What a cracker of a line-up! Peter Guthrie from Spoonfeedas and Serrotone, Jason Hartman (winner of Idols) and Erin Fourie (Idols top 10) all on one night!

Where can you meet with friends, and enjoy great music in a beautiful environment with roaring fires, hearty food and a cash bar – all for just R50? Spring evenings in the hills are alive with music — and while the nights are warming, we’ll still have the fires lit and the welcome waiting. Come join us for another night of heartfelt performances, local flavour, and the unique magic of MiTH.

MiTH – 8 October 2025

Venue: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

Entrance: R50.00 (Cash or Zapper at the Door)

Info: 082 331 7271

8:45pm – GU3 (Pete Guthrie, Jo Ravell, Antonio Ravell, and Billy Kruger)
Pete Guthrie, frontman of Spoonfeedas and bassist/vocalist for Serrotone, takes the stage with GU3. He is joined by featured vocalist Jo Ravell, Antonio Ravell on lead guitar and Billy Kruger on drums. Guthrie has opened international shows for the likes of Muse, Metallica, Velvet Revolver, and Ronan Keating, and has performed the SA National Anthem at major rugby events. With several chart-topping tracks under his belt, and a reputation for dynamic live energy, Guthrie and GU3 promise a powerful set blending rock roots with versatile vocal harmonies.

7:45pm – Jason Hartman
Home is Where the Hart Is: The Hartman Brothers Return

After more than a decade apart, Jason Hartman and his brother Scott have reunited for a long-anticipated homecoming tour. Known for their seamless harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and unmistakable chemistry, the Hartmans bring a performance that’s both intimate and powerful. Jason, a household name since his SA Idols victory, has built a respected solo career, but it’s the reunion with his brother (and their father) that makes this moment so special. Expect beloved hits, new songs, and stories from their shared journey in a celebration of family, legacy, and the enduring pull of music.

7:00pm – Erin Fourie
Since 2003, Erin Fourie has been performing across the KZN Midlands, her love of music nurtured from a young age. With an Honours degree in Drama and Performance Studies, she has worked in theatre and music productions locally and further afield, and was a top-10 SA Idols contestant in 2011. Strongly rooted in acoustic folk, Erin draws from a wide repertoire influenced by indie and alternative artists. Regularly seen at the Karkloof Farmers’ Market and other Midlands venues, she also lends her voice to the Midlands Chamber Choir.

ABOUT MiTH

KZN Midlands’ favourite music venue! MiTH is a platform for beginners, pros, and music lovers to celebrate the joy of music. Every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Hilton. Food and soft drinks for sale. Cash bar available.

Visit www.mith.co.za for more info or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to perform.

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH

Take the N3 to Hilton. Turn into Hilton Village and drive 5.2km along Hilton Avenue, which becomes Dennis Shepstone Drive. Look for Knoll Drive on your right; the entrance to MiTH is the second left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

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Lara van Niekerk completed an impressive breaststroke clean sweep by adding the 200m gold to her collection on the final day of the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.

The 22-year-old, who is well on the way to reclaiming the form that took her to two Commonwealth Games titles and long and short course World Championship medals, claimed victory in the 200m breaststroke on Sunday in a time of 2 minutes 24.81 seconds to add to her 50m and 100m crowns.

Better known for her sprinting prowess in the shorter breaststroke events, Van Niekerk (Top image) said she uses the 200m long course as training for her 100m, but admitted she much prefers the short course version of the race.

“I enjoy the 25-metre short course 200 because it's all about pull downs and you can keep up your speed, so I actually did really enjoy that race – don't tell my coach,” said a laughing Van Niekerk.

“The last 50, I did really have to dig deep. But I think just the fact that I could keep going and keep my tempo up is a really positive thing for me, it just shows my fitness is back where it should be. Now it's just the little technical things that we just need to sharpen up.

Speaking about her performances in general in terms of regaining confidence, Van Niekerk added: “This has only been positive. There's not one race I'm upset about, so that's a very good thing. I have some videos, I'm going to go and look back at them and just see exactly what I can work on, but I think overall the stroke is where it should be, it's more about just getting the speed up again, fitness is there, so it's looking good.”

The men’s 200m breaststroke title was claimed by Oliva Lange in 2:12.11.

Meanwhile, Duné Coetzee added the 200m butterfly title to the 200m and 400m freestyle golds she already had in the bag. The Pretoria swimmer won in a time of 2:14.16, pushed all the way by 16-year-old Abigail Kotze, who got the better of Coetzee in the 100m event earlier in the week. Kotze was a close second in 2:14.85.

