Three Maties gymnasts recently qualified for the Western Cape Championships (WCC), following their participation in the Western Cape District Trials on 12 August.
This was according to Jamie Fraser, coach at Maties Gymnastics.
The Western Cape Championships will be held on 2 September in Saldanha Bay for the women, and the men’s will be held in Stellenbosch on the same day, said Fraser.
(From left to right) Maties gymnasts Carl Heinrich, Daniel Smith, and Reece Bird, recently participated in the 2023 Western Cape Trials on 12 August, according to Jamie Fraser, coach at Maties Gymnastics. Smith and Bird were among three Maties who advanced to the next round of the competition, said Fraser. PHOTO: Supplied/Reece Bird
A total of four Maties gymnasts competed in the trials, however only three scored enough points to advance to the next round of the competition, explained Fraser.
These three included Reece Bird, a second-year electrical engineering student at Stellenbosch University, Daniel Smith, a third-year BCom management science student, and Anna-Mart Bakkes, a second-year sport science student, said Fraser.
“Prior to the [Western Cape District Trials] competition, [we] organised an intervarsity competition against the University of Cape Town to ensure [our] gymnasts met the qualification criteria,” said Jamie Fraser, coach at Maties Gymnastics. Anna-Mart Bakkes (pictured above), a sports science student at Stellenbosch University, has been selected as one of the three gymnasts to represent Maties at the Western Cape Championships in Saldanha Bay on 2 September. PHOTO: Supplied/Reece Bird
Navigating difficulties
Smith, who participated in the level-five category, told SMF News that he secured first place in that category and achieved an average score of 9.142.
Initially, he aimed to compete above level five but had to adjust due to illness just before the event, he said.
“I fell ill right before the competition, which required me to adapt to a lower level. This resulted in rushed preparation, shifting the focus from complex routines to addressing minor mistakes,” explained Smith.
Bird, who competed in his first professional competition, placed second in the level-five category.
“It was my first time competing for Maties. However, I have participated in two similar-format competitions before, so I knew what was expected,” said Bird.
The Maties team practices at the Van der Stel (VDS) Sports Complex in Stellenbosch on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, according to Jamie Fraser, coach at Maties Gymnastics. PHOTO: Sebastian Paulus
The journey ahead
One of the main challenges that the gymnasts are facing leading up to WCC competition is it’s proximity to test week, said Fraser.
“Even though the WCC competition takes place during the weekend, one of [our] gymnasts has an exam scheduled for the day of the competition so therefore might be unable to compete,” she said.
The athletes are also facing challenges regarding raising money for registration fees, which amount to almost R1 000 per gymnast, said Smith.
Reece Bird, a second-year electrical engineering student at Stellenbosch University, discusses his aspirations for the upcoming Western Cape Championships on 2 September. Audio: Sebastian Paulus