Robyn Kime (22), a fourth-year Engineering student, is a great example of an all- rounder. Not only has she proven herself as one of the best female canoeists in South Africa over the last few years, but she is also one of the top students in the Faculty of Engineering. Eunice Visagie caught up with Robyn between exams. ALL-ROUNDER Photo: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media Grote/Gameplan Anthony Photo: ROBYN KIME How would you describe your 2011 sponsorship with a new canoeing team (Best4 season? & Kayak Centre) until the end of April. I’d like to win a race or two, keep on top of my studies and It has been a difficult year, and I am glad it is is Maties’ rising other commitments, and have fun. coming to an end. Especially the final semester of Engineering studies has been very hectic, What are some of the lessons you canoe star and there hasn’t really been enough time to fit learned from canoeing? anything in. t the tender age of 19, she won the prestigious Canoeing down rivers is always a bit of an Berg River Canoe Marathon as a rookie – only How do you find a balance between adventure, and things don’t always go your way Athe second female paddler to do so. In 2010, she studies and paddling? or according to plan, but you learn to tolerate defended her ‘Berg’ title successfully. She continued this, think quickly and find a way to get out of I try to keep generally fit most of the time, but her winning streak in 2010 by also winning the Fish problematic situations. As with most things in life, the biggest canoe marathons for me are luckily at River Canoe Marathon, paddling with Michelle Eray if you stay calm and keep going, things generally the end of the two long holidays (the Duzi Canoe (K2). With this performance she secured the Maties turn out okay. Overcoming challenges on rivers Marathon in January/February and the Berg River women’s team the USSA 2010 Championships title. is exciting and gives you confidence to take on Canoe Marathon in July), so I get time to train In the 2011 Dusi, the biggest canoeing event of its other challenges in life. While canoeing, you get to kind in the world, Robyn won the ladies race by over hard for these in the holidays. For the first three experience beautiful places and learn to appreciate 20 minutes. In the process, she broke the under-21 years of studying, I’ve managed to do most of my nature, but you also see some terrible pollution record as well as the Day 2 race record. outside-the-class hours of academic work during and the effects of irresponsible human behaviour. With the 2011 Berg River Canoe Marathon marking the the test week and exam periods only, and have Experiencing this contrast can make you think and 50th anniversary of the race, it attracted the biggest had enough time to train most evenings for the try to be responsible in the way you live. and strongest field yet. The battle for the women’s rest of the term time. But this year, the volume title between Robyn (defending champion) and past of work has increased significantly, and I’ve had What is a typical day like for you? Olympian and reigning world surf-ski champion Michelle to spend long hours in the evenings working and I wake up early and have a trail run, yoga, an Eray received noteworthy media attention both before haven’t managed to get enough exercise or sleep, exercise session, or I sleep in. Then I have and during the event, with Robyn finishing second so my fitness has dropped a lot. I’m sure I will be breakfast, a shower, and get to class at 08:00 or behind Michelle in the ladies race, and 36th overall. able to build it up again soon, though. 09:00. I have classes most of the morning, and a On the academic side, she received the 2010 tutorial or other work most of the afternoon. I try CONCOR prize for best third-year student in What are your goals for 2012? to fit in a paddling session, run or other exercise Informatics, and the Bergstan South Africa prize for I will be studying towards a master’s degree in for one to two hours in the evening. Then it is best third-year student in Civil Engineering (2010). She Civil Engineering, will remain involved in the time for supper, maybe some work, and get to was also elected as chairperson for the Maties Canoe management of the canoe club, and have a bed as early as possible. Club for 2011/2012. 