Category: Racing

In 1975, women were finally allowed to run the Comrades Marathon and we’ve seen many female greats at The Ultimate Human Race since then, in ever increasing numbers. Now, in a bid to grow participation of women at Comrades still further, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) and Vital Health Foods teamed up to bring women across SA a seminar that provided essential advice needed in their Comrades preparation. These seminars were aimed at arming sisters with the psychological and technical information they need to help them fuel their drive for road running and achieve their Comrades goal.

KEEPING HEALTHY
The great thing about the seminars were the various Q&A panels, where the ladies could ask the various experts and Comrades veterans about their concerns to the lead-up to one of the world’s most gruelling races. “These essentially revolved around the menstrual cycle and some complications around that for specific individuals,” says Comrades Coach Lindsey Parry, “as well as bathroom usage on the move, bra recommendations and possible supplementation around iron and bone density loss.”

Vital Health Foods dietician Andrea Du Plessis also outlined some nutrition tips for women in training, and dealt with questions around hydration and the energy supplements runners use during the run. Some of Andrea’s top nutrition tips included:

• Sustained energy: For long distances, a low-GI breakfast option such as Vital Original Muesli is ideal, as it ensures sustained energy release.
• Recovery nutrition: Within the first 30 to 60 minutes after a long or intense run, try to ingest a combination of fruit juice or fruit and milk or yoghurt, as this provides the carbohydrates, fluid, electrolytes and amino acids your muscles need to recover best.
• Oil those joints: To support joint mobility and to help in the nutrition management of inflammation, take 1000mg Omega 3 per day. Vital Arthrit Ease is another product that can help with joint mobility, a safe alternative to the anti-inflammatory medicines that one cannot take during an ultra-endurance event.

Vital and the CMA say they are determined to make women’s running more comfortable, and make it that much easier and accessible for women to reach their running goals, and these seminars have gone a long to do just that.

Your legs are beginning to feel the strain of the continual pounding of each step as the sun climbs ever higher and the heat begins to take its toll. You feel like you’ve been running for hours, when suddenly you look to your left and see a long stretch of snow-white beach stretching endlessly up the Cape coastline. Directly below is the deep blue with patches of emerald green sea, breaking tirelessly against the cliff face, and you are gripped by the sheer beauty. You’re running one of South Africa’s most beautiful races…

That’s what you should be imagining right now, reading this article a short while before you’re due to run the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon. Because with only a few weeks to go until race day, the hard work is done. It’s now time to start thinking about tapering and ensuring that you line up at the start rested and ready to race. As you move into these last few weeks, forget about trying to squeeze in any additional mileage. Rather focus on sharpening up and adding the finishing touches to your preparation:

• Shorter training sessions with quicker repeats will ensure that your legs are turning over quickly and efficiently.
• Get to a sports massage therapist who is able to get rid of the knots which have formed in the muscles as a result of the hard training of the past months.

VISUALISE
Now is the time to begin to visualise the route and the race. Close your eyes and see yourself walking toward the start area. Hear the music blaring out from the PA system. Feel the excitement and adrenaline of your fellow runners as they cheerfully laugh and chat nervously around you. Feel yourself controlling your anxiety and keeping your nerves under wraps as you hold onto the quiet confidence deep within your being. A confidence that says, “I can do this. I’ve worked hard for this. I’m ready for this.” Feel yourself moving with the throng around you as the gun jump starts your heart and gets you underway. Visualisation is one of the most important aspects of race day success, yet the most neglected by so many runners.

There’s also a misconception among runners that your performance or achievements on race day are dependent on ‘the day.’ While this may be true to a point, our fate lies not with the running gods, but rather in how well we have prepared for the race. There are certainly aspects of race day we cannot control, like the weather, picking up a stomach bug or a last-minute change in the route. But those things only account for a very small percentage of the day. The other 90% are things that we can control, and with adequate preparation and planning, we place our success in our own hands.

