Author: Stephen Kisbey-Green

Young and up-and-coming sports reporter with a passion for rugby and cricket. Born and raised in Boksburg, Gauteng, I came to Grahamstown (Makhanda) to learn the journalism trade, and improve all round.

As the nation celebrates women and their place in South Africa, Grocotts Mail, East Cape Shotokan-Ryu and Joza Karate Club have teamed-up to offer free karate lessons for girls (seven years and older) and women. In this spirit, focus and appreciation must be given to the women that have been practicing karate for some time. Zarina Syed Cassim and Shehnaaz Asmal-Motara Good friends and training buddies, Zarina Syed Cassim and Shehnaaz Asmal-Motara, have been training at the Hill Street Masonic Centre Shotokan Karate Dojo for just over a year. Having been watching their children participate for a couple of months, both women…

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With the current global focus on protecting the environment, the GBS Mutual Bank Mountain Drive Half Marathon will do its part in reducing environmental impact on race day. The race, ready to take place on Saturday 25 August, will reduce harmful waste through a number of donations and strategies specifically designed to make the race as environmentally friendly as possible. The Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset, which is hosting this year’s GBS Mountain Drive, has enlisted the help of a number of local businesses to ensure that the race is both an all-Grahamstown (Makhanda) enterprise, as well as a green…

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On Thursday 9 August, recognised as South Africa’s National Women’s Day, a group of local women and other community members took part in a fun walk event, which led them to Fort England Hospital. The group would continue on to play a couple of sports games inside the hospital grounds. The walk was organised to celebrate all that women do in society, and celebrate women in general. At the same time, the walk, and subsequent events on the day were organised to speak out against gender based violence against abuse. The event started with a fun walk from Jackie’s shop…

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The GBS Mutual Bank Mountain Drive Half Marathon takes place this year in Grahamstown (Makhanda), on 25 August. In an all-Grahamstown collaboration, GBS Mutual Bank is the title sponsor for the race, which is hosted by the Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset. Local clubs and the history of the race The Albany Saints and Sinners multi-sport club has once again played a major role in the organisation and planning of the event, which is rich in history. The club has been involved with hosting the event for over 10 years. For a number of years, Run/Walk for Life was the organiser,…

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In celebration of Women’s Day, and in the lead up to the GBS Mutual Bank Mountain Drive Half Marathon, a number of local female runners are gearing up to race in the annual event. Here are just a couple of the ladies that will be participating in this year’s race. Sally Price-Smith Sally Price-Smith has been running since 1989, and has participated in a number of different events in a number of different countries throughout these 29 years. From fun runs and hashing to marathons, and from trail runs to park runs, Price-Smith is committed to empowering women through running.…

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Four local cross country athletes participated in the Eastern Province Cross Country Championships on Saturday 4 August, and they all earned medals in their respective categories. The four athletes represented Grahamstown (Makhanda) as they attempted to qualify for the SA X Country Champs in September. Kendal Rose from DSG took home silver in the Junior women’s category, while Tony Rubombora from St Andrew’s took home bronze in the Junior men’s category. Terri-Lynn Penney and Jene Banfield came first and second respectively in the Veteran Women’s category. Rose, who holds the women’s record for the Grahamstown parkrun, was not expecting to…

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As the GBS Mutual Bank Mountain Drive Half Marathon draws ever closer, the Albany Saints and Sinners Multisport Club has once again committed to enabling running in the community through its Development Runners Programme. Albany, which is assisting in planning and organising the 2018 GBS Mountain Drive race, supports 10 local runners from the Grahamstown (Makhanda) community, who cannot afford the annual club membership and license fees, according to club chairperson, Jaco van Dyk. The programme has a number of great athletes from all age groups, who all receive club running vests to help them connect with the rest of…

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A rising star at Grahamstown Primary, Jade Slabbert is a talented and energetic young athlete and student. Slobber is a grade 6 pupil at Grahamstown Primary, who is passionate about sport, focusing on cricket and rugby in particular. The young outside centre has been an outstanding performer on the sports field since he first started playing mini rugby in grade 1, and has since become one of the star player in his school’s U11 A rugby side. Slabbert has exceptional speed and is very agile for a boy of his age. This was noticed in his first year of playing…

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The South African Developmental Bodybuilding Championships took place in Kimberley over the weekend of 27-29 July. Makana Bodybuilding’s Orren Jacobs took home first place in the Welterweight division, and second overall in the senior competition. Jacobs was selected for the Eastern Province team to travel to Kimberley, after being crowned EP Novice Champion at the EP Developmental Championships on 17 June in Port Elizabeth. This was Jacobs’ second time competing at the SA Developmental Championships. He last competed in the 2013, when he was second in his division. “It feels amazing to see everything you’ve tried to accomplish be fulfilled,”…

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Two of Grahamstown’s (Makhanda’s) local long distance running stars traveled to Port Elizabeth’s Pollock Beach to take part in the SA 21 km Championships on Saturday 28 Jluly. Terri-Lynn Penney was joined by Masixole Xayiya for the half marathon as part of the Easter Province team. Penney, who has previously represented her province nine times, was excited to race again as part of the EP team. “The race was awesome,” said Penney. “It was a special moment to run with the cream of the crop of 21km runners on SA.” Penney, who finished as the 13th vet out of 70,…

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