Coetzee admitted afterwards, she was relieved to have felt better in the afternoon compared to her morning heat.

“This morning I quite literally felt awful, and I think that's just because I raced the 400 free very late last night, so I think that was still in me,” she said.

“I was a little bit nervous going into this race because I know that Abi's been crazy fast this meet, but at the same time, I was very excited because it's always nice to have some competition and I love racing, I've always been a racer.

“She really pushed me and I didn't think I was going to go five seconds faster than what I did this morning, so I'm really happy,” she added.

“Even in the 100 fly, even though she beat me, I'm so proud of her and it's so nice to have someone in the 100 and the 200 that can really push me.”

Jarden Eaton (Image below) sprung a surprise in the men’s 200m butterfly, beating favourite Tai Pearson to the title, dipping under two minutes for the first time to stop the clock on 1:59.50.

After securing the title from lane eight, Eaton admitted afterwards that even he was surprised by the result.

“I wasn’t expecting that really,” he said. “I just wanted a personal best, that’s all.

“The first 50 I wanted to just feel it out, be comfortable, easy with my stroke, and then towards the end on the third 50 and the fourth, I just wanted to build into my last 50 and pick up the rate… It’s amazing, I’m really, really happy with it.”

The 1500m freestyle titles were decided earlier in the day, with Carli Antonopoulos adding to her 800m title with victory in a time of 17 minutes 01.33 seconds.

Matthew Caldwell claimed his third title of the championships, winning the men’s 1500m freestyle in 15:28.11 to add to the 200 and 400m freestyle golds.

“It was different than I expected, a bit slower than I would like, but a win’s a win, especially after a long week of racing with very competitive swimming, I’m happy with that,” said Caldwell, who is now setting his sights on next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Jessica Thompson added two more gold medals to her haul as Lara van Niekerk showed glimpses of her old self on day three of the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.

Thompson (Top image) has already collected three national titles at these championships and added two more on Saturday, in the 50m freestyle, which she won in 24.19 seconds, just five hundredths of a second off the national record, and the 100m backstroke in 58.34 seconds.

“I think in the 50, you don’t have time to think – that’s the beauty about the races. It’s more just trusting in your training and you can’t think about it – your body goes into autopilot,” said the Johannesburg swimmer.

Speaking about racing national short course record holder Cailtin de Lange, who finished second in the freestyle in 24.65, Thompson added: “Caitlin is such an incredible swimmer, especially in the sprint free event so swimming against her I knew I had to be on my best game, top form and it was really nice having her next to me so I could get that extra push.”

Meanwhile, after a year of battling back from injury, illness and numerous disappointments, Van Niekerk (Image below) looked to be in a much happier place as she added the 50m breaststroke title to the 100m gold she won on the opening day of competition. The 22-year-old took the win in a time of 30.04 seconds and while she was hoping for a sub-30-second time, she said afterwards: “I can just take this as a positive. It’s faster than I went at worlds last year, so it’s baby steps. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so we’re getting there.”

As for the mental aspect, the double Commonwealth Games champion added: “I’ve just got back to why I started swimming in the beginning and I’m really enjoying it again. I love going to training every day and at least I’m enjoying racing again. There was a stage last year where I was scared of racing, so it’s good. It means I’m improving as a person and I’m getting back there.”

Chris Smith took the men’s 50m backstroke title in 26.31 seconds, but said afterwards, he wasn’t expecting too much more from himself in terms of the time.

“I think it was good, especially for this time of year. It’s a bit more than half a second away from my personal best time, but overall I’m happy,” he said afterwards.

In the absence of Chad le Clos, Tai Pearson finally got his hands on two gold medals on Saturday – in the 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley. He took the win in the 100m backstroke in 53.29 seconds and followed that up with the IM gold in 2:01.49.

After several second places to the returning Le Clos, Pearson admitted he was pleased to finally have topped the podium.

“It’s been hard the past two days racing Chad in my events because I’m a butterfly swimmer, and freestyle, so I came second in three events and he came first, so I’m really happy with getting the double now,” said the 18-year-old. “It was a tough one, so the legs are definitely hurting.”

Duné Coetzee returned to winning ways in the 400m freestyle, winning in a time of 4 minutes 11.38 seconds. Having recently moved back to Pretoria after finishing her studies in the USA, the 23-year-old has been pleased with her progress.

