SA Olympic hopefuls

By Larry Lombaard

Johannesburg – EASTERN Province is well represented in the South African team of 58 from nine sporting codes which was named yesterday for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Three members of the highly successful EP men’s hockey team, Denzil Dolley, Chris Hibbert and Jody Paul, cyclist Anriette Schoeman and young diver Jenna Dreyer are among those chosen.

Greg Nicol, who was a key member of the EP hockey team before returning to Natal, is also included in the side.

Though EP women’s hockey is not represented, Kerry Bee (WP), Jennifer Wilson (Natal) and Liesel Dorothy (WP) did their schooling in Port Elizabeth.

The squad, which excludes the athletes who will be named at a later stage, was announced by Nocsa president Sam Ramsamy at the Houghton headquarters in Johannesburg yesterday.

The hockey men made an ecstatic return while debutantes badminton floated gently into the Olympic fold as teams for canoeing, cycling, judo, rowing, sailing, swimming and triathlon were presented.

The strongest medal contenders at the briefing were the rowing men’s pair of Donavon Cech and Ramon Di Clement.

The swimming team of eight that includes Roland Schoeman, Ryk Neethling and Terence Parkin, will for the first time be a men’s only affair with no South African women having qualified.

Robbie Hunter, meanwhile, spearheads the three-man road team of Ryan Cox and Tiaan Kannemeyer, while top one-day specialist Anriette Schoeman will challenge for the women’s road title.

Yesterday, meanwhile, was a bitter-sweet day for the men’s hockey team who made their return to the Olympics after finishing 10th at Atlanta, then being turned down by Nocsa for Sydney in a controversial decision regarding selection criteria.

The squad of 20 at a training camp in Pretoria returned from a run yesterday morning to be informed that four of their players had missed out on final selection.

“Only 16 of us can go to Athens,” said seasoned Emile Smith.

Veteran striker Greg Nicol reflected the pleasure of making it to the Olympics. “This has been the most incredible day for us,” he said. His sentiments were echoed by the entire squad of 16.

The teams are: Badminton: Chantal Botts, Stewart Carson, Chris Dednam, Michelle Edwards, Dorian James, Antoinette Uys Canoeing: Alan van Coller Cycling: Ryan Cox, Robert Hunter, Tiaan Kannemeyer, Anriette Schoeman Hockey women: Kerry Bee, Caroline Birt, Fiona Butler, Lindsey Carlisle, Pietie Coetzee, Liesel Dorothy, Grazjyna Engelbrecht, Natalie Fulton, Kate Hector, Johke Koornhof, Anli Kotze, Marsha Marescia, Bronwyn Ross, Susan Webber, Sharne Wehmeyer, Jennifer Wilson Hockey Men: Gregg Clark, Wayne Denne, Denzil Dolley, Iain Evans, Steve Evans, Craig Fulton, Chris Hibbert, Craig Jackson, Bruce Jacobs, Greg Nicol, Jody Paul, Ryan Ravenscroft, Eric Rose-Innes, Emile Smith, Dave Staniforth, Ian Symons Judo: Henriette Moller Rowing: Donovan Cech, Ramon Di Clementi Sailing: Gareth Blanckenberg Swimming: Eugene Botes, Lyndon Ferns, Ryk Neethling, Terence Parkin, Roland Schoeman, Karl Thaning, Darian Townsend, Gerhard Zandberg Diving: Jenna Dreyer , Triathlon: Megan Hall, Conrad Stoltz. – Sapa

---

sport

Next