Durban Girls' College Department From our Head of It is common for schools to ask what their young sportsmen and code forms the focus of each term, allowing the girls to apply their women are doing for their school. At DGC, we prefer to ask what developing skills in new contexts and to expose them to a variety sport at our school is doing for our young women. of different sports in a competitive environment.

The benefits of regular physical exercise have long been recognized In the HS, the girls are encouraged to balance the demands of the and at DGC, we believe that participation in sport, both team and academic programme with active participation in the many social individual, plays a pivotal part in the holistic development of our girls. and competitive sporting opportunities on offer. Our magnifi- cent sporting facilities and experienced coaches ensure that our Apart from the obvious benefits of building healthy bodies and competitive teams enjoy a hard-won reputation for excellence and instilling lifelong habits of physical exercise, sport offers life-changing good sportsmanship, both locally and nationally. opportunities for psychological growth. In a world of instant self-gratification, sport teaches courage, character, commitment At DGC we are proud of our teams’ sporting achievements and and community. celebrate our many individual sports stars. But the value of our sporting programme goes deeper still, an integral thread in the In the JP phase we aim to encourage a love of sport, introducing the fabric of College life. Friendships forged on the sports fields extend little girls to the basic skills required in each code and providing into the classroom and beyond, while the lessons learned in the opportunities to put them into practice without the pressure of cut and thrust of competition last a lifetime. At DGC, sport plays a winning or losing. Many a future star has discovered her passion for significant role in shaping the young women we are proud to call sport on the JP playing fields. ‘College old girls’. And that is a sporting tradition to be proud of.

In the SP we build on the foundation laid in the JP, honing the girls’ Bell Meek skills and fostering their individual potential. A different sporting Head of Sport

Meet our Coaches

P1 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Meet our Sports Coaches & Staff Bell Meek Head of Sport & Coach

Bell started out with a Bachelor in Agriculture from the University of the Free State, but her first love was always sport. During Bell's school years, she played provincial and at university played for the team and the Free State Provincial Womens’ Teams. After graduation, she spent a few years teaching General Science and Art at the Christian Brothers College in Bloemfontein. This was followed by a move to KwaZulu-Natal to take up an appointment in the Sports Office at Natal Technikon. In 2005, while coaching part-time at Girls’ College, Ken Elliot appointed Bell Head of the Sports Department and her appointment included her border collie, Skye, who was later fol- lowed by Kimba. During her career, she has been fortunate to coach some of the top female hockey teams in South Africa, including the KZN U18 (who won the IPT), SA U21 Indoor Hockey and SA U16. She was also the Assistant Coach for the SA Women’s Team at the World Cups in and . Bell is passionate about coaching sport and the reward of seeing our girls achieve in a variety of different sporting codes.

Coaching: DGC Indoor 1st Team, U16 and U13 Coach DGC Outdoor 1st Team Coach – won St Mary’s Waverly Tournament on two occasions and the SPAR Tournament on three occasions SA Selector Indoor Hockey – U21 and Women’s SA Selector Outdoor U16 and U18 SA Assistant Coach for Indoor Hockey World Cups in Liepsig and Vienna. SA U21 Indoor Hockey Coach for Australian series in SA SA U16 B Outdoor Coach 3 years in SA and KZN U21 Indoor & Outdoor Coach KZN U18 Indoor and Outdoor Coach (won U18 IPT)

Wilma van Niekerk Junior Primary Sports Co-ordinator & Coach

Wilma holds a BEd (SFET) Degree and has been the Junior Primary Sports Co-ordinator at DGC since 2014.

