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JAMES FOUCHE

James is a renowned crime author from the Garden Route. On the Port Elizabethbook tour he will be promoting JACK HANGER, a gripping crime novel that takes a look at the gritty drug world of Cape Town. Go to www.jackhanger.com or www.jamesfouche.com for more information.

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STEVE REEDER

Steve is the author of ADRENALIN RUSH, a fast-paced adventure thrill ride that takes a look at espionage and terrorism. For more information about Steve and his future projects, you can find him here: www.stevereeder.com

Venue:             
Cafe Francois
Scarab Market in Sedgefield

Dates:              
Sunday 20th May 2012  11h00                                               

Cost:               
Breakfast R 195 (includes breakfast, coffee and a signed novel)
Or just come for a coffee and meet the authors.

RSVP:              Ryan – 071 699 2856 or ryan@artbeatcafe.co.za

Rose Bilbrough from Sedgefield Tourism and Amanda Dixon, organiser of the  annual slow festival, attended the Getaway show.

We decorated our stand with the orange that we promoted Sedgefield with this year. The theme for the slow fest being “turn the town orange” bright, happy and for change.

Sedgefield was promoted as a destination where families can holiday and have good old fashioned fun.

A destination that offers adventures like paragliding, paddling, kite boarding, surfing , stand up paddling , mountain biking, hiking , birding, snorkelling, just chilling on the beach or visiting the tranquil forest.

Writers like Dalene Mathee have brought this history of the area back to life.

Visitors were blown away about how much there is to do in Sedgefield and the happy, positive approach we have towards our little town was definitely the key factor to this award.  Along with us really putting in effort to display what we have to offer and the focus on family…..

Rose Bilbrough

At11:35in Ruigtevlei, before Sedgefield -  The vehicle, a bakkie, was travelling from George in the direction of Knysna when one of it’s tyres burst. The driver lost control of the vehicle causing it to overturn.

The vehicle was transporting eight (8) passengers, including the driver.

One patient (male) is in a critical condition with various injuries and have been transported by Skymed helicopter toGeorgeHospital.

Five (5) patients are in a less serious condition. One (male) was also transported by Skymed helicopter to George Hospital, two female patients were taken by EMS ambulance to Knysna Hospital and the two other patients were transported by ER24 to Knysna Hospital.

Two females were declared dead on the scene and the bodies have been transported to Knysna Forensic Pathology Services.

A sea rescue craft, NSRI crew in rescue vehicles, ER-24 Ambulance Services, a METRO ambulance, the EMS rescue helicopter and the SA Police Force responded to the scene.

On arrival 1 of the casualties, a 30 year old man, had been rescued from the surf by local Michael Watson, was treated for near drowning symptoms and transported to hospital by ambulance in a serious but stable condition. His companion, a 22 year old man, remains missing and he is feared to have drowned.

By last light an extensive air, sea and shore search had revealed no sign of the missing man and a Police Dive unit will continue a search from first light.

Both men were swimming in very calm sea conditions when they were swept out to sea by a rip-current according to Garth Dominy, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain.

Both men have been in South Africa on a training course, for the past three months, and were holidaying with their partners at a local back-packers lodge.

The South Korean Consulate assisted NSRI with language interpretation.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

The flat course of the 10km event has always been popular amongst the ‘speedsters’ of both the running and walking sectors, but the 1 ½ hrs allocated for the event also attracts those just looking for a gentle run – or stroll – through the Village, around the island, and back again. This race also serves as official ASWD Race Walking Trials to select a team for the SA Road Walking Champs later this year. Those runners who are a tad fitter (dare I say ‘Tuffer’?) may choose the original ‘TUFF” 30km course, which covers some of Sedgefield’s most spectacular climbs, drops and flats on both gravel and tar. An ideal training run for Two Oceans AND a great ‘Target distance’ for those who normally stick to ½ marathons, this has always carried the ‘not for sissies’ warning! Walkers are also welcome for this event, but should take note of the 4hour cut off time.

The Trail Run event enters its second year, and presents a challenging course including sections along the beach, through the Goukamma Nature Reserve, and some serious ‘dune work’. Stunning views and almost untouched trails are the reward for the hard work-out this event will provide the ever-increasing market of adventure racers.

And of course the youngsters (and perhaps not-so-fit) haven’t been forgotten. The race conveners have linked up with the Sedgefield Primary school to once again set up the 2.5km fun run which always attracts great numbers of younger athletes.

