most recent addition is one from Russia. I have Mandeville and Wenlock from London, Nini from Beijing, a Takalani Sesame Street bear from Canada where I won my k1 1000m medal at world champs in 2009. I guess London was special from my medal, so I collected a few bears there. I also have a white bear from my Pretoria High School reunion. I would say my bears are more like memories than lucky charms.”

Local lass, Olympic Marathon Runner Tanith Maxwell travels with her teddy bear. Durban’s top athlete states, “It is a small ‘wee fuzz’ bear simply named Fuzz. He is extremely special because he comes from a collector in New Zealand!”

Canadian Olympic bobsledder, American Basketball player and Hollywood actor, Howard Dell who shattered records in last year’s World Transplant Games in Durban travels with his fluffy bunny. Dell states, “Oddly I affectionately call him Bunny but his real name is Luther. He isn’t travelling with me at the moment as I compete in Romania but usually he does!” the gorgeous athlete said.

Admitting to having a lucky charm, Olympic Marathon runner Rene Kalmer who has just returned from Berlin having run a personal best time, always travels with her lucky pillow.

Golfing great, Tiger Woods lucky charm is wearing a red shirt on Sundays at major tournaments and has since he stepped onto the professional stage. The colour is said to honour is alma mater, Stanford , and it is believed it is his mother’s favourite colour. His niece, Cheyenne  will be one of the top players participating in the Cell C SA Women’s Open tournament.

South Africa’s oldest women’s professional golf tournament will feature the country’s leading professionals competing against a strong international field representing at least 20 countries for a total purse of €320 000. The tournament will be co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and the Women’s Professional Golf Association of South Africa.

For more info visit www.sawomensopen.co.za

Pix by Justin Klusener and supplied by athletes

Chatting to Nqoba Mswazi before he joins the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Nqoba Mswazi

Durban’s yacht club, the Royal Natal Yacht Club bids a fond farewell to young Nqoba Mswazi as he heads off to Qingdao in China to compete in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The accomplished sailor who grew up in Umgababa flies out to the port of Qingdao on the east coast of China to join the fleet of 12 Clippers that are currently sailing around the world. Mswazi will be racing on one leg in the tenth race of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race that will take about four or five weeks to sail to San Francisco.  He is one of the more experienced crew members on the yacht, Invest Africa.

Mswazi, a regular sailing personality nicknamed ‘The Machine’, competes in all of the local races offshore of Durban and has only sailed in two international races prior to his upcoming Pacific crossing. He competed in the Colorpress Vasco da Gama Race from Maputo to Durban last year and early on his sailing career he raced in the Round Creole Island Race in Reunion.

“My first international race I competed in Reunion, my mentor Sean Jones and I competed in a class that we knew little about but learnt a lot. It was the F18 class, a big hobie cat, we came third last but my passion for sailing ignited there.”

Asked what he is most nervous about his upcoming adventure, he quickly states, “The cold!”

Pic by Trevor Wilkins

Having just turned 21, he celebrated this milestone in Portsmouth when he was there for his Clipper Training. Mswazi certainly has a bright future ahead of him in the sport of sailing.

The Rear Commodore for the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Rob Samways said, “We wish Nqoba well, he will grow in leaps and bounds with this opportunity. I personally am looking forward to his return as he will be crewing on our yacht Sticky Fingers in this year’s Vasco da Gama Race. His fresh experience will work wonders for us.”

The tough 5,800 nautical mile race begins on Sunday 16 March and is a monster of a leg. Once leaving the safety of the port, the clippers will be weaving around local fishing boats offshore of China battling with the renowned fog that hovers off the coastline of China. The cold winter conditions will challenge the fleets in the first week at sea as snow will be a regular feature on the decks.

Mswazi and his team will have to read the weather carefully as they cross the largest ocean in the world. Will they sail close to the rhumb line, the shortest route that you can sail and run the risk of light winds or head north for a colder but stronger ride east.

Invest Africa’s estimated arrival is around 15 April, “I am looking forward to the privilege of sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. The sailors that I have spoken to have talked highly about the feeling that you get gliding underneath it, the magical sight of San Francisco coming into focus after weeks at sea.” Mswazi concluded.

Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Nqoba Mswazi is going places as he tackles the upcoming Clipper Round the World Yacht Race leg from Qingdao to San Francisco.

