Chatting to Golfing Guru and Tournament Promoter Lesley Copeman

Cell C SA Women's Open
Somerset West

Lesley Copeman

Having the opportunity to chat with golfing guru, Lesley Copeman, it feels like you are surfing Wikipedia researching Women’s Golf, but her descriptions are far more colourful and entertaining than looking at a computer screen.

Copeman is hard at work making this year’s Cell C SA Women’s Open tournament a huge success. With the title of Tournament Promoter, she is at the helm helping organise South Africa’s oldest women’s professional golf tournament that tees off at the recently refurbished San Lameer Country Club.

“I wouldn’t like to tip one favourite in particular; we have such a strong field at this year’s tournament. But it is going to be exciting watching the top ladies which is perhaps a pool of 15 to 20 players. The in-form ladies like Lee-Anne (Pace); Paula (Reto) or Connie Chen who is really performing at the moment, they are all South Africa stars and could be the ones to watch. Along with American Cheyenne Woods, British players Charley Hull and Trish Johnson who is of course the oldest lady competing but she is playing great golf.”

Smiling, she continues, “It is impossible to choose because one round, or one mistake and it can all go to pot and a complete outside who is playing consistently can take the lead. It could really go to anybody”

Talking about how she got into playing golf, she states, “I used to participate in field hockey and play a bit of tennis but honestly, I was a golfing orphan. Both my parents and my brother played so it was either being home alone or go and join them. The first course I played was in Swartkop up in Pretoria.”

“Comparing the modern day game to when I played, the courses have gotten longer but the equipment has gotten better. There are more girls trying to get onto the circuit but when I was starting out, you still had to qualify! There are of course differences but it is still the same obstacles.”

Continuing she says, “Back in the day, our equipment wasn’t advanced as it is nowadays, so playing was a bit more difficult. Training for us was a little bit of gym and quite a lot of mental training. My game changed when I read a book called ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ by John C Maxwell; I was able to move to a different level.”

“All of the techniques used today have gotten a lot better. Nowadays, it is gym, the way you eat, the way you think. We were at the beginning of that era. I was still playing when Sweden’s Annika Sörenstam first hit the scene and she started the changes towards the modern day game.”

Asked which her favourite courses are, she claims, “Shew, it’s like music, it all depends on my mood. I would have to say East London would feature, as well as the Wild Coast, Suncity and of course San Lameer. They suit my game and have beautiful scenery around them.”

San Lameer is said to be a tight course where you have to place your shot very carefully and if the wind comes up it is going to be a huge challenge. “I was very good on Iron play and was accurate. Anything from 150yards in, I was very good with it. That was my strength.”

With a handicap of 5, she still enjoys a social round, “I still play a little but I would say my hobbies are more leisure orientated. Pottering in the garden or cooking. I occasionally get to play a round with my brother.”

The Somerset West resident is gearing up to watch 124 top international and national players take to the greens in the game that is close to her heart.

For more info visit www.sawomensopen.co.za

The British Midlands

The British Midlands

There is something utterly charming about meandering around old parts of England or the Oxfordshire countryside in this case.

A whirlwind trip around a small slice of heaven had us reciting children’s nursery rhymes, pondering Oliver Cromwell’s decisions in the Globe Room, quoting J.R.R. Tolkien while enjoying a locally brewed pint and whispering around great knights.

Our trip started in the magnificent City of Dreaming Spires, Oxford. After a scenic trip up from the north of London, my British friends, Derek Bezuidenhout and Ange Knight, and I left our mode of transport in a handy park-and-ride in the suburbs and jumped on a double decker bus Oxford-bound.

For over 800 years, home to royalty and scholars, it is now a bustling vibrant cosmopolitan town. We made good use of the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus starting our tour at the first stop on the tour, at the actual bus and train station. Oxford is truly beautiful, steeped both in history and spires I loved the medieval and gothic influence with gargoyles sitting high above street level. Small, snug, ancient, overgrown cemeteries lying forgotten alongside busy student buildings – confirming how the contrasting old and new in Oxford were living harmoniously together.