Highlights of sporting achievements: SA representation in 4 sports – triathlon, biathlon, aquathlon and . KZN team representation in 7 different sports – , cycling, biathlon, triathlon, aquathlon, lifesaving and sprint canoeing World Masters Swimming Championships Casablanca 1998 – 2 gold medals (100m and 200m Freestyle) and 1 Silver (50m Freestyle) Wilma holds 4 SA masters swimming records Professional athlete racing in triathlon and cycling, winning numerous SA titles in both sports Wilma remains the only ladies cyclist to have won the Amashova cycle race 5 times

Coaching: Professional swimming coach since 1994, having coached from Learn to Swim level up to Masters, producing numerous KZN and SA representatives Triathlon coach and co-owner of Falcons Triathlon Academy 1998 - 2004 Owner of Liquid Gold Fitness Junior Squad Coach at Fast Feet Track Club Coach of big wave surfers and freedivers – Liquid Gold “Hurricane Squad”

Coaching at DGC: Junior Primary Sports Co-ordinator since 2014 Coach of all DGC Athletics teams Coaching all Junior Primary and High school swimming teams High School cross country co-ordinator and coach

P2 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Jacqui du Preez Senior Primary Sports Co-ordinator

Jacqui holds a BA Secondary Arts from Edgewood College of Education majoring in Mathematics. She was a High School Mathematics & Mathematical Literacy teacher for 22 years before taking up the position of Head of Sport Grade 1 - 12 at Maris Stella for 5 years. She has been the Senior Primary Sports Co-ordinator since 2016.

Highlights of sporting achievements: SA U21 Hockey Team - Captain of Series against Spain SA Women's Outdoor Hockey Squad SA Women's Indoor Hockey KZN Tennis Comrades Marathon - 2004; 2005; 2007; 2010 Jacqui's first Comrades Marathon was the highlight of her sporting career. It was the sheer enormity of running 86 km's and the mental strength in overcoming the adversities on the day. A very emotional and proud moment in Jacqui's life.

Coaching: Jacqui has coached many sports during her teaching career - hockey, tennis, soft- ball, soccer, athletics and cross country

Coaching at DGC: Senior Primary Sports Co-ordinator of all sports since 2016

Loreen Doherty-Bigara High School Sports Co-ordinator

Loreen enjoyed the senior part of her high school career at Durban Girls’ College, where she was a prefect, a member of the 1st team hockey, water and swimming team. This solid grounding at College allowed her to move on to complete her Bcom Human Resource Management at Potchefstroom University. During her time in Potch she was part of the PUKKE 1st team hockey, she captained this varsity team as well as the U21 South African team at the Junior World Cup and was a member of the Women’s National team in 2009.

On returning to Durban she completed her teaching diploma through Unisa. In 2014 she returned to Durban Girls’ College to take her place in the high school sports department, where she values her time guiding girls on the sports field and contributing to life at College.

P3 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Meet our Coaches Kerry Purnell Kerry started coaching at DGC in 2015 where she took the 1st team as well as the U11s. In 2018, Coach Kerry took the 1st team U13 and the Junior Primary. In 2016 she established her own netball club running from DGC, KTK Netball Club. Kerry’s enthusiasm and knowledge of the game is something that is evident in all her coaching. She has worked with the current 1st Team group since they started in Grade 9 and hopefully, 2019 will be the cherry on top of a very successful three years. Watching the players develop under her guidance from Grade 2 is a testament to Coach Kerry’s hard work and influence.

Coaching Experience: DGC 1st Team, U13 and JP Netball Coach Coaching netball for over 25 years SA Manager 2014 and 2016 KZN Provincial player 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 KZN Provincial Captain 2012-2013 KZN Provincial Coach from 2012-2019 KZN Provincial Manager 2010 and 2013 KZN Selector from 2012-2018 KZN Provincial Convenor 2011, 2013, 2015 1st Team at Durban Girls' College

Noma Mabaso Coach Noma lives, breathes and dreams netball. She has dedicated herself to playing and coaching netball from her years as a scholar at Glenwood Preparatory, right through her secondary career at DGC. Her years playing may have been cut short, but that does not mean she is done with her sport. Her passion for netball has continued in her coaching and she shares all that she has learned as a player over the years. Discipline and respect for the sport are her biggest motivators and teachings during her coaching lessons. She has formed relationships with the girls through their love, passion and respect for the sport.

