Ten regional champions will be descending on St Mary’s D.S.G. turf for the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July.
A total of 34 schools have participated in the concluding tournament that wraps up the ten regionals. This is the first year in the history of the Grand Finals that all the reigning champions have made a prior appearance.
Travelling from Kokstad, the Ugu and Sisonke Regional Winner St Patrick’s College will be stepping onto the turf for their third time. From just up the road, St John’s D.S.G. representing the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional will be tackling their fourth final. In their three previous runs, they bettered their result having finished fourth, then third and last year second. Will a new team walk away with the top honours?
Maritzburg teams, St Anne’s Diocesan College and St John’s D.S.G. will be facing finalists from around KZN in the Grand Finals for the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge taking place next weekend (Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July) at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof. Pictured here are St John’s first team captain, Emma Williams (left), with St Anne’s players; Inati Ncgobo (top), who just made the SA U16 team, and first team captain, Willow Crawford (right). Photo by Val Adamson.
Three teams have been crowned champions since the tournament’s inception in 2011. This year all three are back in the hopes to have their names engraved again. Host school and defending champions, St Mary’s D.S.G. representing the Highway area are on the prowl for their eighth title while Durban Girls’ College, flying the flag from the Durban Central region are back with a bang. Both St Mary’s and Girls’ College will be making their thirteenth appearance at the concluding tournament – the two most decorated teams.
Walking onto the turf for the eleventh time, St Anne’s Diocesan College from the Pietermaritzburg North Regional is the only other team who has hoisted the trophy at the Grand Finals and have played in the podium games in each of their runs. Joining them with eleven impressive innings, representing the Northern KZN teams – Ferrum High School is on the scour for an elusive top four placing.
The last team to secure their berth, Wartburg Kirchdorf School will proudly be making their eighth appearance for the uMvoti and oThukela region. Two teams return for their seventh outing, from the North Coast Regional, Grantleigh School and Amanzimtoti High School from the Durban South Regional.
The first team to punch their ticket, Our Lady of Fatima are the most consistent team in the history of the Grand Finals. In their five previous excursions, they have earned a hard earned fifth place each year. Will their sixth break their cycle?
Joining the home team in Pool A are St John’s D.S.G.; Ferrum High School; St Patrick’s College and Amanzimtoti High School. Drawn in Pool B are St Anne’s Diocesan College; Durban Girls’ College; Our Lady of Fatima; Grantleigh School and Wartburg Kirchdorf.
Thirteenth Appearance
Durban Girls’ College: Durban Central Regional Winner – Gold (2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023), Silver (2012, 2016, 2017), Bronze (2019), Fourth (2011, 2018, 2024)
St Mary’s D.S.G: Highway Regional Winner – Gold (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025); Silver (2022, 2023); Bronze (2011, 2013); Fourth (2015)
Eleventh Appearance
St Anne’s Diocesan College: Pietermaritzburg North Regional Winner – Gold (2011); Silver (2014, 2018, 2019, 2025); Bronze (2015, 2016, 2017); Fourth (2013, 2022)
Ferrum High School: Northern KZN Regional Winner – Fifth (2012, 2015, 2025); Sixth (2011, 2018, 2024); Eighth (2019); Ninth (2017) Tenth (2013, 2014)
Eighth Appearance
Warburg Kirchdorf School: uMvoti and oThukela Regional Winner – Fifth (2016); Sixth (2015); Seventh (2017); Eighth (2013); Ninth (2014; 2019); Tenth (2025)
Seventh Appearance
Amanzimtoti High School: Durban South Regional Winner – Tenth (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), Eighth (2018); Ninth (2024)
Grantleigh School: North Coast Regional Winner – Seventh (2022, 2023), Eighth (2011, 2016, 2017, 2024)
Sixth Appearance
Our Lady of Fatima: Durban North Regional Winner – Fifth (2011, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024)
Fourth Appearance
St John’s D.S.G.: Pietermaritzburg Central Regional – Silver (2024); Bronze (2022); Fourth (2017)
Third Appearance
St Patrick’s College: Ugu and Sisonke Regional Winner – Seventh (2024, 2025)