The University is the oldest in the English-speaking world with bold buildings boasting their ancient roots. We snuck into St John’s College catching a glimpse of the impressive lifestyle offered, you were indeed lucky to study here.

Time in Oxford, when not admiring the architecture, was spent wandering around Britain’s first public museum, the Ashmolean. Shuffling along with an engaging young group of children we discovered collections spanning civilisations of both east and west. Several wings hosted ancient ceramics, pre-Dynastic Egyptian material, Raphael drawings and an impressive collection of modern day Chinese art.

Our exploring interval was enjoyed at 17^th Century pub, The Eagle and The Child. Made famous by literary greats J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis who were part of the Inklings Writers Group, the wordsmiths used to congregate in the small narrow building debating and bouncing off ideas about their current writings.

Walking off lunch we meandered around passing the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Observatory, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Divinity School, Radcliffe Camera, Keble College, Town Hall and other postcard models. I absolutely loved the Bridge of Sighs or the Hertford Bridge, an enclosed skyway leading from one building to another with dainty stained glass windows on both sides inviting light into it.

Our next appointment was High Tea at The Old Parsonage. Tea was a rich and filling affair of home-made scones, jam and clotted cream accompanied by a delicious jasmine tea. After a smidgen more exploring we decided that we needed to head off to our accommodation in Banbury. Home for the night was the Treetops Guest House. Checking in, we met the owners and their delightfully chubby Jack Russell Arthur.

Continuing the theme of fine dining, dinner was on the outskirts of Banbury at The White Horse. Under new ownership the meal was world class. Our table of five guests including our hosts Sandra and Len from the Guest House were all extremely impressed with our meals. The presentation, the wholesome tasty portions and the excellent delicious puddings impressed the diverse crowd.

The evening concluded with a pint at the oldest and greatest pub in Banbury, Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn or so the sign outside the establishment claimed. The golden brew was from a local craftsman, Hook Norton and our night cap was a delicious type of moonshine described as a dessert fruit wine. They come in an array of flavours: Strawberry; Cherry; Damson; Elderberry; Peach; Blackberry; Sloe and black beer and raisin. I opted for a sample of the black beer and raisin which tasted completely moreish.

Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn was believed to be the local for the famous Oliver Cromwell. The room at the back, the Globe Room is believed to have been his headquarters and was an interesting visit with the dark and dominating wood panelling surrounding you.

The next morning on our way out of Banbury we stopped at the famous statue. Admiring the fine lady sitting proudly on her white horse at the main traffic circle in Banbury, we tried to remember the correct order of the nursery rhyme.

Our travels took us south-west towards Bloxham. On a whim, our navigator Derek turned off the beaten track to the lovely old brewery of Hook Norton. The previous evening we have been sampling his fine beers and ales. The local brewery was renowned for causing a traffic jam on delivery days as he used the traditional method of horse and cart to drop off his produce at the various pubs spotted around the area.

Back on the road, we meandered to the Rollrights located on the border of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Not as famous as Stonehenge but just as magnificent, the three megalithic monuments known as the King’s Men stone circle, the King Stone and the Whispering Knights are scattered amongst the rolling hills which were alive with yellow patchworks of rape seed.

Try as you might, if you attempt to count the individual stones of King’s Men Stone Circle, you will never get the same figure three times. We attempted and on our second tally gave up as our figures didn’t correspond.

The next stop was a light lunch in the village of Moreton-in-Marsh at the gorgeous Manor House Hotel. This fine establishment built in 1539 was the venue for my hosts wedding reception, so was a special place to stop with them.

The weather in the Cotswolds was gorgeous and all of the quaint villages that we drove through or stopped at were abuzz with Brits enjoying the glorious weather. In Bourton-on-the-Water, we appreciated a creamy soft-serve overlooking the river that flowed through the village. A sight that made the pit stop quite fitting was an eccentric man driving a beautiful old Bentley that looked similar to a six cylinder 1926 model.