Her years of experience, on the court playing and on the side-line coaching, have contributed to the person she is today. We are excited for another year with Coach Noma.

Playing experience: DGC 1st Team (2008 - 2012) DGC 1st Team Vice-Captain (2012) Action Netball SA U21 Squad (2010) Action Netball KZN (2006 -2012) Action Netball KZN Captain (2007 - 2011) KZN Netball (2004 - 2008) KZN Netball Captain (2007) KZN Netball U21 (2014) UKZN Netball Team (2013, 2017 - 2018) Howard College Team (2013, 2017 -2018) Pumas Netball Club (2008 - 2012) Howard College Netball Executive Committee (2017) Howard College Sport Union Executive Committee Chairperson (2018)

Coaching experience: JP Coach (2013, 2014 & 2018) SP Coach (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 & 2018) U14 DGC Coach (2013, 2016 & 2017) U15 DGC Coach (2014 & 2018) U16 DGC Coach (2015) Managed and coached the U14 Durban Central Team (2017)

P4 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Annie Nurcombe To say that netball literally runs through Coach Annie’s veins, is an understatement! One would think that having played provincially for 28 years, coached for 30 years and sustained a few sport injuries along the way, that coach Annie would hang up her netball shoes. But that was not an option! Coaching the U14 squad this year has been probably one of the biggest highlights of her career – a daunting task to coach ‘young ones’ for the first time turned out to be one of the most fulfilling experiences ever! She feels privileged to be part of the DGC coaching team.

Current Coaching Grade: Level 2 Netball Coaching Action Netball Coaching Port Shepstone High School – 2013 - 2017 KZN Action Netball Mixed A and Mixed B – 2011 U16 A + B netball teams – 2013 Mixed A – Gold medal winners 1st Netball team – 2014 Mixed B – Bronze medal winners 1st and 2nd Netball teams – 2015 KZN Action Netball Mixed B and Ladies B – 2010 1st and 2nd Netball teams – 2016 Mixed B – Bronze medal winners 1st and 2nd Netball teams – 2017 Ladies B – Silver medal winners Crawford La Lucia 1st and 2nd Team – 2010 KZN Action Netball Mixed B and Ladies B – 2009 Netball Coaching - Outdoor – Club level Mixed B – 5th place Natal University Ladies B – 7th place Natal Technikon KZN Action Netball U19 – 2005 Bayview Netball Club U19 – 7th place

Sport Participation History: KZN Action Netball KZN Ladies over 30 Captain 2008 - 2012 KZN Mixed A Captain 2003 - 2008 KZN Ladies A Captain 1999 - 2008 KZN Outdoor Netball KZN Ladies A Vice-Captain 1996 - 1999

Cassidy Williamson Netball has always been a huge passion for Cassidy. She was selected as part of the KZN team for indoor and outdoor netball from Grade 4 to Grade 8 inclusively. However, after Grade 8, she decided to give up netball in order to focus on athletics. Cassidy is currently pursuing a professional athletics career.

Coaching netball at DGC this year was her first experience of coaching, and she is really enjoying it! Last term she coached the U10 action netball girls, where they won gold.

High School: Grade 8 A team for DGC Selected for KZN team Awarded netball prize at DGC prize giving Grade 12 (2016) Athletics South African Colours 2016 Competed at U18 World Junior Athletics Championships in Poland – 100m

2018: Athletics 3rd at South African Senior Championships Selected for Senior National team to compete at the World Cup in London Selected for Senior National team to compete at the African Championships in Nigeria Selected for the provisional Senior National team to compete at the World Championships in Doha 2019. 100m personal best – 11.31sec

P5 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Meet our Coaches Peter Lavett 1st Team Coach

Peter Lavett was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He lived, worked played and coached water polo in Stockholm until May 2000 when he relocated to South Africa. He married Dr Barbara Bowley in 2002 and is currently employed in the Wealth Management Division of Anchor Private Clients. DGC are excited to embark on this new venture with Coach Lavett which will ensure that, above all, our girls learn valuable skills and lessons that extend far past the ability to just win.