The generosity of Total Sedgefield and co-sponsor Knysna Tourism has allowed for an extra marketing push, ensuring the event will once again attract large numbers of both South Western District athletes AND those from around the country. The race conveners have also taken a brave step forward to embrace state of the art race technology and will be using the ‘IPICO SPORTS’ timing system for the event – which in effect means the Athletes will have their time electronically recorded via a microchip as they cross the finishing mat . This does mean that the Tortoise Tuff becomes a pre entry event– and athletes should note that the cut off date is 10h00 on Thursday 8 March 2012.

All the races will start at the Sedgefield Primary School field at 07h00 except for the fun run which will begin at 08h00. Spectators are encouraged to come and support the runners, and there will be food on sale and bar facilities at the school.

Participants can enter on the website www.sedgefieldstriders.co.za or www.enteronline.co.za.  Alternatively Tekkie Town’s Mossel Bay, George, Sedgefield and Knysna Branches will have forms available, as will Sports Centre in George and Knysna.

Registration will take place at Tiffany’s,1 Egret Street, Sedgefield from 17h00 to 19h00 on Friday March the 9th and from 05h30 at Sedgefield Primary School on race day

Some of the youngsters competing in the previous Junior Dash at Swartvlei. (PHOTO: Supplied)

Sedgefield will play host to athletes from all over the country who   will  flock to the Southern Cape this weekend for the Lakes Off Road Festival to be held at Pine Lake Marina. This is the second time that this event, previously known as the Pine Lake Marina Tri Challenge will take place.

The Triathlon, which takes place on the Sunday, is accredited by Triathlon SA and they have indicated that if the weekend’s event is a success, the SA Triathlon Championships will be staged here next year.

This weekend participants as well as spectators can look forward to more events than the previous time.

One of the highlights of the festival will be a night race on Saturday evening. Athletes will run a 10 km race with head lamps on to light the path in the forest. The race is organized by Southern Cross Adventures and according to Hano Otto it is an interesting event that attracts a strong field of athletes.

 On Saturday there will be canoeing, open water swimming, mountain biking and trail running events and on  Sunday there will be off road Swim Triathlon events (Ultra and Sprint Distances) which will be sanctioned by Triathlon SA and WP Triathlon.

For those that don’t like the swimming, there is also a Canoe Challenge instead of a swim Triathlon where you can do a Ultra or Sprint Canoe Challenge which consist of canoeing, mountain biking and a Trail Run.

A number of development teams will also participate. According to the race director Sonja Terblanche-Otto it is very important to create a love for the triathlon amongst the younger participants. Many of them might already be interested in running or cycling or swimming, but they have never participated in a combination of the three disciplines.

The races take place  in and aroundSwartvleiLakewith spectacular views of the mountain. The cyclists and runners will participate on  jeep tracks and single tracks in and amongst the indigenous forest of the Garden Route.

Relay teams may also be entered  for the Sprint Triathlon or the Sprint Canoe Challenge. “The idea is to grow the 2 days into 4 days in the future with lots of   events that people can choose from. Sedgefield and the surroundings offer a lot to the endurance and outdoor athlete and we believe this festival will grow each year with more and more events” Terblanche-Otto said.

A number of different organizations will be working hand in glove to make this Lakes Festival a success. On Saturday a 6 km and 18 km canoe race will be staged by the Wilderness New Balance Multisport Club. SWD Swimming will present a 500 m and 2 km open water swim and 20 km and 50 km mountain bike races will be presented by Cycleworx Sedgefield.

On Sunday the different Triathlon events will take place. This is also when the Development Teams will compete. They will be doing 200 m swim, 5 km cycling and 2 km running. Make sure you are there to encourage these youngsters. Who knows, we might be housing a SA Champion amongst them!

Spectators can also look forward to an Ultra Off Road Triathlon (1 500 m swim, 6 km canoe, 50 km cycling and 8 km run) as well as a Sprint Off Road Triathlon (500 m swim, 3 km canoe, 15 km bike and 4 km run).

 The Relay Sprint Triathlon, where a number of athletes take part in a team, will also be staged on Sunday. The different disciplines are 500 m swim of 4 km canoe, 15 km cycling and 4 km running). The last competition will be the Junior Dash with distances as follow:  50 m swim, 2 km bike and 500 m run.