Our final stop was at the affluent town of Cirencester best-known for its wool. The main street around the historic church and town hall was draped with cheerful bunting. The beautiful old church, St John the Baptist is the only remaining medieval building in the area to have survived the Saxons, the weathered old building was a sight to behold, quite a contrast to the surrounding newer buildings. The statues and monuments all slowly disappearing as the stone gets eroded.

Back in Rickmansworth, I loved the time we had in the Midlands. The memories of the special little nooks we discovered shall be treasured, a truly special place in the United Kingdom.

Chatting to young sailing brothers, Euan and Sean Hurter

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Brothers, Euan and Sean Hurter are jetting off to compete on international waters in the next month.

The two Morningside sailors will be competing in Germany, Weymouth and Portugal racing in the pacey 29er class. This is the first time that the brothers will be competing internationally. The first two stops will be used as an introduction to the international circuit but the main event in Tavira, Portugal is the most important event for the duo. They will be joining another six South African sailors who will be racing in a variety of classes in Portugal at the ISAF Youth World Championships.

“For our first international out, I am very nervous but that is to be expected. The opportunity that has presented itself is phenomenal and the learning curve is going to be huge! I just want to make sure we make every part of it worth it.” said 18year old Euan Hurter.

Euan, who represented the Royal Natal Yacht Club at the Lipton Challenge Cup is a familiar face in Durban’s sailing circles but his younger brother Sean who up until recently dabbled in yachting, “This whole 29er campaign has sort of taken over the household. Almost everything we do has sailing in mind. We have to talk about sailing at home, or else we don’t move forward and improve. Often it might just be to fill in our training sheets, plan our next sail, and what needs to happen in general.” 16year old Sean shares.

Euan adds, “Sailing with my brother, for me, means I am more pedantic, more straight forward and to the point. I am less afraid of saying ‘we are sailing badly, this isn’t good enough!’”

Smiling, Euan states, “Simply how much fun can a 29er be? It is fast, thrilling and makes everything else seem a little bit boring. The hardest thing is keeping the boat going fast; for the smallest mistake you often pay with a surprise visit into the water as the boat is like standing up in a canoe.”

The Hurter boys who both attend Clifton College will be participating in the European Championship at the Kiel Week in Germany from 21 – 29 June, then the smallest event in Weymouth, United Kingdom at the Eurocup Event from 5 – 6 July. Then they will be joining the best young up-and-coming international sailors at the ISAF World Champs in Portugal from 12 – 19 July.

Euan concludes, “I don’t admire one single 29er team, but rather all the teams that achieve really well at worlds and those that further their sailing rather than stopping once out of youth class.”

The Hurter lad’s Dad, Gregg will be on the water while his sons are competing overseas. Gregg will be defending his title in the gruelling Vasco da Gama blue water race hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club from Maputo to Durban.

For more info visit www.rnyc.org.za

Chatting to Skipper, Patrick Harris

Royal Natal Yacht Club

Interview with Patrick Harris

“Lipton is the most prestigious regatta in the country with South Africa’s best sailors competing! Just to be part of it is an honour but to win would be fantastic.” these are the determined words of Patrick Harris who hails from Kloof ahead of the Ola Lipton Challenge Cup that begins on Sunday.

Harris has the responsibility of being the helmsman of the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s entry Orion B2G2, “We are a new team on deck but we are getting better every single time we go out on the water. It is great sharing this experience with some seriously talented young sailors who are eager to do well!”

Harris, who started sailing at the age of seven in Pretoria on the Rietvlei Dam, is no stranger to big events, “I have done some long distance sailing, Mauritius and Gibraltar come to mind. I have competed in regattas in Europe, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and also New York which was particularly fascinating but the best racing conditions are in Durban with a sunny southwester, warm seas, great swells you can’t beat it.”