“I’ve only been swimming with Rocco [Meiring] for about two months, so I’m really happy with all my solid performances… This meet was just kind of to see where I’m at and what we need to do in training, so I’m very happy,” she said.

The men’s 400m freestyle title went to Matthew Caldwell, who won in 3:48.47.

Keira van Heerden made a return to the podium, completing an individual medley double, adding to her 400m IM gold by holding off a fast-finishing Georgia Els to win the 200m event in 2:14.79.

And there was a first-ever national title for Armand Landmann, who won the 50m freestyle in 22.09 seconds.

The Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg will come to an end on Sunday.

Team South Africa continued to show impressive form at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore on Friday.

Nathan Hendricks (Top image) just missed out on a medal in the S13 400m freestyle for visually impaired swimmers, finishing fourth in 4 minutes 15.28 seconds. Gold was claimed by Russian Egor Shchitkovskii in a time of 4:02.14.

“Last night I swam the 50 free so it was quite a tight turnaround to the 400 free this morning, being the first event,” he explained afterwards. “So this morning was me just trying to make certain I made the final, and then in the final it was just go guns blazing and see how I do. I left everything in the pool, so I was very chuffed with this race.”

As for the position he finished, Hendricks added: “I was quite chuffed with the placing, coming fourth. I was quite happy with that. Time-wise, I’m OK with it, I could do a lot better but now I know what I can work on, especially more into the swim and the turns because the turns weren’t too great, but I can definitely work on those and get better.”

Meanwhile, after already securing three medals at these championships, Christian Sadie (Image below) once again went quicker than ever before, setting a new African record in the S7 50m freestyle. The 27-year-old finished in a time of 28.70 seconds to finish fifth in the final, with the gold once again going to Ukrainian Andrii Trusov in 27.98 seconds.

“Today went quite well overall. The 50 free is always a fun one. I think it’s just a splash and dash and small technical things need to go right, and execution needs to be good,” said Sadie.

“I think in the morning, the swimming was really good, but there were some small technical things that I got really wrong,” he added.

“It was a good time, but for what I knew I should have been doing, maybe not as great as we could have had. But in the evening we fixed up all of those things. The technical stuff was a lot better and execution was also a lot better, so overall I feel like it was really good in the morning and we were able to improve in the evening as well.”

After also progressing through their morning heats of the S13 400m freestyle, Alani Ferreira finished seventh in the final in 4 minutes 56.05 seconds, while Danika Vyncke was eighth in the same race in 5:05.55.

The World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore come to an end on Saturday, 27 September.

Dreaming of a brighter future for your child?

One of the most enjoyable stepping stones is fostering a love of books and reading—right from the earliest years. Early exposure to books brings far-reaching benefits: richer vocabulary, stronger reading and learning skills, even better maths. It also increases the chances of finishing school and studying further.

And let’s not forget the joy—parents and children bonding over stories, laughter, and imagination.

As we dream of brighter futures, we dream with open eyes… and open books.

More from iThemba Projects

As part of a Grade 7 Creative Art project during term 3, pupils set out to create clay models of a person either holding or playing a musical instrument or participating in a sport. After a lesson on planning, discussing different techniques and ‘tricks’ the building started. The Grade 7 pupils thoroughly enjoyed the activity, learning some key life lessons about resilience and not giving up on an idea.

 

Celebrate a birthday and Spring with Style De Vie!

 

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY MONTH SPECIALS 2025
Pedicure
30min Back massage

R730 

30min Back massage
30min Reflexolgy

R600

60min Sports massage
30min Reflexology

R750

 

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"During the Somatic Rebalance massage I use specific massage techniques and pressure points to free trapped nervous tension and trauma in the body. This training was part of my complementary therapy module which I completed years ago. It is exciting to meet a growing demand for this therapy which has recently been ignited by social media. I am happy to confirm this is a really worthwhile process, it is not a passing fad and deserves to be trending." says Krisna.

 

Book on 072 891 3294

Big names in the world of roses will headline at the upcoming Midland's Rose Society's Speaker's Morning this month.

 

On Thursday evening, 16 October, the President of the World Federation of Rose Societies will present "Roses in Bhutan" - see more details below.

 

Then on Friday morning, 17 October, SA's well-known garden personality Tanya Visser will present alongside rose fundis like Sally Earl and Sandra Tretheway. Be there, it'll be so good for your roses!

 

Remember you must book by 10th October 2025, space is limited!