 Late Entries available on the day, except for the Sprint and Ultra Swim Triathlons where late entries will only be available on Saturday

For more details and online entry form visit www.trisport.co.za or contact Terblanche-Otto on 082 579 7595.

This truly will be an Off Road Festival!

(Denise Lloyd)

Sedgefield was declared Africa’s first Cittaslow Town in October 2010. Inspired by the concept of ‘slow food’, Cittaslow is a worldwide membership organisation promoting quality of life and resisting fast-lane lifestyle. Cittaslow (which literally means ‘slow city’) originated inItaly in 1999 and represents nearly 100 towns across the world.  Abiding by a list of values aimed at improving quality of life, registered Cittaslow towns celebrate diversity of cultures and promote the specialties of their own people and surroundings

• Adventure and Sport
• Slow Sport
• Beach/Kids & Family
• Food and Wine
• Music
• Festival Fun
• Arts and Crafts
• Religious

Visit our website to find out about the Slow Festival and what excitement we have packed into the Easter weekend.

http://www.slowfestival.co.za/

And Algoa FM will be there entertaining you and giving away awesome goodies.

Festival organiser: Amanda Dixon, Email: event@tumbleweeds.co.za, Tel: 072 949 3002

Knysna Regional Court Magistrate Herman Buhr said words like ‘contemptible, brutal and gruesome’ did not begin to describe the behaviour of Simeon Nel (21) and Rudolph Windwaai (19). Rejecting argument in mitigation of sentence, Buhr said the attack on Robb ‘screams of inhumanity’. The fact that they were tik addicts who had used the drug on that day and were still under the influence when they broke into Robb’s house could not be regarded as a mitigating factor, Buhr is reported to have said.

Finances were, as often happens, the main reason for postponing. As the number of members has grown and the average age is getting younger, the cry for a practice wall got louder and louder. Thanks to several local and overseas sponsors the club could finally realize this project. Although it looks like a regular wall, several strict safety rules needed to be respected. This is where the people of Adams and Fraser Consulting Civil Engineers came in. Alastair Fraser did the design, and drew up the necessary technical plans without charge as a community support project.

A large financial contribution was made by a private Belgian sponsor in appreciation of the Tennis School Development Project, which has now been running for one and a half year at the club.

Local builder company Bill’s home maintenance finally built the practice wall, they did a great job at an affordable price. The fact that it has been built, 8 metres long and between 2 courts, gives us a double sided wall offering a lot of practice space.

The further help of 2 of our club members is much appreciated: Angelo D’Ambrosio who donated the necessary paint and George Emslie who completed the painting of the wall.

With the festive season around the corner, the club is still very active. The 3rd running of the Annual Championship will be held on Friday the 16th December. After the prize giving (prizes sponsored by Kloppers George) a braai fire will be lit. Watch out for the first edition of the Edge in 2012 to read the results of this activity or read it on the club’s website www.sedgefieldtennis.co.za

Paolo Perosino (treasurer), Roger Vande Wiele (chairperson), Alastair Fraser, Clementine van Wyk, Gerhard Wellmans (team of Adams and Fraser Consulting Civil Engineers), Carol Elion (committee member), Bill Holmes, George Emslie (committee member), Greta Smagghe - Vande Wiele (secretary) and Ian Perryman (vice-chairman)

At 14h57 NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew were called out to help three teenage anglers trapped on rocks at Gerricke’s Point, Swartvlei. 

The three, from George, had gone fishing on Gerricke’s Point at low tide but with the approaching spring tide they were cut off from mainland and called for help fearing that the high tide would swamp the rocks they were on. 

Our NSRI Wilderness duty crew launched the DISCOVERY rescue runner and our quad bike was dispatched to the scene while George Fire and Rescue Services were placed on alert. 

On arrival they were brought ashore one by one aboard the DISCOVERY rescue runner. Once all safely ashore they were treated for mild hypothermia before being collected by their parents and taken home no worse for wear. 

Sea Rescue urges anglers to wear life jackets while angling from rocks and to check out weather and tides before going fishing. 

The new moon spring tide is on the 25th November. High tide is already higher than normal and low tide is lower than normal. Rip currents will also be stronger than normal and this will last until about 5 days after the new moon spring tide. 

Spring tide happens twice every month of the year at new moon and again at full moon.