 

RACE DAY TIPS

So when it comes to race day tips, tip number 1 is PLAN, PLAN and PLAN some more. If it rains again this year, what is your strategy going to be? What if it’s a cooker of a day? Try to factor in all the possibilities, and here are a few other tips for race day:

•  Apply plasters, lube and sun-block before heading out the door. This way it’s done and no need stressing if there’s a delay getting to the start.

•  Leave your accommodation with plenty of time to spare and get into your seeding pen as soon as possible.

•  Cut your toe nails a few days before race day, NOT the night before. This way there’ll be no rough edges – and you won’t forget.

•  Stop at a garage along the way for your last-minute loo needs to avoid the queues at the port-a-loos.

•  Agree on a meeting spot at the finish with your family the night before.

•  And my final and most important tip: NOTHING new on race day. Try and keep to your usual diet and eating routine in the few days before the race. Stick to the nutrition strategy you’ve used on long training runs and use the same gels or energy drinks. Don’t be tempted to try anything new.

 

GOOD LUCK and have a great race!

At the beginning of October, the headline bout at EFC
Africa 24 at Carnival City in Johannesburg saw Garreth ‘Soldierboy’ McLellan
regain the EFC (Extreme Fighting Championship) middleweight title from Jeremy ‘Pitbull’
Smith in an aggressive bout that went to the ground in the first round. Garreth
pinned Smith to the mat while landing a devastating elbow to the nose, and with
Smith gushing blood, Garreth applied a rear naked chokehold and forced Smith to
tap out. After months of regaining form and fitness following a double-knee
operation late last year, Soldierboy held the champ’s belt again. “My mind was in
a better place,” he says. “I knew Smith was going to be strong and quick, but I
remained positive.”

 

NATURAL FIGHTER

Garreth’s talent on the rugby field at school in
Durban took him to the Sharks Rugby Academy in 2007. With a focus on getting
fit for and learning the tricks of playing hooker, he started working with Sharks
fitness coach Jason Vorster, who used MMA as
part of the of the training programme. MMA is a full-on combat sport that
allows grappling and striking techniques from a range of different martial arts:
Judo, boxing, muay thai, karate, wrestling, sambo and jiu jitsu. “Jason was
impressed with what I could do, so I thought I’d look into MMA, and from there
it was just a massive snowball effect on my career,” says Gareth. “I moved up
to Jo’burg, where EFC started up, and now the sport has grown substantially!”

 

As an amateur, Garreth boasted an
undefeated 10-0 fighting record. He turned pro after a year of fighting, and
then joined EFC in 2009, where he went on a three-year undefeated streak before
becoming the middleweight champ in 2011. His reign was short-lived, however, as
Smith took the title away early in 2012, and Garreth was then sidelined by a
knee injury, but he worked hard to regain fitness and moved back up the
rankings to become number one contender for the title. “The preparation this
year has seen me in the best shape and more confident than before,” he says. “With
my family and church behind me, I also had the support.”

 

HARD WORK

For the new champ, training consists
of four to six hours a day, six days a week, and each session includes technical
training, conditioning and strength work. Sundays are set aside for running, rowing
or cycling, where Garreth focuses on cardio – although he does sometimes take
the day off for a relaxing round of golf. “I have to prioritise running,
because it helps me maintain my weight. As a middleweight competitor, I have to
sit on 84kg, so the sessions keep me lean,” he says. “Running is also good to
wind down after tough conditioning work, and you can clear the head for a bit!”
Garreth also concentrates on rest and recovery, which involves stretching,
pilates and swimming. “We push our bodies to the max, so it’s also about rest
and eating well – high protein, lots of veg, and the right vitamins.”

 

Looking ahead, Garreth aims to hold
on to the title he worked so hard to regain, and he hopes to get his big break
on the international stage. “I’ve learnt from experience and I’ve adapted as a
fighter,” he says. “I believe that I’m supposed to be doing this.”

