Port Alfred Easter Festival Finishes With A Bang – Rip Curl Cup and GromSearch Premier U16 Winners and the Masibambisana Boxing Tournament

Daniel Emslie and Louise Lepront Win The Rip Curl Cup, Josh Malherbe and Louise Lepront Take The Honours in the Rip Curl GromSearch Premier U16 Divison. Both events were presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel and supported by Sea Harvest. These surf tournaments were anchor events in the Port Alfred Easter Festival, presented by Sunshine Coast Tourism.

East Beach, Port Alfred – A very stoked Daniel Emslie and Louise Lepront banked R20k winner’s prize money each in the inaugural Rip Curl Cup Port Alfred presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel and supported by Sea Harvest. They took on all-comers to claim the first victory and awesome silverware in small but clean conditions at East Beach in Port Alfred.

The Rip Curl Cup Open Women’s was a close affair. Natasha Van Greunen came on strong towards the end, but Louise Lepront held the lead until the final siren, taking the R20k first prize cheque for her efforts. She also won the GromSearch title and was incredibly stoked to do the double.

“I am so happy to have won,” said the SA Junior team member Lepront. “It is a great feeling to have won both, and the prize money will go toward my trip to the World Games.”

In the Rip Curl Cup Open Men’s Division, Daniel Emslie, on the recovery trail after a recent leg injury, was the deserving winner with a very tight and dynamic backhand display on the left bowls of East Beach.

Dan Emslie © Louis Wulff

“The last year has been one of the worst years of my life in terms of contest surfing, and the win couldn’t have come at a better time for me personally,” said Emslie. “I just love Port Alfred so much and am an active member of the Kowie Boardriders, so this place is like a second home to me.”

The Premier U16 Rip Curl GromSearch finals were another tumultuous set of heats, with the very impressive Louise Lepront emerging victorious and proving her supremacy in women’s surfing in the country at the moment.

In the Boy’s division, Josh Malherbe put on the best performance of the heat, which earned him the judges’ nod and the win. Josh was on point throughout, finding the gems and performing high-risk moves for the judge’s approval.

The RoseHill SPAR Expression Session was fast and furious, with all surfers wanting to snag one of the R2,5k prizes up for grabs. In the end, Remi Fourie took the Best Move award for R2,5k, and Surprise Maphumulo won the Best Air award for R2,5k.

Masibambisana Boxing Tournament and Vuyani ‘The Beast’ Bungu

Former world boxing champion Vuyani “The Beast” Bungu, a V.i.P. guest, brought flair and excitement to the Masimbambisana Development tournament at Jauka Hall in Nemato Township.

The Beast, who defended his IBF Super Bantamweight title a record 13 times in an illustrious career in the mid-90s, looked on as the young upstarts traded blows at the tournament, which was incorporated into the Port Alfred Easter Festival.

Vuyani “The Beast” Bungu and fans © Mark Carrels

Carrying with him an assortment of belts won in his storied career, Bungu motivated the youngsters by sharing some pearls of wisdom during a break in proceedings.

Nemato Handball Exhibition
The Nemato Change a Life youth, a testament to their skill and dedication, showcased their talent in a game of beach handball at West Beach during the Port Alfred Easter Festival. Introduced by Nemato Change a Life founder Jan Blom in 2012, handball, an established sport in Europe, has found a serious following among Nemato youth. Goalkeeper Asiviwe Matyu had quite a busy time in goal, demonstrating his commitment to the game.

© Mark Carrels

Sunshine Coast Croquet Challenge
The Sunshine Coast Croquet Challenge, a testament to its inclusivity and diversity, saw an impressive 15 pairs from various locations, some even from as far afield as East London, participating. This event, part of the Port Alfred Easter Festival, was proudly sponsored by the St Andrews Hotel. The doubles teams, united in their love for the sport, sported colourful ‘team’ shirts, adding to the spirit of the day.

The competition consisted of each doubles team playing 4 to 5 handicap games on Saturday. All players and friends enjoyed a build-a-burger lunch and an evening braai. The finals were played on Sunday.

The results are as follows:
A Section winners: 1st: Barry Burmeister & Andries Nkoso; 2nd and 3rd: Ellen Wolmarans & Lynne du Plessis; and Roger & Sue Darkes respectively.

The finalists of the A Section. L – R: Barry Burmeister (winner), Lynne du Plessis

& Ellen Wolmarans (runners-up), Andries Nkoso (winner)

B Section winners: 1st: Barrie Stevenson & Dale Hare; 2nd and 3rd: Wilf & Dee Slade; and Wim Schultz & Shaun McGillewie, respectively. Congrats all around.Thanks again to the St Andrews Hotel for their generous sponsorship and support. It truly is appreciated!