Snr Hockey Results – Opening Festival

UHS produces attractive hockey at EP trials

On Friday, 6 March, Union High School’s 1st hockey team travelled to Port Elizabeth to participate in an Eastern Province trials weekend.

The Union team was drawn against tough opposition, which included the formidable DSG, Woodridge and Westering. 

The girls, however, rose to the challenge and gave it their all.  They played with good intent and showed some real fight throughout the weekend.

The results are as follows:

Woodridge 0 vs Union 0

Kingswood 0 vs Union 1

Westering 1 vs Union 0

Alex 0 vs Union 0

DSG 2 vs Union 0

Snr Rugby Results – Kirkwood Sports Festival

Union beats Humansdorp, 19 – 12

On Saturday, 7 March, Union High School’s 1st XV played against Humansdorp Secondary in very hot conditions at the Kirkwood Sports Day.

The match was played at a furious pace, but both teams proved up to the challenge.

Union’s try scorers were Ashwon Davids, Martin van der Berg and Ashton Davids. Jaden Brotherton and Brett Amsterdam added a conversion each.

The Union players can be commended on a huge defensive effort.

The final score saw Union winning the encounter 19 -12.

UHS Educator Completed CT Cycle Tour

Congratulations to Union High School educator, Mr Hanno Sparrius, who successfully completed the Cape Town Cycle Tour yesterday morning, Sunday, 8 March.

The 42nd edition of the biggest timed bicycle race in the world began at Grand Parade and traversed the Cape Peninsula for 109km, ending in Green Point.

Approximately 30 000 people competed this year.

Mr Sparrius crossed the finish line in a time of 3:19:36.

Learner Excels In Book Review Competition

Learners from all seven municipal regions within the Sarah Baartman district gathered in Addo on Thursday morning, 5 March, to compete on a district-level in a national reading competition.

This was the third round of a competition held to commemorate the 2020 SA Library Week, organised by the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture.

Avid reader James Rose-Innes – a Grade 11 learner at Union High School – managed to outperform his competitors in the first two rounds of the competition to claim the honour of representing the Dr Beyers Naudé municipal region at this event.

James competed in the Book Review category which assessed the learners’ reading and comprehension abilities. Here he was given two minutes to review the book ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe.

James made the municipality and school exceptionally proud with his performance, placing third overall in the district.

James received a laptop bag, pen and wristwatch for his efforts.

Well done, James!

Jnr Interschools Athletics

Union youngsters win annual interschools athletics

The annual primary interschools athletics event between the Union Schools and Laer Volkskool was held on Tuesday afternoon, 3 March.  The meet took place at Laer Volkskool.

The competition was stiff as the learners faced off in various items such as long jump, high jump, shot put, sprints, long distance running and relays.

Union’s athletes, however, were determined to make their mark in their respective track and field events and their ‘never-say-die’ attitude and their resolve on the track and field shone through.

Their determination saw Union collecting 653 points to win the encounter against Volkskool (605).

“The conditions were perfect for the participating athletes and they delivered some of the best performances seen in years,” said Mr Floris Steenkamp, Union’s Junior Sports Administrator.

“It was clear that our athletes prepared well for their events and that their spirit was unwavering. A big congratulations must go to all our learners who competed with amazing sportsmanship and pride – we are extremely proud of you.”

The event was excellently hosted by Laer Volkskool and Union thanks them for their efforts!

• Noteworthy performances on the day, include:

𝐮/𝟕:
– Grade 1 learner Taylor Jacobs won the Girls u/7 60m and 80m events. Emma Burger joined her on the podium both times in 3rd and 2nd place respectively.
– Uthmaan Steel won the Boys u/7 60m and 80m events, with Raydon Herndricks coming in third in both races.

𝐮/𝟖:
– The Girls u/8 60m event saw Hayle Krige coming in second and Lisa Kungawo coming in third. Lisa, however claimed the win in the 80m race, with Hayle coming in a close second.

𝐮/𝟗:
– Abonani Matushe came in second in the Girls u/9 60m event, followed by Miley Burger in third place. When it came to the 80m event, Abonani was first to cross the finish line.
– Jordan Maritz came second in both the Boys u/9 60m and 80m events.

𝐮/𝟏𝟎:
– Mia Botha came second in the Girls u/10 80m and 100m events and first in the 1200m race.
– Ethan Raath came in third in the Boys u/10 100m race and third in the 1200m.
– Emma Watson, who celebrated her birthday, came in second in the Girls u/10 Long Jump, followed by Alyssa Trollip in third place. Emma also won the High Jump event, with Alyssa coming in third.
– Owen Paxton came in second in the Boys u/10 Long Jump and High Jump events with Quinn Naude coming in third in both events. Owen also came in second in the Boys u/10 1200m.
– Kyla Putter won the Girls u/10 Shot Put, followed by Nadine Murray in second place. Nadine also came in second in the Girls u/10 1200m.
– Tristan Naude claimed second place in the Boys u/10 Shot Put.