60 MATIELAND SOMER2011 Maties het die afgelope paar maande weer welslae op die sportveld behaal, maar dit was veral die kleiner sportsoorte wat die kollig gesteel het. EQUESTRIAN SPORT STARS RUGBY Maties Equestrian has Heerden Herman Nie minder nie as vyf upgraded its facilities (swimming) and Kathleen voormalige Matiespelers KRIEKET significantly. Twenty stables Taylor (hockey) were named het in die pas afgelope Lenert van Wyk het were rebuilt and enlarged, five Maties’ Sportsman and Wêreldbekerrugby vir Suid-Afrika by die new stables were added, the Sportswoman for 2011. This Suid-Afrika uitgedraf. Hongkong-sessetoernooi lunge ring and jumping arena was the second consecutive Hulle is Jean de Villiers, verteenwoordig. Van Wyk were upgraded and, finally, a year that Herman received Schalk Burger, Gio Aplon, new, Olympic-size dressage is die afgelope twee jaar the award. Ernst van CYCLING Juan de Jongh en Francois arena – the Jackie Wiese Arena Maties Krieket se Speler Dyk (hand cycling) also Maties’ Christiaan Kriek Louw. Dit was Burger se – was built. The upgrades van die Jaar. Ofskoon dit kept his title as Maties’ has won 12 races so far derde Wêreldbeker en De offer competitive riders nie ’n goeie toernooi vir Disabled Sportsman of the this year. He managed Villiers se tweede. ’n Aantal the chance to prepare for Suid-Afrika was nie, het Year, while Renette Bloem these victories in road Matiespelers het ook vir competitions, and also enable Van Wyk uitgeblink met (swimming) was named and mountain bike races. ander lande hul verskyning better riding instruction. kolf en bal. Disabled Sportswoman of His most prominent gemaak. Dagbreek- Maties Equestrian competes the Year. Pierre de Roubaix victories came at the manskoshuis het sy eie in various disciplines, ranging capped off a successful 99er road race, where stukkie geskiedenis gemaak from dressage, show jumping evening for the swimming he got the better of the deur in ’n enkele wedstryd and eventing to Polocrosse. A club by receiving the award South African champion drie voormalige inwoners club member, Cecilia Jacobs, as Individual Coach of the Darren Lill. He also won op die veld te hê. Hulle is participated in the Polocrosse Year. Waterpolo’s Douglas the gruelling AMArider Gio Aplon vir Suid-Afrika, World Cup in the United Schooling was named Team 100Miler mountain en Jané du Toit en Danie Kingdom. On the photo from Coach of the Year, while the bike race. In addition, van Wyk, wat vir Namibië left to right is Prof Julian women’s waterpolo team Kriek and Jos le Roux gespeel het. Dagbreek het NETBALL Smith, Vice-Rector: Community got the award for 2011’s best represented South ook vanjaar se Sauerbeker The Maties netball Interaction and Personnel; team achievement. On the Africa at the Student vir koshuise ingepalm team ended its season Champion Ms Jackie Wiese, photo above are Kathleen Games in China. Kriek deur Helderberg 20-8 in undefeated, and Director: Maties Sport, and Taylor on the left and and finished in the top ten of die eindstryd te klop. Die managed to cap it off Mr Wentzel Barnard, Sport Heerden Herman on the the road and mountain koshuis het ook die US se with winning the Boland Manager: Horseriding, at the right. bike race. sportbeker vir 2011 verower. Super League. new dressage arena. ATLETIEK SWIMMING KANOVAART Die 21-jarige Matie At the Para Pan Pacific Games Maties Pierre-André Rabie en Robyn Kime (sien berig Cornel Fredericks in Canada, Maties’ Charl hiernaas) het vanjaar albei tweede in hul onderskeie het by die wêreld- Bouwer smashed the world afdelings van die 50ste Bergrivier-kanomarathon atletiekbyeenkoms in record in the 100 m freestyle geëindig. Hoewel Kime die ‘Berg’ al twee keer Daegu, Korea, gewys for Class S13 in a time of 52,98 vantevore gewen het, was dit Rabie se beste vertoning ’n blink toekoms wag seconds. At the Student Games tot nog toe. By die 30ste Visrivier-kanomarathon het op hom. Fredericks het in China, Heerden Herman just Rabie, wat die o. 23-afdeling saam met Andy Birkett vyfde geëindig in die missed out on a medal with gewen het, Maties gehelp om die Intervarsity-titel te eindronde van die 100 m-hekkies. Dit was Fredericks a fourth place in the 800 m verower. Lance Kime en Stuart MaClaren was tweede se eerste deelname aan die wêreldbyeenkoms. freestyle. in dié afdeling. MATIELAND SOMER2011 61.