Water polo experience: Started playing in 1978 for Stockholm’s Polisens Water Polo Club and played at junior and senior level in the Swedish National Leagues until 1997 Played for the Clifton Water Polo Club in the KZN Leagues until 2017

Coaching/Officiating: SWEDEN 1992 - 2000 Head Coach for the Swedish Ladies National Water Polo Team 1992 - 1999 Head Coach of Stockholm’s Polisen’s Water Polo Club Ladies team 1995 - 2000 Member of the Swedish Technical Water Polo Committee 2015 International Referee appointment for Sweden to EU Nations Ladies Tournament in Dublin, Ireland

SOUTH AFRICA 2001-2018 Head Coach Clifton Preparatory School 1st Water Polo Team. 2000- Present Head coach of various KZN Schools

Water Polo Teams Currently KZN Schools U19 Girls 2000- Present Water polo referee at all major SA tournaments 2000-2005, 2013 Head Coach KZN Men’s Water Polo Team 2004-2009 Head Coach South African Junior Men’s National Team 2008-2012 Member of the South African National Selection committee 2015 Team Manager for the Senior Men’s National Water Polo Team to EU Nations in Odense Denmark 2017 Member of Swimming South Africa Technical Water Polo Committee

Nicholas Simmons U16 Coach

Played 1st Team at Rondebosch Boys High School Western Province provincial player 2008-2011 KwaZulu-Natal U20 Team Currently Playing for DHS 1st Division Team

Nicholas has coached at DGC since 2016 in both the High School and Senior Primary. He has also acted as assistant coach to the 1st Team. Not only does he instil solid basic skills at a junior level he has the ability to create an understanding of the game, this was highlighted by the top placing at this year’s Crawford Lonehill Tournament, where coach and girls excelled and narrowly lost out in the semi-final. We look forward to an exciting 2019 season with Coach Nic.

P6 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Matthew Petzer U14 Coach

Coach Matthew has coached the U14 DGC Team for the past two years as well as the Senior Primary players. As a Senior National player he is technically very astute. His passion and knowledge instil a good fundamental base in our junior players that allows them to progress as a senior player. With the focus on skills development and enjoyment in Term 1 and a more competitive focus in Term 3 & 4, Coach Matt will guide and develop the young players at DGC. We look forward to an exciting 2019 season with Coach Matt.

Water polo history: 1st Team at Pearson High School Eastern Province provincial player 2000 - 2015 Kwa-Zulu Natal team 2016 - 2018 South African Senior National Team 2018

Conor Gibb 2nd Team Coach

Coach Conor has been with us since 2015, he started with the U10s and U11s and has worked his way up to the u13 Team Coach. Although he was unable to tour with the group, his team placed 2nd at the recent St Stithian’s tournament. Coach Conor has also assisted with all the High School teams and proves a valuable asset to our coaching team with his knowledge on the game and specific whole man/guard positional play. We look forward to 2019 where he can develop our 2nd team players further whilst still creating enjoyment at practices.

Water polo history: Glenwood 1st Team 2009 - 2013 2013 KZN U19 A Team Currently playing in 1st Division league

P7 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Meet our Hockey Coaches

Kerry Gaze Kerry has excelled in hockey since a very young age. She was so talented that she played above her age group at provincial school level. This faith has been rewarded by her achievments highlighted below. Kerry has brought a fresh youthful approach to the 1st Team, this is reflected in the exciting brand of hockey they are playing.