 

EMAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

The need for emotional and psychological support in the education sector, where Teachers often carry huge workloads and growing demands, is steadily increasing. A New Online Support Group is launching on Wednesday, 1 October at 7pm to help support Educators coping with Anxiety. "It’s difficult to pour from an empty cup. We need to support each other and create a safe space so we feel less alone," says Support Group Leader Nirvana. For more info & to RSVP contact Nirvana on 081 591 0084.

 

For more information: https://www.sadag.org/index.php

There were two more continental records broken by South African swimmers on the final day of the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore on Saturday.

Christian Sadie, who already has a silver and two bronze medals from these championships, set a new African record in the S7 100m freestyle, but just missed out on another podium spot. He stopped the clock at 1 minute 04.77 seconds on his way to fourth place. Gold was taken by Ukrainian Andrii Trusov in a new championship record of 59.90 seconds.

“The finals went really well. I was able to execute what I needed and it was an amazing way to finish off the gala with a personal best time by a second and a little bit, as well as another African record so I’m super-stoked with the swim,” he said afterwards.

As for finishing the championships with three medals, Sadie (Top image) added: “I couldn’t have asked for a better gala. I think it’s definitely shown the work that we’ve put in, and the pieces are starting to fall into place that we’ve invested in for a long time so it’s nice to see it paying off.”

Nathan Hendricks (Image below) once again showed some fine form on his way to an African record of 2:16.55 in the SM13 200m individual medley. But it was ultimately not enough to secure a medal as he finished in sixth spot, with Russian Egor Shchitkovskii securing the gold in 2:06.07.

“The 200IM I was quite happy with. I was a bit sick, but I was happy with how I performed, getting that record,” said Hendricks.

“It makes me excited because I know there’s still a lot I can improve on, especially in that race – the backstroke I can improve on, the breaststroke, and the turns. I’m pretty excited that I can still drop time in it,” added the 20-year-old.

The other South Africans in action on Saturday were Alani Ferreira and Danika Vyncke, who both finished sixth in their respective heats of the SM13 200m individual medley in the morning and did not progress to the evening final.

Head coach Theo Verster said after the end of the championships that the feeling in the Team South Africa camp is one of excitement for the future with an eye on the next World Championships in 2027 and ultimately the Paralympic Games in 2028.

“We’re super-happy with the performances of Team South Africa. It’s a nice build on what we achieved in 2023 when we got two golds, a silver and a bronze and it’s very refreshing to see that we could pull this off with Christian and managing quite a few spots where we couldn’t convert into medals, we got quite close to which was very good to see,” said Verster.

A few factors affected what could have been an even greater medal haul, with former world champion Kat Swanepoel unable to compete as she is undergoing treatment, and Ferreira being reclassified into the S13 class, having to compete against athletes with less severe visual impairments.

“Unfortunately, with Alani being upgraded to S13, that cost her a medal. If she was still S12, she would definitely have swum another medal for South Africa so that’s quite sad. But hopefully by 2027, with a review date just round about there, we hope that she’ll be pushed down to S12 again just before the Paralympics and that we’ll be able to convert some of her amazing swims into medals for LA 2028,” explained Vester.

“From a management point of view, we’re super-excited for the future. This is our third consecutive world championships, 2022, 2023 and now 2025 where Team South Africa have brought back medals, and it’s just getting better as we’re getting closer to the rest of the world. Hopefully going forward, we’ll be able to convert the fourth and fifth places into medals… so we’re looking forward to that. It’s exciting times for Para swimming.”

Jessica Thompson stole the show on the second day of action at the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg on Friday, breaking a national record and equalling the African mark held by Zimbabwe’s new International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry.

The 18-year-old was disappointed to miss out on the SA record in the 50m butterfly on Thursday, but responded in the best way possible, setting a new mark in the 50m backstroke of 26.85 seconds. That saw her breaking the record that had been set by Chanelle van Wyk 16 years ago. Van Wyk was poolside to witness the achievement, providing the commentary for the television coverage of the championships.

“It’s so good, especially after last night. I think it was a bit of a tough pill to swallow, but I’m really happy to have gotten it tonight and just getting that time is a really big deal for me,” said an ecstatic Thompson afterwards.

As for having Van Wyk on hand to watch her break her 2009 record, Thompson added: “It was really nice to have her there and seeing where swimming in South Africa is progressing to.”

Meanwhile, the 50m backstroke title was claimed by Chad le Clos, who is rapidly reinventing himself as a backstroker. He powered to victory in 23.62 seconds, in a race he described as the main takeaway of his last two days of racing.

The former Olympic champion was back in more familiar territory just a few minutes later, also securing victory in the 100m butterfly in a time of 50.81 seconds.