 

Follow Garreth on Twitter:
@SoldierboyInc

OTTER TRAIL RUN PRESENTED BY SALOMON & GU, NATURES VALLEY, 22 SEPTEMBER

 

A
running battle of epic proportions played out on the famous Otter Hiking Trail as
arguably the strongest field of trail runners yet to square up on African soil
took on the marathon-length course. Amongst the men, World Champion Ricky
Lightfoot became the first international runner to claim victory here, dominating
from the start to clock 4:15:27 and shatter the 4:40:15 course record set by
Ryan Sandes. Second place went to 2012 Retto winner Ian Don Wauchope (4:24:33),
who used the penultimate climb to move from sixth to second place, while AJ
Calitz was third in 4:27:03.

 

In
the woman’s race, New Zealand’s Ruby Muir led from early on and finished in a
time of 4:55:34, while South African favourite Landie Greyling was never far
off the pace, but could not close down the break, finishing second in 4:58:57
and also breaking Jeannie Bomford’s previous record of 5:17:12. Nicolette
Griffioen was third in 5:24:57.

 

The
Otter Run, now in its fifth year, has established itself as the benchmark event
for marathon distance trail running in SA and is on the bucket list of most
South African endurance athletes, since the five-day hiking trail is off-limits
to trail runners for 363 days a year. With almost 3000m of vertical ascent and
the infamous Bloukrans River mouth crossing, the Grail of Trail is a
relentlessly technical race worthy of its reputation.

Stephen
says that women shouldn’t rush a sports bra purchase. “The key to choosing and
fitting a sports bra is function and comfort. You wouldn’t run in Stilettos
would you?” Says Stephen. Stephen claims that many women walk into a store and
think they know their size when in fact there are many things to take into
account.

Ladies this is what you should look
out for! – Stephen van Niekerk:

1.   
Make
sure there is Rigid fabric in the
cups and a strong shoulder straps
with little to no movement. This is where your support stems from.

 

2.   
To ensure moisture
management,
choose a microfiber or technical fabric with great moisture management. If you
keep your skin dry you will reduce friction and increase comfort.

 

3.   
Try
your bra on before you buy it and do the
bounce test (requires jumping in the change room). You will know
immediately if the bra is going to give you the support you need.

 

4.   
There
should be ‘no spillage!’ Sports bras
are meant to be snug not restrictive or tight.
If you have spillage, It’s likely too small. There should not be a cleavage
either, as this suggests that it is too tight.

 

5.   
If
you are on a weight loss program or training for a marathon it is good to get a
bra with an adjustable strap at the back as you will most likely need to
tighten it later on.

 

6.   
Always
check to see that the back strap is level on your back. If it arches up, it is likely
too small, if it droops down then it is too big.

 

7.   
Shoulder
straps must be adjustable. This allows you not only to get the correct length
over the shoulder but it helps fit the cup correctly. If you have any kind of
fabric puckering in the cup you may need to adjust the shoulder strap, but not
so tight that it pulls the back strap up.

 

8.   
There
needs to be a good ‘under bust contact.’
Many ladies complain about chaffing under their bust. There are many causes for
this: Poor moisture management, an under bust band that collapses (folds over),
poor elasticity under bust band offering little contact with the skin. Your bra
should move with your body and NOT you with it.

 

Sidebar

FACEBOOK FEEDBACK

 

What do you look for when
shopping for sports bras?:

Mpho Sello: Favourite
brand is Shock Absober!
What I look for: Comfortable straps, simple fastening mechanism, no fancy
clasps that are likely to break and hard to find. No wiring.

Connie De Villiers Blom:  We cannot find a “A” cup sports bra
anywhere….

Ellie Courts Seamless (or
as few as possible) and with no fasteners. This helps to prevent chafing when
wearing a hydration pack. I prefer FALKE

Lauren Paterson Under Armour
make a stunning br! No chafing at Comrades this year- what a win! Supportive,
comfortable and awesome colours too.

Natasha Erica Papini Support and
adjustable straps! I hate wearing a pretty running top and having thick straps
sticking out and ruining it

Jennifer Joynt Lots of
support I use shock absorber the one with the figure 8 that is advertised
especially for us fuller breasted runners. There aren’t many brands that make
comfortable full support

 

Come the end of the year and there’s usually a mad
rush in the form of end-of-year closing, long working hours before going on
leave, family get-togethers, last-minute Christmas shopping, and ensuring you
have everything bought and packed for the holiday you’ve been planning for the
last six months. So, while you might feel overwhelmed, there’s always a way to
fit training into your hectic schedule.