Playing: South African Women’s camp January and February (2008) South African U21 squad September (2007), December, (2007) January (2008) South African U21 team to play Australia (2007) South African U16 A - 2 years Natal U21 A Indoor - 6 years (2003 - 2008) Natal U21 A Outdoor - 5 years (2004 - 2008) Natal Raiders Indoor - 1 year (2008) Natal Raiders Outdoor - 3 years (2006 - 2008) Natal Mynahs Indoor - 3 years (2006, 2007 & 2017) Natal Mynahs Outdoor- 2 years (2011 - 2012) Natal Inland Indoor - 1 year (2016) Collegians Hockey Club 1st Team - 21 years

Coaching: Collegians 2nd Team Outdoor (2011, 2012, & 2013) Collegians 2nd Team Indoor (2011, 2012, 2017 & 2018) Natal U21 A Indoor (2013) Natal U16 B (2007 & 2008) Maris Stella - Junior Primary, Senior Primary (2005 - 2006) U14 A Indoor and Outdoor (2005 - 2006) Westville Girls High - U16 A Indoor and Outdoor (2007- 2008) DPHS - all age groups (2006 - 2007) Madsen Hockey Academy (2005 - 2007) PSI indoor (2007 & 2008) High School – 1st Team Indoor and Outdoor (2008) Durban Girls' College Various age groups (2017 & 2018)

Mike Cullen Mike has been involved with DGC hockey since 2018. With his vast coaching and playing knowledge, Mike's advice and assistance is most valued by our teams.

Playing: 1993 – 2006 SOUTH AFRICA (199 test caps and 70 goals) 1990 – 2006 KZN RAIDERS (8 senior IPT gold medals) 2001 Nominated as 1 of 5 players for World Player of the Year. 2001 Player of the Tournament at Champions Challenge (teams ranked 7 to 12) 1998 & 2002 Commonwealth Games 2002 Hockey World Cup

Coaching: 1995 - 2019 Various club teams in the Durban Premier League. 2014 to current Varsity College Ladies 1st Team 1998 to 2006 Natal Technikon mens and ladies teams in which time theywon 5 National Club Championship titles 1995 – 2019 Various schools in Durban ranging from mini hockey to 1st Team.

P8 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Shannon Dempsey Shannon has been involved in DGC hockey since 2013. She has instilled good basics and discipline in all the girls she coaches, giving them a solid base from which to grow as hockey players.

Midlands U18 schools player. Played KZN Mynahs outdoor hockey for 10 years KZN Raiders and KZN Mynahs Indoor Hockey Played Premium league for: UKZN & Berea Rovers Played KZN Masters for the last 8 Years Coached KZN U16B girls Coached at DGC for 6 years Coached U16 & U14 DGC teams, winning the league with respective teams Coached U13B & U11

2016 Senior Womens – KZN Raiders Chardinay Penniston Premier Hockey League DGC U11 Team Chardinay, or Coach Chardi as she is know Umpiring Level One to the girls, from a young age showed her talent and was selected as a member 2017 Senior Womens – KZN Raiders of the SA U18 Hockey team. Chardi has KZN U21 coached at DGC since 2015. Her willing- Premier Hockey League Player ness to share her knowledge and her DGC U11 Team Coach ability to teach technical skills is invaluable and many College girls have 2018 Senior Womens – KZN Raiders and will benefit. KZN U18B Coach – Placed 3rd KZN U21 – Tournament Team Player Hockey Achievements: DGC U16 B Indoor & Outdoor 2015 KZN Coastals U18A Senior Primary Hockey SA U18A Tournament Team Premier Hockey League Player Senior Womens Mynahs' Coaching Level One DGC 2nd Team Coach DGC U11 Coach 2019 KZN U18B Coach DGC U16B Indoor & Outdoor Coach

P9 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Alex Robinson Alex has been playing hockey since she can remember, and she comes from a long family line of hockey players and to top it off, she married one.