𝐮/𝟏𝟏:
– Lulinke Vumazonke came third in the Boys u/11 80m event as well as in the 100m race.
– The Girls u/11 High Jump was dominated by Union, with Jasmine Abercrombie coming in first, Zoe Hobson second and Grace Kemp third.
– It was 3 for 3 for Union in the Boys u/11 High Jump as well, with Liso Sobantu coming in first, Dwayne Koeberg second and Warren Barlow third.
– Grace Kemp claimed third place in the Girls u/11 Shot Put as well as in the 1200m.
– Junior de Bruyn won the Boys u/11 Shot Put with Richard Murray coming in second.
– Warren Barlow came in third in the Boys u/11 1200m.

𝐮/𝟏𝟐:
– Jamae-Mari Davids came in second in the Girls u/12 100m, first in the Girls u/12 Long Jump, third in the High Jump and third in the 1200m.
– Josh Arends came third in the Boys u/12 100m.
– Anna Bouwer came second in the Girls u/12 150m, followed by Katelyn Trollip in third place. Anna also came first in the Girls u/12 High Jump and third in the Long Jump, while Katelyn claimed second place in the Shot Put.
– Peter-Daniel Clegg came second in the Boys u/12 150m, followed by Liso Booi in third place. Peter-Daniel also came third in the Long Jump, while Liso claimed another third place in the High Jump.
– Tara Ferreira came in second in the Girls u/12 High Jump and third in the Shot Put.
– Xarah Hoffman won the Girls u/12 Shot Put.
– The Boys u/12 Shot Put was won by Siba Mbuyte.
– Daisy Sears won the Girls u/12 1200m, followed by Leigh-Ann Murray in second place.
– Josh Arends came third in the Boys u/12 1200m.

𝐮/𝟏𝟑:
– Lisa Menos won the Girls u/13 100m, while the Boys u/13 100m was won by Lukhana Kettledas in first, Matthew Paxton in second and Shaakir Kazi in third place.
– The Girls u/13 200m event was also won by Lisa Menos, with Zelresch Frazenburg in second place and Aaminah Steele in third place.
– Lukhana Kettledas won the Boys u/13 200m and Long Jump events, with Matthew Paxton coming in second in both events and Xavier Barlow coming in third in the Long Jump.
– Farronique Booysen came in second in the Girls u/13 Long jump.
– Lisa Menos won the Girls u/13 High Jump, followed by Farronique Booysen in second place and Aaminah Steel in third place.
– Nate Jaftha ended third in the Boys u/13 High Jump.
– Anna-May Hayes came in second in the Girls u/13 Shot Put, followed by Uyathanda Sididi in third place.
– Matthew Paxton claimed third place in the Boys u/13 Shot Put.
– Lisa Menos came first in the Girls u/13 800m. She also claimed first place in the 1500m, with Keza Neill coming in third.
– Matthew Paxton came in first in the Boys u/13 800m and 1500m. Lukhanya Kettledas claimed third place in the 800m.

Matric Farewell 2020

On Wednesday evening, 18 March, the Botanics Sports Club will host one of the most exciting and glamorous nights of the year for Union High School’s bright-eyed soon-to-be high school graduates – the 2020 Matric Farewell.

The school extends and invitation to all those interested, to come and watch as the youngsters arrive at the event, emerging in their red carpet worthy outfits from rumbling hot rods, Italian exotics, supercars and the classics, to the dazzle of camera flashes, cheering and ululating crowds.

• Viewing tickets are available at R30 each from Mrs Elsebe Moos at Union High School’s reception.

Snr Tennis – Fichardtpark McDonalds Sports Day

Union tennis aces compete in Bloem

On Thursday, 27 February, Union High School’s Top 8 tennis boys and girls hit the road to Bloemfontein, to participate in the Fichardtpark McDonalds Sports Day, hosted by Hoërskool Fichardtpark.

This annual tournament is a highlight on Union’s tennis calendar, and, as always, an incredibly high standard of tennis was evident throughout the competition.

• Boys

Despite a very early start on Friday, the boys were extremely enthusiastic and took to the courts ready to show off their strategies and ball skills in one of the most popular games in the world.

Brent Hesselink got the competition off to a great start for the boys’ second team, winning Union’s very first match of the day.

This seemed to boost his team members’ confidence and the boys continued to produce great tennis throughout the day.

The boys’ first team fared just as well and delivered some really exciting tennis. Congratulations are extended to Matthew Hesselink who won all his singles matches, as well as to doubles duo, Brett Amsterdam and Bowen Langmead, who dominated the court, going unbeaten on the day.

Both the boys’ first and second teams produced really competitive tennis throughout the day and must be commended on their great sportsmanship and never-say-die attitude.

Overall, the boys’ first team ended second in their section, with the second team ending third in theirs.

• Girls

Union’s spirited girls’ first team was divided into a pool that featured some very strong competition.

But, even though they had to face some intimidating tennis heavyweights, the girls never got discouraged, giving it their all on the courts in every single encounter.

The girls tied for third place in their pool, and upon conclusion of the day’s play, placed 8th overall in the ‘A’ section.

The girls’ second team also enjoyed a very competitive day on the courts and ended the tournament having placed 15th out of the 19 schools entered in the ‘B’ section.

The girls displayed a lot of grit on the courts and Union High School thanks them for their efforts.