 

PLAN AHEAD

The best way to approach training over the next two to
three months is to actually sit down and plan. Look at the calendar, identify
the days where you can or can’t train, and decide what session you will do on
the days you’ve allocated.

 

If you plan your training and think about it up front,
you know what you need to do and there’s a good chance that you will do it. On
the other hand, if you’re waking up each morning and thinking, “what should I
run today? Should I do a 10k or 800m repeats? Maybe I should do hill repeats.
Ah, I’ll decide later…” then there’s a very good chance that you’ll simply end
up skipping the session altogether. You’ll probably end up saying, “I don’t
really feel like training today,” or “I’ll do a hard session tomorrow,” and before
you know it January has rolled around, you’ve lost your fitness, packed on the
pounds and have a huge amount of work ahead of you. So plan your training, put
your run session into your diary or calendar, and you’ll find that you have the
time for it.

 

THE WORKING ATHLETE

If work pressure is simply too much, then you’re going
to have to squeeze some training in where you can. Everyone needs to take a
break at some point during their work day, so prioritise that time for a short
quality run. Not only will this ensure that you keep your fitness levels up,
but it will also rejuvenate you and leave you feeling fresh for the rest of the
day.

 

The other possibility is to run to and from work. Now
if work is only 5km or so away, a run there and back is perfect – and it definitely
beats sitting in traffic! But what if you work 10km from home? In that case,
try the following. On Tuesday, drive to work with your running kit and a change
of work clothes for Wednesday, then leave the car at the office and run home
after work on Tuesday, and run back to work on Wednesday morning. Take the car
home on Wednesday evening. Not only is this a great way to fit your training in,
but it also adds something different and adventurous to your training. (Oh, and
shower facilities at work are must-have on this one.)

 

FIND TIME

If you’re going to supper at friends or family, tell
your spouse or partner that you’ll meet them there and run from your house to
theirs. Your spouse can always drive the same route you’re going to be running,
just in case you’ve bitten off more than you can chew and need a lift for the
last few kays. Another option is the gym, as most gyms are open until 10pm
during the week. If you simply cannot get to your run before, during or after
work, try going home and spending some quality time with your family before
hitting the gym and getting in your run on the treadmill. Set it to between 1%
and 5% incline and give yourself a solid 30 to 45min session.

 

You can always fit your running
into your busy lifestyle and schedule. Just give it a little thought and
planning and you’ll come up with many creative ways to do so. If you’re
dedicated to your fitness and goals, then scheduling training will become a
priority.

Gugu Zulu always wanted to drive: “When I was still very young, I remember my mom asked me what I want to be one day and I said I want to be a driver. She asked me what kind of driver I’d be and I always replied with the same thing: I’ll just be a driver.” His dream came true in 1997 when he saw an advert in The Sowetan calling for more black people in motorsport, and he grabbed the opportunity to participate in a development programme with the Isondo Racing Academy.

The Saturday development schools at Kyalami started off in go-karts to introduce youngsters to the sport and Gugu flourished behind the wheel. Two years later, he was one of 17 drivers to be chosen in trials and in 2000 Gugu won the Vodacom Isondo Sports national championship, winning 13 out of 16 races and with two second places. His 11-year career now boasts many podium finishes under his longstanding mentor Sarel Van Der Merwe and racing for Volkswagen SA. “It’s been great to be involved in what I love doing,” says Gugu. “I even got the opportunity to race against F1 driver Sergio P?rez and IndyCar driver Marco Andretti in the USA – on occasions the timesheets show that I was quickest!”

Now, the racing world’s ‘fastest brother in Africa’ will be trading in an engine and steering wheel for pedals and handlebars as he takes on the gruelling ABSA Cape Epic off-road race. “I want to honour the ride in the 10th anniversary of the event,” says Gugu. “It will be a huge tick off my bucket list and I have so much respect for the event – you get average guys racing with the best in the world!”