Harris, a well-respected Flying Fifteen sailor, was recently crowned provincial champion along with his partner Jeremy Kriek, “I love sailing on most boats but probably my favourite is the Flying Fifteen which is a small two man boat. Jeremy and I have a fantastic understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses out on the water. It feels like I know what he is thinking when racing, we enjoy being out on the water and the results show this.” the sailor states proudly.

Chatting about life off the water, Harris spends his days working in short term insurance, “As with the rest of the economy, things are difficult and our business is no different. After school, I did all the usual things, bummed around the UK and Europe, then had to work, got married and now have a wonderful wife and two incredibly special children.” the dotting father says.

Hobbies outside of sailing, “I am an avid reader, enjoy watching cricket otherwise I can be a professional relaxer but haven’t had much chance recently to perfect these skills as training has been taking up most of my free time.”

The skipper is highly decorated, with some highly awe-inspiring awards, “I was selected to sail for SA twice as a youth, winning both the respective Youth Nationals and got a 2^nd at the Laser Nationals out of about 80 boats, all a long time ago. Since then I have won a few Flying Fifteen Nationals and getting a 10^th in the World Champs here in Durban was pretty special.”

“I still have a number of races that I would like to participate in, Cowes Week in the UK would be great, and so would Antigua Sailing Week in the Caribbean. Any international regatta wherever it is, still attracts me, sailors are an interesting bunch all over the world. Regarding long distance sailing, I must admit nowadays, I prefer aeroplanes.” he says smiling.

With the entire world all praying for our phenomenal icon, Nelson Mandela, Harris tells us with pride, “In life he has to be every ones role model, he certainly is mine! What an extraordinary person. He has taught us so much.”

“My nautical hero is South African Dave Hudson. When I was young, he seemed to win every national championship in every class and now he is still sailing internationally, having just returned from competing in Palma in Spain last week. He is nearing 60 and still is a force to be reckoned with on the water.”

“What I most enjoy about sailing is the different places you go to and the variety of people, most of them are passionate about their sport!”

Asked what a perfect day sailing would entail, the passionate sailor smiles, pauses and then concludes, “Winning the Ola Lipton Challenge Cup would be one, on the final day, crossing the finish line.”

On the Couch with Durban's top sailor Jeremy Kriek

Catching up with top Durban Sailor, Jeremy Kriek who is a member of the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s Orion B2G2 L26 Lipton team. Kriek and his team are busy preparing for the biggest sailing event in South Africa, the Ola Lipton Challenge Cup that is being held offshore of Durban from the 7 – 12 July.

1 I am a sailor because…..?

I love the challenge of outperforming  other sailors by being more skilled, have a better prepared boat, have good understanding of the sailing rules , the technology of the boats rig and being able to constantly adjust to the ever challenging wind and water conditions. Sailing is not only a physical challenge but also an intellectual challenge. One has to constantly plan ahead and anticipate the next manoeuvre to stay ahead.

2 First time you went out sailing… (tell us how it went)

I was probably about 13 years old, it was on Sterkfontein Dam, it was in the winter and it was very cold. I enjoyed it all the same, and sailing is the reason I find myself living in Durban.

3 If I could have a drink with anyone, it would be with…

Old slow hand, Eric Clapton 

4 Role model / who do you admire

Ellen Mac Arthur

5 A moment that stands out for you while sailing?

While participating in the flying fifteen world championships in 2011 at Hayling island in the UK we were reaching to the leeward mark fighting off the then current world champions for 3rd out of 129, previous world champions were just ahead of us and the new world champions were leading the pack, we were good enough to fight it out with the best.

6 If you were invisible for a day, what would you get up to?

I would enjoy driving around in an blue light convoy with the minister of transport and some other high profile government officials and observe their reactions to the calamities they cause and maybe pull some tokalosh tricks.

7 If you were on a speed date, and had a minute to convince someone to take up sailing, what would you say?

Sailing makes you feel alive, even if there is only a light breeze blowing and only one other boat, there will still be a race, and all ones intentions are focused on winning.

8 Funniest or clumsiest moment sailing?

During a race in Spain Patrick and I collided with the president of our world body, seriously damaging his boat.