Played: Pretoria High School for Girls Tuks 1st team Braxgata Ladies 2nd Team (Belgium) Wanderers 1st Team Southgate Hockey Ladies 1st Team (England National League) Southgate Hockey Ladies 1st Team Captain Top goal scorer in National League at Southgate Riverside Ladies 1st Team

Coaching hockey: Pretoria high school for Girls u14 & u16 teams Tuks 5th Team Men - league winners Tuks 4th Team Men Tuks Hockey academies Menlo Park 2nd team girls Braxgata Hockey Club U12 and U13 girls (Belgium) Southgate Hockey Club Men's 2nd Team - league and cup winners (London) Southgate Hockey Club Junior Hockey Riverside Junior Hockey

Coaching water polo: Menlopark 1st water polo team (boys and girls) Set up and organised the Waterpolo at Tuks Meet our Tennis Coach Rowena Saunders Head Tennis Coach for DGC

Coach Rowena is a professional tennis coach and she runs her own business called the Pro Tennis Academy.

As a player, she played on the international circuit, reaching the top 42 in the world and played in the US Open, French Open and, her favourite, Wimbledon.

As a coach she has coached locally for several years working with all levels of players from beginners to advanced players. Coaching the SA Women’s Fed Cup Team for 7 years, Junior International Touring Teams as well as KZN Teams.

Meet our Badminton Coach Tamsyn Audibert Tamsyn has been coaching badminton at Durban Girls’ College since 2015 as well as coaching and managing KwaZulu-Natal badminton teams.

She also been part of the coaching team at the Sportways Princess Dutch Clinic for Hockey.

Tamsyn has played in both the Junior KZN Badminton Team from 2005 until 2013 and Senior KwaZulu-Natal Badminton Team from 2014 until current.

P10 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Meet our Artistic Swimming Coach Yolande Dlamini Yolanda is an Artistic Swimming coach level 1 & 2 and has been coaching for 6 years.

She coaches at Durban Girls’ College as well as at 2 clubs; Umlazi Sharks & Cygnus.

Yolanda has been appointed as manager at the National Age Group Competition for Umlazi Sharks & DGC.

Meet our SP Swimming Coach Mandy Loots Mandy started coaching the DGC senior primary swimming team in 2017, as well as assisting Coach Wilma in the Junior Primary with professional stroke correction classes and Learn to Swim lessons.

Coach Mandy holds a Swimming South Africa Learn to Swim Instructors’ Certificate, as well as current First Aid, CPR and Lifesaving SPA certificates.

Sporting highlights: 3 1996/2000/2008 Multiple national champion in 200 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM Double Silver medallist at Commonwealth Games 2002 in 100m Fly and 4 x 100m Medley relay Multiple African and South African record holder

Coaching: 2000 - 2012 Little Dolphins swim school teaching stroke correction 2008 - 2010 Planet Fitness swim school teaching stroke correction and fitness coaching 2013 Reddam House swimming coach 2014 - 2015 Crawford College swimming coach 2014 - 2016 Seals Club Coach 2017 - Current: Mandy Loots Swim School

P11 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Launching the Dept of Hockey SA at Durban Girls College

Durban Girls’ College is excited to announce the Dept of Hockey SA has launched at DGC.

Jonty Robinson and his team will be coaching our Senior Primary and High School players.

The goal is to develop technically sound, tactically astute, physically proficient players that are high performers.

Coaching is available to Senior Primary girls from outside schools.

For more information, contact: Alex Robinson 073 549 3021 [email protected]

P12 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za Wellness @ DGC Club Zero Fitness is an enthusiastic team of dedicated, well qualified and experienced Fitness Professionals led by Hayley Cassim and Tamlyn Wheeler. The on-campus functional training facility is well-equipped and caters to both the DGC family & outside individuals, with the main focus being on enhancing the health and fitness of the DGC girls.

A variety of programs run within the gym including Zumba, staff Yoga (to keep them calm!), personal training and daily group exercise sessions for those who prefer an alternative to the conventional school sports, or those wanting a fun session in addition to their sport. Out on the field Hayley takes care of the more serious off-season fitness programs to ensure that the girls maintain their fitness levels and improve their performance through sports specific conditioning. “

A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life. “ John Wooden

P13 [email protected] www.dgc.co.za