THE CYCLING BUG BITES
Gugu’s love for motorsport and cycling both began at a young age when he owned his first BMX and collected various car magazines. He would often cycle from Soweto to Randburg and back with friends, taking photographs of cars he admired along the way. “I controlled my own fitness back in high school by riding to Parktown Boys High every day, and after my dad took me to varsity in Midrand a few times, he told me to find my own way to get to classes.” After discovering a hole in the middle of his taxi and landing up in Alexandra on an obscure route, Gugu knew that he needed a bike. “I remember my dad and I going to Makro where I got a mountain bike. I then rode 17km to varsity every day, besides some of the rainy days.”

Gugu soon got involved in mountain biking, and has also completed nine Momentum 94.7 Cycle races and three Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tours. He feels that training for the Cape Epic fits in well with his rally career: “In both cases, you go over rivers and bumps, and cycling has definitely sharpened my concentration in the car!” Another bonus is that Gugu and long-time girlfriend Letshego Moshoeu will be racing the Epic together, and he says he is grateful for an active, adventurous partner.

SHARING THE GOAL
“Letshego was the runner and introduced me to running,” says Gugu, “while I introduced her to cycling. The last three years, we’ve run the Two Oceans Marathon together – she does the ultra while I do the half, and this year the Two Oceans half will be my recovery run after the Epic. Gugu adds that the Epic is but a stepping stone – next they’re planning to work on their swimming to train for Ironman. “Some riders have partners who don’t understand why they compete and train – luckily I don’t have that problem. Riding with Letshego is amazing. We support each other, we have common goals, and we share a healthy lifestyle.”

 

Gugu admits that the Epic will be a big test for him, but most importantly he’s ready to have fun. “I have a very competitive nature, but I just want to cross the finish and enjoy this amazing experience.” Giving back is also important to Gugu, so he will be riding the Epic on behalf of the JAG Foundation and JAG Riders Programme, which focuses on cycling as a means to empower the youth of disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape. “Sport can make the difference – it affects the way you approach life, they way you strategise, discipline yourself and work with people.”

PREVIEW

Entries for the
inaugural AdventureLisa Forest Run opened in mid-December and more than half of
the 100 entry slots have already been filled. “I’ve kept the maximum entry
number low because I love running events where I feel like I’m the only person
out there,” says organiser Lisa De Speville. “As the field spreads, runners may
find themselves running alone on pretty forest roads and trails, surrounded
only by trees and the sound of their breathing. Total bliss!”

 

Forest Run will be
held on a forest plantation near the town of Belfast in Mpumulanga. At 1900 metres
above sea level, it’s a high altitude location, and the route is rolling, with
gentle ascents and descents, and a total elevation gain of less than 1000
metres for the entire 62km course. “It’s a ‘friendly’ course, because there is
no gnarly terrain underfoot and no nasties – like bone-jarring downhills or
slow-slogging ups. Mid- to back-of-the-field runners will be on their feet for
six to 12 hours,” says Lisa.

 

Over the past two
months, she has received a number of questions from runners, and she answers
them below.

 

I’ve never run more than 25km. Do you think I’d make it?

You’ve got two
options. The first is to do the solo run, and you can walk parts of it. My
guess is that the route can be run-walked in around 11 hours if you just keep
moving. The less-intimidating alternative is to enter as a relay pair. The
first runner will cover 35km and the second runner does 27km.

 

I’m a roadie and this is my first trail race. Do I need
trail shoes?

You can do this race
in your road shoes, but keep in mind that if it rains it could be quite sloshy
and slippery, and road shoes don’t have the same traction as trail shoes. As
far as the terrain goes, there is nothing on the route that will jab at the undersides
of your feet.

 

Will there be a pre-race
briefing?

Yes, on race day, you’ll need to check in and collect your race number
between 5:30am and 6:40am, then I’ll do a quick race briefing. Make
sure that you’ve read the race information page on the Forest Run website, because if you contravene
these very basic requirements, you will unfortunately be banned from any future
events that I organise.