9 Lipton Challenge Cup, why is the event such a big deal?

The Lipton cup regatta is probably the most prestigious sailing event in South Africa and it draws the best local sailors to compete for the honour of winning the title of Lipton champions.

10 When you wake up in the morning on a weekend, what is your first thought?

I seemed to have earned a reputation of being the boat fixer, so often I lie in bed thinking of solutions to rigging problems or dreaming up new designs to improve our performance on the water. Sailing on the weekend is a way of life fore and does not require a second thought.

11 Durban has the best sailing conditions because….

The warm Mozambique current that flows down our coast keeps Durban warm all year round, the prevailing winds hardly ever relent and the sailing buddies are all great to hang out with.

12 Dinghy or yacht?

Yachts and dinghy but only real boats, not cats.

13 Dam or Ocean?

Ocean of course otherwise I would be living in joburg!

14 Rock or pop?

Rock

15 Bar-One Ice Cream or Rocky Road Ice Cream?

Rocky road

16 Swell or flat waters?

Swells with wind, there's nothing better than surfing down huge swells on a sailing boat.

Chatting to young sailor Chad Stevenson

Royal Natal Yacht Club

RS Tera World Championships

Weymouth, England: 28 July – 5 August

The twinkling eyes of Chad Stevenson (13), from Durban North, sparkle as he talks about his about his burst onto the sailing scene and his next big event, the RS Tera World Championship that takes place in Weymouth, England from 28^th July 2013.

Chad first began sailing with the 57^th Sea Scouts in the late 2009 under the encouragement of his mother and hasn’t looked back. Being the first sailor in the Stevenson family, the young lad quickly advanced from  Sea Scouts to Sail Africa, where he was introduced to dinghy racing. “I love RS Tera’s! It’s fun and fast. I have a need for speed.” The sprightly sailor has competed in the Oppie Class, Hobbies but utterly loves the small one man monohull and has an impressive long list of achievements from his fresh career in the RS Tera`s.

Last year, he competed in the RS Tera World Championships in August in Italy, coming 12^th. “The conditions were trying, and being my first ever overseas big competition, it was a bit overwhelming but I loved every moment of it. Lake Iseo was awesome.”

Asked what he is most looking forward to when racing in the UK, he quickly states with a beaming smile on his face, “Not the weather!” The sun worshiper however follows this statement with, “The wind, it is going to be the best! It gets to around 25knots at this time of year. Also where the event is being held, that is where the London Olympics was held last year, so I will be sailing on the same waters and at the same venue as some of the current great names in the sport.I want to come in the top three this year.”

The determined face admits, “Would you like to know what my four year plan is?  In 2016 Rio Olympics, I will be sixteen then! And then my eight year plan is the 2020 Olympics. I am training hard and would like to thank my coaches , Rudy Mc Neal and Michael Dickinson, in helping me to achieve this. After the Olympics, I would then love to compete in an America’s Cup campaign, which is the ultimate in racing.”

The Crawford La Lucia schoolboy is a sport fanatic, competing in everything that his schedule allows, having been awarded KZN Colours for sailing and was also trying for cross county but had to stop and go sail Worlds in Italy. He also participates in hockey; soccer at school and Juventus FC, mountain biking at Mudman and the Spur Mongoose series, swimming and triathlons. “I like being competitive, it is my life. I have done extremely well in my sailing, I have mostly won every single event I have participated in. I have travelled to the Eastern Cape Provincials, Western Cape Provincials and KZN Provincials and  the SAS Youth Nationals where I dominated all the races in the RS Tera Sport class.I also won the inter-schools regatta for Crawford.”

This  young Durban sailor is looking for support and sponsorship to make his dreams become a reality. He needs to raise around R40,000 for his upcoming trip to Weymouth which will be for flights, kit, boat chartering, transport and accommodation. If anyone is able to assist, please contact Gayle from the Royal Natal Yacht Club on 031 301 5425 or Gary Stevenson on 079 555 1068 or chadsports@mweb.co.za.