Archive - Nov 2005

On a recent trip to Botswana and Zimbabwe, an 11-man team of Namibian amateur boxers punched their way to 11 gold medals.
In the Botswana round of friendly bouts, the Namibians scooped five golds, a tally which was equalled by the host nation and the event was declared a draw.

Since the beginning of November, Namibian swimmers have broken a total of 13 national age group records.
At the recently held FINA World Cup in Durban, 15 year-old Jonay Briedenhann improved a total of eleven short course records, including six in her age group (15-16) and five open records. She also achieved qualifying times for the Commonwealth Games and World Championships scheduled for next year.

Despite the level of the Oanob Dam being low, the venue at Lake Oanob Resort proved to be an excellent choice for the 1. Namibia Swimming Mile which took place on November 20.
A total of 96 swimming and outdoor enthusiasts entered the inaugural race with the youngest competitors being 8 years old. Perfect weather and calm waters aided the success of this event. Although at this stage the onus of open water swimming in Namibia is on participation rather than competition spectators were treated to a great race.

JR Franks of Excelsior Gymnastic Club was the best gymnast at the Telecom National Gymnastics Championships in Windhoek on November 5.
Franks, who is still only 10 years old, received a trophy and prize money for being the best Level 5 ? 8 gymnast with an average score of 8,13.

Windhoek Harriers Club handed over the proceeds of several races, amounting to N$6 800 to the Christina Swart Opperman Aids Orphan Foundation Trust at a press conference in Windhoek on November 9.
At the occasion a former chairman of Windhoek Harriers, Keith Lewins said that the club had played a big role in the development of sport in Namibia.

Namibian professional tennis coach Elizma Nortje attended the 14th annual International Tennis Federation Worldwide Coaches Workshop in Turkey on October 17 ? 23.
Among the 300 participants from more than 100 nations were some of the world?s best coaches, technical directors and sport psychologists. These included Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, a former world number one and the youngest woman to win the French Open; Steven Martens, the technical director of the Flemish Tennis Association, who has worked with top Belgian players like Xavier Malisse, Justine Henin-Harden and Kim Clijsters; Luis Brugera who runs one of the top tennis academies in Spain and has worked with several world-class players such as his son, Sergei Brugera, a two-time winner of the French Open; and one of the world?s top biomechanists, Bruce Elliot of Australia.

Collin Dugmore of Germany finally won the Namibian Moto Cross Inter Series, after winning the final leg ? the Air Namibia Dirt Busters at the Gallina Race Track on November 5.
It was Dugmore?s fourth attempt to win the title, while he was the ninth International Open Namibian champion since the start of the Inter Series. The final leg was also special for Dutchman Boyd Karsmakers who got married on the podium after the final King of the Dirt race.

Seven new school swimming records were established at the Pupkewitz Gala which simultaneously too place in Windhoek and Swakopmund on October 28 and 29.
In the Boys 8 year old category Adriaan Visser of St Georges broke the 50m butterfly record by 6,5 seconds to set a new record of 56,58 seconds.

MTC managing director Bengt Strenge has recommitted MTC?s support of sport in Namibia, while also calling on sport administrators not to be involved in sport for personal gain.
Strenge?s speech was read by MTC?s Senior Manager: Corporate Services, Albertus Auchamub at the Namibia Sport Awards function on October 28.

By Bernd Kroemer

As expected, the German-South African Collin Dugmore won the first leg of the Namibian Moto Cross Inter Series "Air Namibia Dash for Cash" and the big trophy sponsored by Air Namibia on October 29. Once again it was an event with many superlatives.