For more info on the race, visit http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/ or visit the Royal Natal Yacht Club site www.rnyc.org.za

World Transplant Games - 5km Cycling Time Trials

World Transplant Games

Durban

Cycling

Tuesday 30 July

Great Britain dominated the World Transplant Games cycling time trials in Durban claiming thirteen medals in the various age categories. Overall winner for the men’s race was Erlend Gjerde from the Norway and Ottilie Quince from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Gjerde defended his title from the 2011 Games in Goteborg, Sweden where he bettered his time in Durban shaving off 39 seconds off his Swedish result. He finished the five kilometres in Durban in an impressive time of 7.49.

Second placed Richard Smith was his closest rival with three seconds separating the two. The British cyclist, Smith, commented after the race, “My time was slow today. It was hot out on the road, in Great Britain, our summers are this hot, so had to adjust to the heat. The wind off the ocean was a bit of a challenge on the first long beach road.”

Smith talked about his training back home, “I train as much as any other abled body competitor.” He said with a cheeky grin on his face, “Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose. When I lose I wickedly blame my transplant. But I feel normal.”

Smith will be back on the bike tomorrow to defend his 2011 title in the 20km event, Would be nice to get the two in the bag.” He concluded.

Quince (31) from Luton also defended her title with a convincing win in a time of 8.45. “My aim today was to win the overall line honours and I am delighted with my race.” stated a chuffed Quince.

Luton’s pedalling queen stated after her ride, “It was hard, on the stretch parallel to the beach I was riding straight into a headwind, so battled a bit with that. Yesterday, during practice the wind was a tail wind, so was different.”

Guest cyclist, Mayor of eThekiwini, James Nxumalo also took to the five kilometre race, “It was fantastic, a nice run and at the same time quite challenging.” said his worship. “I ride at least once a week from Ushaka to Blue Lagoon and back again. I am in training for this year’s Amashova.”

“It was a wonderful atmosphere around the event today, people are enjoying themselves and the race but at the same time are getting a vital message across about giving people a second chance by signing up as an organ donor.”

“The city council has a strong drive about cycling around the city; we are promoting our own councillors to cycle to meetings between the ICC and City Hall. We have undertaken to all motivate others to live a healthy lifestyle and of course, with a lot more bikes on the roads, there will be far less congestion.”

Second placed Nora Lombaard representing South Africa but resides in Namibia only began cycling in January, “This is my second race, I did the qualifying back home and now this one. I am riding at a cycling club where we get to do some wonderful road cycling. I enjoyed the race today, it was very good.”

The youngest competitor at the event, Robert Laubscher from Milnerton in Cape Town completed the 5km in a time of 14.34 loved his time on the bike, “It was easy!” said the confident young man, “and very nice. I am still going to be competing in swimming tomorrow where I am racing in the freestyle, butterfly and backstroke.”

“I have participated in a few triathlons, swimming is my favourite. But I enjoy cycling as well, I get to cycle often with my Mom and Dad.”

89 cyclists entered the 5km race, with all the cyclists competing racing against the clock. The route was cycled around the stadium precinct, with the riders cycling from the Kings Park Pool heading to the ocean, and then turning towards Blue Lagoon before turning inland and again towards the city, returning to the finish at Kings Park Pool.

President of the World Transplant Games Federation, Mr Olivier Coustere announced at the prize giving, “I am impressed by the race; I am impressed by the children competing. Everyone, the motivation on your faces showing the determination to finish the race was inspiring to see.”

For more info visit www.wtg2013.com or like the Facebook page to keep up with what is happening. Tomorrow (Wednesday) the cyclists will be returning to Kings Park Pool, this time pedalling around a 20km course.

Results

Men Overall

1 Erlend Gjerde (Norway), 2 Richard Smith (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), 3 Gavin Giles (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), 4 Stefano Caredda (Italy), 5 Randall Stafford (USA)

Women Overall

1 Ottilie Quince (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 8.45, 2 Hilde Dorman (Netherlands) 10.21, 3 Mellisa Slanley (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 10.22, 4 Ulrika Svantesson (Sweeden) 10.29, 5 Elizabeth Schick (Switzerland) 10.42

ENDS

World Transplant Games

Durban

Tuesday 30 July

5km Cycling Time Trials

Results

Age Category

Boys 9-11

1 Robert Laubscher (South Africa) 14.34

Girls 12-14

1 R.e. Pijl (Netherlands) 15.08

Boys 12-14

1 Nicholas Shugg (Australia) 12.48

Girls 15-17

1 Elizabeth Morris (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 11.29

Women 18 – 29

1 Hilde Dorman (Netherlands) 10.21, 2 Nora Lombaard (South Africa) 13.40, 3 Charlotte Rodriguez (France) 18.45

Men 18 – 29

1 Luis Francisco Sanz Diaz (Spain) 8.30, 2 Gideon Elve (Netherlands) 9.27, 3 Simon Ripley (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 10.07