“I feel great. I think the backstroke was the highlight… It’s weird, my backstroke and my freestyle were probably my better swims, not my butterflies,” he said afterwards.

“I want to try and keep going as long as I can and I think the 50s have given me a lot of life, especially short course. I know I will improve and I’ve got a lot of big things coming… I think I’m going to settle nicely into the new year, build towards April and then hopefully surprise everybody next year, that’s the plan.”

The women’s 100m butterfly produced a surprise champion in 16-year-old Abigail Kotze, who beat Olympian Duné Coetzee to the title in a time of 1:00.69.

“Obviously you go into it hoping, I think everyone hopes and believes they can do it. But I’m just so grateful to actually have done it,” said the Western Cape swimmer. “Swimming against Duné – I’ve been looking up to her since I was 10 or 11, so that was just such a big honour swimming against her,” she added.

Coetzee had earlier picked up victory in the 200m freestyle, winning in a time of 1:59.71, while it was Matthew Caldwell who took the men’s title in 1:49.01.

“I actually didn’t see the guys in the outside lane there. It was a really good swim from those guys,” said Caldwell afterwards. “I knew I was racing my race, so whatever they did, I was doing my own thing, so it was good… It went like I wanted it to. I did my little last push at the end and got the medal.”

The 800m freestyle titles were decided earlier in the day, with Carli Antonopoulos thrilled to claim a first national short course title, winning in 8 minutes 53.28 seconds, while 17-year-old Stephan Engelbrecht took the win in the men’s race with a time of 7:56.72.

Antonopoulos was especially pleased with the result, considering the year she has endured – having slipped and broken her arm in February and only returning to full training in May.

“It feels good. I’m really happy, especially after what happened at the beginning of the year, breaking my arm and coming back, so it’s been good,” she said of the victory.

There were also first-time champions in both the men’s and women’s 400m individual medley with 18-year-old Keira van Heerden taking the women’s title in 4:51.13 and Juan Boshoff the men’s in 4:21.29, taking over two seconds off his previous personal best.

Van Heerden was taken by surprise by her victory, given this was her first time competing in the 400m individual medley.

“This is my first time swimming the 400 IM, I just went into it because I wanted to improve my 200 IM, building up more fitness for the 200 so that’s just been the goal the whole time,” explained the 18-year-old.

Swimming action at the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships continues in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday and runs until Sunday.

Jessica Thompson and Chad le Clos kicked off the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg with two titles each on Thursday, both collecting golds in the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly.

18-year-old Thompson (Top image) claimed a comfortable victory in the 100m freestyle in 54.29 seconds before doing the same in the 50m butterfly in 25.66 seconds

She admitted afterwards, though, that she was hoping she would break the national short course record of 25.54 in the butterfly, a mark which has been held by Tayla Lovemore for the last seven years.

“I didn’t want to say anything, but that is kind of what I was going for. The record has been standing since 2018,” she said afterwards.

“But to walk away with two PBs, I’m really happy with that. I didn’t expect that, especially considering the block of training I’ve had. So I’m really happy with how I performed tonight.”

Le Clos was also happy with his day’s work. He finished a body-length in front of the field in the 100m freestyle, winning in 47.55 seconds, before completing an impressive victory in the 50m butterfly in 22.79 seconds. Second place was secured by 18-year-old Tai Pearson in 23.64, while third was taken by a swimmer more than half Le Clos’s age – 15-year-old Eric Kotze in 23.79 seconds.

“It was good, I’m happy,” said a relaxed Le Clos (Image below), who has returned to competition after an extended break. “I’m in a really good space… I’ve only been seriously training under a proper programme for the last six weeks. This year I was kind of floating to it’s nice to swim decent and it’s nice to see the youngsters swim really well.”

Lara van Niekerk was equally pleased with her opening day’s performances in Pietermaritzburg after claiming the 100m breaststroke title in 1 minute 05.98 seconds. She followed that up with second place in the 100m individual medley, an event she just swims for fun, in 1:02.78.

Just a week ago, the double Commonwealth Games champion was struggling with a knee niggle so was pleased just to be in action at this event.

“My knee started acting up a week ago, to the point where I couldn’t kick breaststroke in training, so I’m just really grateful to be here,” she said afterwards, saying before the injury she was expecting great things at these championships. “It kind of took the expectations away… Having the knee thing last week I think took some pressure off me and I’m just happy I could do that time.”