 

I’d like to stay at Lakenvlei,
but it is just me and my friend. How can we find other runners to fill an eight-sleeper
chalet?

Give the Forest Run Facebook
page a try (details below).

 

How long does it take to get to
the race venue from Jo’burg?

It takes me 2.5 hours to drive to Belfast from Jo’burg (I’m near
Gilloolies). The turn-off for Lakenvlei Lodge is 10km from Belfast, then
there’s a 6km paved road leading down to the Lodge (the start).

 

Should I stay in Belfast,
Dullstroom or at Lakenvlei Lodge?

The race venue, Lakenvlei Lodge, is convenient for race day, but coming
through from Belfast, Dullstroom and other accommodation venues is easy, as Lakenvlei
is situated between the two towns. Belfast is closer, but it doesn’t have many
options for eating out, so Dullstroom would be a better option.

 

More info at www.forestrun.co.za
or www.facebook.com/adventurelisaforestrun

Our Forest Journey

 

Modern Athlete will be represented at Forest Run by editor Michelle Carnegie and advertising executive Janice Pondicas, who will be tackling the route as a team.

 

Michelle Carnegie: Since the beginning of January I have added longer runs to my weekend
training schedule, with my longest run so far being 26km. Part of my long run
is on trails, which I absolutely love. I am focusing on speed sessions during
the week as well as a weekly hill sessions. I am planning to run the Pick n Pay
Half Marathon to ascertain my fitness level, and I am counting down the days to
Forest Run! What fun it is going to be.

 

Janice Pondicas: In December I started doing gym and now incorporate a weight training
session three times a week, as I need to improve my core and upper body
strength, which is my greatest weakness. I have also started doing trail runs
every Saturday and longer road runs of about 25km on a Sunday. My weekday runs
consist of a lot of hill running, and I ran the Dis-Chem Half Marathon very
comfortably. So far I am on track for Forest Run – just have to stay injury
free!

Brought to you by K-way

WORD
& PICS BY JACQUES MARAIS

 WHY GO

If
you dare to trip into the Northern Cape beyond the uppermost reaches of the
Cederberg ranges, you will discover the hidden beauty of what probably rates as
one of South Africa’s least-known nature reserves, the dramatic Oorlogskloof,
where you will find a combination of caves and cliff-top trails with the full gamut of
everything from desert fynbos to deep-forest single-track.

 

WHAT YOU GET

The arid Northern Cape terrain is crisscrossed by an extensive network
of gravel roads and hiking trails tailor-made for experienced mountain goats.
The main route options generally circumscribe the deep and spectacular gorge –
up to 500m wide in places – eroded by the Oorlogskloof River.

 

WHERE TO RUN

There are a number of trails to
choose from, plus various combinations structured around the existing seven-day
hiking trail. Officially, you can choose from the
options below:

One-Day Circular Routes:

?        
Leopard Trap Day Hike – 15.5km

?        
Revile Day Hike – 17.9km

?        
Sailor Day Hike – 5.2km

Four-day to Seven-day Circular
Routes:

?        
Rock Pigeon Route – 52.2km

?        
Rameron Pigeon Route – 52.4km

 

The annual Oorlogskloof Mountain Trail Runs (part
of the SPUR Country Classics Series) include both 42km and 18km mountain run
options, plus a fun 5km, held every year at the end of April. Due to the
remoteness of this wilderness area, the event is only open to teams of two
runners, to ensure competitor safety, and the event starts and finishes at
Groot Tuin, at the reserve entrance 16km from Nieuwoudtville.

 

The 42km
run route follows a combination of various hiking trails, meandering between
rock formations toward the edge of ‘Saaikloof’ before you dip toward
Spelonkkop. Cross the Oorlogskloof River to follow the contour below cliffs
before dropping down to the river. The normal hiking trail carries on past
‘Eland se Kliphuis’ and into the Rietvlei Valley. Here the route twists and
turns along the valley floor, onto plateaus and escarpments, through numerous
arches, squeezing through narrow cracks in rocks and cliffs. Finally, head back
to Groot Tuin along the escarpment overlooking the arid Knersvlakte, passing
through some dense patches of montane forest.