Women 30 – 39

1 Ottilie Quince (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 8.45, 2 Jorie Von Ohlen (United States of America) 17.57

Men 30 – 39

1 Erlend Gjerde (Norway) 7.49, 2 Gavin Giles (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 8.01, 3 Bas Hoven (Netherlands) 8.33

Women 40 – 49

1 Melissa Slaney (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 10.22, 2 Ulrika Svantesson (Sweden) 10.29, 3 Zoe Dixon (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 10.47

Men 40-49

1 Richard Smith (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 7.52, 2 Stefano Caredda (Italy) 8.06, 3 Antonio Ontoso (Spain) 8.11

Women 50 – 59

1 Elizabeth Shick (Switzerland) 10.42, 2 Diana Higman (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 10.45, 3 Liliana Zelasqui (Argentina) 11.03

Men 50 – 59

1 Randall Stafford (United States of America) 8.10, 2 John Moran (Ireland) 8.23, Gerald Brown (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 8.28

Women 60 – 69

1 Fidelma Hodkinson (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 12.09, 2 Gisele Ceppi-Lucas (Switzerland) 12.47

Men 60 – 69

1 Alain Fossard (France) 8.21, 2 Koos Moerkerk (Netherlands) 8.50, 3 Robert Jolliffe (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 8.54

Men 70+

1 Thomas Jenkin (United States of America) 8.48, 2 Enrico Dell’Acqua (Italy) 10.05, 3 Jean-Claude Le Bourhis (France) 10.11

ENDS

Chatting to skipper, Andrea Giovanni

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Interview with Andrea Giovanni

Saltwater flows through the veins of this super-sailor, Andrea Giovanni from Hout Bay. Giovanni is in Durban on a quest to claim the 2013 Ola Lipton Challenge Cup that begins offshore on 7^th July.

Nautical tactians will be taking to the waters to outsmart and outsail their opponents in the biggest sailing event in the country, and Giovanni along with his team will be lining up with the competition with one intention, to get their hands on the historic cup.

The young sailing legend is co-helming the L26 yacht False Bay Intasure with renowned competitor Markus Progli. The two have featured on the podium several times in recent years, and they entered the history books when they held the magnificent century old trophy aloft in 2011. “Winning Lipton was a big one for us and we are hoping to repeat the performance this month. The guys we sail with are pretty talented and we all sail together on a variety of boats so I am hoping things come to us quickly.”

“It was a last minute campaign and with shipping boats we didn't have enough time to do a massive crusade. This is a break from work for all of us, so we are looking forward to the time in Durban. We only did three weeks of training and it was all for an hour in the evenings or over the weekends.”

The Italian blooded helmsman loves the challenge of a one design class where the competition has a level playing field as all the yachts are identical, “I suppose the best boat I could be sailing on is the GP42 which we are doing a lot of at the moment,  but to be honest Fast boats don't get me that excited. I prefer one design racing so the SB20 or Melges 32 something along those lines.”

The modest chap has an array of sailing achievements from his amazing career that spans nearly two decades, “Winning the J22 Nationals last year was really special because we did it with a team who had never sailed together, not even once. I was sailing on a boat that I have little to no experience in. I have sailed a J maybe five times in my life.” said a bemused Giovanni.

“I began sailing when I was 12 years old, I think….” The tanned frame ponders for a bit, “For me I am a complete amateur club sailor so I have really achieved what I wanted to in this sport. So all my sailing is now just with my mates, which I am doing to the full!”

“I don’t race across oceans, I really don’t venture to far offshore to race, so I suppose Robin Island is the furthest I have sailed to,” interjecting, he remembers, “Nah, I have done the Vasco once so that is easily the furthest.”

“After Lipton I leave for Palma in Spain to do the 32^nd Copa del Ray Mapfre, so that's definitely a bucket list event that I am ticking off.  A couple of weeks ago I raced a D35 cat in Switzerland which is like an Extreme 40, that got me super interested in cat sailing. But I think the chances of me racing the D35's or Extreme 40's or even in the AC45's is less than 1 in a million, so it will probably never happen again. That is saved for enthralling fun with my mates in Europe.”

Giovanni, who is representing the False Bay Yacht Club, beams with pride as he talks about his aquatic passion, “Wow there are so many things that make sailing great! I really think it is the most beautiful game in the world. From the skills it teaches you, tactics, engineering, team work, and the comradarie. There are so many fantastic people in sailing. It is just part of my life and I am looking forward to winning the over 60 event at RCYC.” Laughing he continues, “The problem is I will still have to beat Markus which, if it is hard now, it is going to be impossible when I am 60 as I age faster than him!”