The men’s 100m breaststroke title was secured by World Aquatics Championships finalist Chris Smith, who reached the wall in a time of 58.24 seconds.

“It felt OK. I didn’t taper or anything for this meet so I’m happy with the time,” said the 19-year-old.

There were first-time national titles for both the winners in the 200m backstroke, with Grace Morris claiming the women’s title in a new personal best of 2:09.56 and Adrian van Wyk the men’s in 1:56.42.

“The turnaround was pretty tight from heats to finals, there wasn’t a lot of time, so I’m not going to lie – the last 50 hurt a lot,” admitted Van Wyk, who only took up swimming seriously around two years ago. “The plan is just to get better from here, so let’s see how it goes.”

While her main focus is on the 50m freestyle, Caitlin de Lange raced to victory in the 100m individual medley in a personal best time of 1:00.69.

“It was a lot better than this morning. This morning I messed up a few of the turns, from the back to breast especially, so I just wanted to focus on the turns and I feel like it was better, but it’s definitely something I can work on in training to get under 1 minute,” she said.

The men’s 200m individual medley was easily won by visiting Swedish swimmer Linus Kahl in 54.61 seconds, meaning the national title will go to second-placed Giano Dos Santos, who finished in 58.28 seconds.

Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships action continues in Pietermaritzburg on Friday and runs until Sunday.

Veteran Chad le Clos will make a return to national competition at this week’s Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships at the GC Jolliffe Swimming Pool in Pietermaritzburg.

The 33-year-old former Olympic champion has taken an extended break from competition to recover from a back injury, but will line up KwaZulu-Natal in preparation for one of the World Cup series meets in Carmel, Indiana. The next big target is then the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“My back is feeling good… feeling great. I’m going to be heading to the World Cup afterwards, probably just swimming one leg, we'll see how we go,” said Le Clos.

“I raced a couple of weeks ago in Cape Town… So we'll see if we can build on that and then build for a big Commonwealth next year, big trials next year. By then we'll have a good squad up and running and it’s going to be very exciting, I can't wait.”

Le Clos (Top image) will compete in the 100m freestyle, and the 50m and 100m butterfly at the short course championships, as well as making an unusual foray into backstroke racing, taking on the 50m event.,

“I'll see how those go, and then at the World Cup I'll just kind of see where I'm at with everything,” he added.

Also among those lining up in Pietermaritzburg this week will be newly crowned world junior champion in the 200m butterfly, Kris Mihaylov, and Jessica Thompson, who just missed out on a medal by two hundredths of a second in the 50m backstroke at the same event in Romania.

For Thompson (Pictured below), the SA short course championships are the most exciting of the national events, thanks to the added turns and underwater skills required.

“It's just it's so much more exciting because anyone can pull anything out of the bag,” she said. “You want to swim as many national competitions as possible and just get the experience you need and keep working on your skills, keep refining them and seeing what you need to fix,” added the 18-year-old who will be competing in the 50m butterfly, backstroke and freestyle and the 100m freestyle and backstroke this week.

Asked what her goal is in the KZN capital, Thompson reckoned: “Hopefully get some PBs and just have fun with it, just enjoy swimming again, take the pressure off and just be there.”

Also in the mix this week are sprint breaststrokers, Chris Smith, who reached his first long course world championships final in Singapore this year and Lara van Niekerk – the double Commonwealth Games gold medallist in 2022 who is still on the comeback trail from serious injury.

The championships will run from 25-28 September with morning heats kicking off at 8.30am and evening finals at 5pm.

Photo credit: World Aquatics

Need a quick and convenient pickup point? The PUDO locker at The Local Choice Pharmacy HILTON HEALTH is now up and running!

Whether you're expecting a parcel or sending one, you can now use our store as your Courier Guy PUDO collection and drop-off spot.

Pop in and collect your parcel while you grab your essentials!

We were delighted to host a special Seniors' Luncheon this week, for past pupils from 1949 to 1970. Twelve Old Boys joined us on what proved to be a truly beautiful day on campus, with the mood matching the sunshine.

Our Grade 7s served as waiters, while Grade 5 and 6 pupils surprised our guests with a light-hearted pop quiz about “life in the olden days” at Cowan House. The quiz quickly sparked stories, laughter, and fond memories, making the afternoon both nostalgic and heartwarming. We are so grateful for the unwavering support of our community across the generations, and it was particularly meaningful for our current pupils to share in the wisdom and experiences of our seniors.

Thank you, gents, for visiting us—this occasion looks set to become a firm favourite on our school calendar!