 

If you plan
to run outside this event, a map with detailed info is available when you
obtain your permit from Nature Conservation in Goedehoop Street,
Nieuwoudtville.

 

Oorlogskloof 42km Trail Run Fast
Facts

?        
Grading: Extreme.

?        
Duration: 5 to
10 hours.

?        
Configuration: Circular route.
Trail markings:  Clay tiles, wooden signs or stone cairns.

?        
Facilities: Basic huts/tents along trail; water in river
year-round.
Cell reception:
No coverage.

?        
Beware: Dehydration,
snakes and loose rocks.

?        
Best
time of year: Winter rains and red-hot, dry summers.

 

GETTING THERE

The
turn-off to Oorlogskloof is 6km east of Nieuwoudtville on the R27; look out for
a sign to the reserve and turn left (south) along a rough jeep-track for just
on 10km to Groot Tuin. GPS:
31?26’38.07″S / 19? 4’13.68″E. Local info: www.northerncape.org.za
/ Tel: 027 218 1159.

 

STAY HERE

Check out
www.nieuwoudtville.co.za or www.papkuilsfontein.co.za.

Most of us know the basic
rules of touch rugby, but in 6-Down, teams have six ‘downs,’ or restarts, to
score a try, after which possession is turned over. When touched while carrying
the ball, a player must place the ball on the ground and step over it – this is
called a rollball – and a teammate then picks up and continues play. “The game
is virtually non-stop, so you need to be really fit,” says Gill, “and there is
a lot of strategy involved. We use a driving strategy to draw the defence in on
the initial downs, then closer to the try line we use line moves.”

 

The sport is played by
teams of six players on a half rugby field, with rolling subs, either in men’s,
women’s or mixed (minimum three women) combinations. “The nice thing about
6-Down is that it is cheap to play – you just need a field and a ball – and you
can play competitively or socially,” says Gill. “Touch is also a great way to
get a good workout, plus it has an enjoyable social side. I have made good
friends through the sport.”

 

SUB-HEADER HERE

Gill (37) grew up in Cape
Town, then studied BA Human Movement Studies at Stellenbosch University,
followed by a teaching diploma. She began teaching at Rustenburg High School for
Girls in Cape Town in 1998, then taught in the UK from 2001 to 2003 before returning
to Rustenburg. Last year she was promoted to Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care,
and she coaches the school’s Touch first team.

 

It was at varsity that Gill
was introduced to 6-Down. “In my third year, some guys in the department invited
us to play, and a couple of us girls thought why not. We had a couple of practices,
then played the Western Province team – and got thumped. A lot of us then
entered the Cape Town league and soon improved.” The following year Gill made
the Western Province team, going on to be selected for the SA squad for the
last three World Cups, in Japan (2003), South Africa (2007) and Scotland (2011),
and helping the SA mixed team finish fourth in Japan and third in SA, then
leading the over-30s senior mixed team to third in Scotland.

 

Overall, the SA team did
well to finish third at all three World Cups, but Gill says getting to these
tournaments is a challenge. “Touch is a small sport and we need to pay own way.
The next World Cup is in Australia, so it may not be SA’s strongest team going.
Also, a lot of younger players come from less privileged communities and can’t
afford tours for provincial tournaments, let alone World Cups.”

 

GROWING POPULARITY

6-Down is now played in a
number of countries, with Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England
leading the way. “In many countries, the sport was introduced by an Aussie,
Kiwi or SA player who helped get it started,” says Gill. “Here in SA, Touch is massive
in schools in Gauteng, with some schools entering eight teams. At Rustenburg we
have at least four teams each season, and a number of other schools are now
offering Touch. So I’m going to keep playing for now, maybe try for another
World Cup, but soon it could be time to let the youngsters come through. Still,
they need a bit of experience on the field…”