His next love in life is surfing, “I am living the dream. Surfing is my biggest passion. I have travelled around the world a few times and got to surf some seriously sick swells. I spent time in some crazy places like Hawaii, Ireland, Fiji, Canaries, and Spain. I drove across Australia. Stopped off in New Zealand, Indonesia, and wow there a whole lot more but I lived the dream for a couple of years. I surfed some amazing waves, sailed in some fantastic events and had the privilege of coaching a lot of sailing.  

Questioned what he is most looking forward to about the Ola Lipton Challenge Cup, “Just sailing with really talented guys who are all my close mates, so just achieving a goal with my buddies. I personally think Lipton is like ‘the best of the best regatta’, you take the top dinghy sailors, keel boat sailors, hobie sailors and you put them all in this one design class so it’s a champions of champion's event. This year alone there are some professional sailors sailing,  and some future Olympians as well as some of the great's from the heyday mixed in, so just the level of competition is the biggest pulling point to travel 2,000km's for this event.”

Cheekily, he concludes, “A perfect day sailing? It is happening on the 12^th of July; I will let you know how it turns out!”

ENDS

Chatting to International model Jay D'Engle

On setting eyes on the exquisite Jay D’Engle, you can picture him donning GQ or FHM magazine covers, but the humble down to earth chap is a surprising package.

The determined figure who was born and raised in Doonside, D’Engle was home schooled for his entire school career. “I completed school at 15 and left home at 16 to pursue a competitive dance career.”

With the experience he gained, he opened up a professional dance studio. “One of my dreams is to travel the world. I started sailing again as this was a means to make my dream become a reality. I took to it like a duck to water and was soon offered a bursary to get my skipper qualifications. This is where my sailing career started.” D’Engle says smiling.

D”Engle who has just made a break into the international modelling world with modelling shots of him adorning massive billboards as far away as India claims. “When I was living up in Pretoria three years ago, I was at a beauty pageant supporting my girlfriend. The male models hadn’t pitched and they announced that they needed representatives, and if any ladies in the audience thought their guys were good looking, to pull them up onto stage. I went up and ended up winning the event.”

“Shortly after that I entered and won a News Café Competition and then entered the Mister Pretoria and Manhunt SA for fun and made the finals of both.” states the chiselled frame.

It was only in August last year that the young man decided that this is what he wanted to do for a full time career. “This is all still new to me, but my goals would be to feature at the International Fashion Week, and land a campaign for Hugo Boss or Armani.” he says with a twinkle in his eye. “But eventually I would love to get into film.”

D’Engle comes from a big family, with three elder sisters and two older brothers, “My family are scattered all around the country. I am a twin and I can proudly say I have the best sister in the world; her name is Jasmine and is 23seconds older than me. My parents are planning to sail the islands later this year, lucky buggers!” he remarks.

He continues, “My Dad, He is the most amazing person and utmost Gentlemen, I inspire to be as great as him one day.” He pauses, “and maybe as good looking but he set the bar pretty high.” A beaming D’Engle says.

D’Engle is now based down in Cape Town juggling running his own dance studio with a busy modelling career, “I moved down to the Cape in November last year and started Dancerxise. It is a fitness dance class similar to Zumba except with Latin steps incorporated. It is something I designed for myself to practice my dancing and to keep me in peak condition, I couldn’t survive longer than 25minutes and that is when I decided it is a fantastic fitness routine.”

Asked what his hobbies are, he responds, “Card magic, cooking – I am a strict Vegan and I follow a fabulous diet to keep my body in shape. I don’t drink or smoke. Every day I wake up, gym for two hours, and then hit the beach and gym again in the evening. I am very content with my life.”

The beautiful man has his provincial colours in sailing, as well as his U/18 Protea Colours for Ice Hockey where he competed in the U/18 World Championships. He qualified as South Africa’s youngest internationally qualified Latin American dancing instructor at age 18 but says that the best event he ever won was the Commodores Cup at the Round the Island Yacht Race held annually in Gauteng.

“I headed up a sailing campaign for the Sail Africa Youth Development Team and took them to a second place in the provincial championships. It was the most rewarding seven months of my life. Something else I am extremely proud of is, when I was seven, I was the youngest in South Africa to do a firewalk over five meters of burning hot coal, that was a lasting memory!”

Asked what is on his bucket list, he says enthusiastically, “Since I was a kid, I have been dying to rollerblade 1,000km to raise money for a charity and I will do this before I get too old.”

The alluring, charming local concludes, “I strongly believe you have to live every day as if it is your last, in joy, harmony and peace.”

ENDS