HERMANUS SPORTS COMPLEX

One of the most exciting pieces of news that we, as the residents of Hermanus, have heard for a very long time – our own “Sports Complex”!

The local sporting community stands to benefit tremendously as the dream of a sports complex becomes a reality. The complex will also benefit the many overseas visitors that frequent Hermanus on a regular basis, as well as all the South African holiday makers from up country. In other words, everyone including local business, stands to benefit from the development of a sporting complex that will put Hermanus on the map as a magnet for sporting events.

The project is being driven by an enthusiastic and dedicated team of individuals, namely Barry Cilliers, Andre van der Merwe, Andrienette Fourie, Chris Hepburn-Brown and Iain Foulds, who aim to have this complex complete within the next two years. As they will tell you, “The best way to keep the youth of today occupied after school hours or during school holidays is either on a sports field, on a tennis court or in a swimming pool etc.”

What do the above mentioned folk all have in common? Well, between them they have 12 children – all of whom participate in numerous sporting disciplines at both junior and senior level. Apart from their time dedicated to ensuring their children maintain a balanced lifestyle through academics and sport, they are also passionate about the potential existing in Hermanus in one way or another. Hermanus is renowned as being “The Whale Capital” of the world, they now enthusiastically believe that the time is right to couple sport opportunities to this natural phenomenon that magnetically draws many to our scenic bay. Could you imagine watching the Dutch hockey team practicing on our synthetic turf hockey pitch, or watching the Springboks playing a warm-up game against the British Lions? You might laugh now, but for those of you who don’t know this – The “All Blacks” played rugby here in 1949, at the Rugby Club! The German Ladies Hockey team recently spent time practicing at Gansbaai a few months ago. What the group believes is that with internationally recognized sporting facilities in Hermanus, anything is possible!

Phase one of the project got under way three months ago, with the refurbishment of the fields at the “Old Boys Rugby Club”. The three fields will be ready to play on in March 2010. We are really looking forward to watching our Primary School hockey, rugby and cricket teams playing against the other schools in this region. Holding sporting festivals has been our dream for a very long time. Not only will this complex be of benefit to the local community, but it will also be open to the many “Swallows” that spend a considerable amount of time with us in Hermanus while trying to escape their harsh European winter climate. Then we must not forget the South African holiday makers that arrive in Hermanus in their droves during the December and April holidays. There are also the weekenders who visit Hermanus from Cape Town and the surrounding area. Sport coupled to tourism, is one of the fastest growing industries on the planet and what better way is there, than socializing with family and friends and either watching or participating in one of the numerous sporting disciplines that will be on offer at the new sports complex. Our clean, crisp air and fantastic climate lends itself to being a choice destination for sports lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Imagine the fun and excitement of either watching or participating in swimming galas in the heated in-door 25 meter, 7 lane pool, or playing in a league hockey match or rugby festival.  Action sports competitions in the multi purpose hall, tennis coaching clinics, league or social games on one of the six new floodlit courts, ballroom or modern dancing lessons on a proper dance floor, squash in one of the four new courts and basketball on one of the two new courts. All this under one roof – what more can we ask for?

The complex will be geographically located behind the Cricket Club, between the Bosko Church Complex in the east and the cemetery in the west. The rugby grounds will remain where they are. The complex will be away from the residential area, yet within easy walking distance for the elderly. Yes, we haven’t forgotten about the older generation – there will be an additional pool for those folk keen on remaining fit in the pool or in the gym. Or how about sitting in the beautiful spacious lounge overlooking all the sporting disciplines? One will be able to hold sporting conferences in the multi-purpose hall or watch gymnasts participating in a regional competition. For the more adventurous, an internationally recognized BMX Track, that we are sure, will attract both competitors and crowds from far and wide. Over and above the numerous tournaments that we will be able to host, coaching clinics will now be made readily available to both children and adults.