Hard work and dedication paid off as West End Primary and Spine Road High school’s drill squads were crowned overall winners of their respective divisions, at the SAPS Mitchell’s Plain schools’ marching and drill competition, at the Goodwood sports complex, at the weekend.

West End coach Dawood Abrahams addresses his young charges ahead of their exhibition march, at Saturday’s marching and drilling competition, in Goodwood. Picture: Fuad Esack

West End coach, Dawood Abrahams, can be forgiven for feeling a little bit stressed ahead of the team’s exhibition march.

Although favourites going into the competition as last year’s champions and winners in Gqeberha in August, his charges looked somewhat lacklustre during the warm-up ahead of their turn in front of the judges.

The coach’s concern was understandable but he needn't have worried as the Lentegeur squad showcased their skill and precision when it was time to strut their stuff.

Beacon Hill High School drill squad members during their stint in front of the judges at Saturday’s competition in Goodwood. Picture: Fuad Esack

Oval North’s drill squad looking dapper in their diamond cardigans, during Saturday’s SAPS Mitchell’s Plain schools’ marching and drill competition, at the Goodwood sports complex. Picture: Fuad Esack

New Woodlands-based LLC Community Cadets percussion section members gear up to lead their squad on to the field. Picture: Fuad Esack

Wavecrest Primary School’s drill squads march in unison during Saturday’s SAPS Mitchell’s Plain schools’ marching and drill competition, at the Goodwood sports complex. Picture: Fuad Esack

LLC’ s Andile Madikane on her way to winning top spot in community cadets drum major division. The team also finished third in the grand march pass section. Picture: Fuad Esack

Former champions Elsies River, led by drum major Kieran Jones, go through their paces at Saturday’s marching band competition. Picture: Fuad Esack

LCC coach Gary Jeffries with the team’s drum major Andile Madikane at Saturday’s big competition in Goodwood.

The competition featured six primary, seven high schools and seven community teams from Mitchell’s Plain, Hanover Park, Elsies River and Uitsig, as well as teams from the Eastern Cape where the competition has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years.

With all teams bringing their A-game, it was hard to pick a winner, but ultimately, the judges’ decision was unanimous as the two schools marched off with the major accolades.

West End Primary School senior drum Major Safia Willemse, centre, and teammates put their game face on during the squad’s exhibition march. Picture: Fuad Esack

West End Primary School cheerleading and gymnastics coaches, Natasha Frazer, Juanita Marshall and Amelia Groenmeyer supporting the school’s drill squad at Saturday’s big competition in Goodwood. Picture: Fuad Esack

“It was not an easy task, we have faced a lot of challenges yet we remained calm and worked really, really hard,” said Abrahams.

He said the level of competition was high and it was difficult to predict who would walk away a winner. “The judges were on point, especially with the dress inspection and grand march. I loved the way they walked along the teams to check thoroughly those lined and leg movements and arms,” he said.

Spine Road High drill squad coach, Franchkino Booyse and his father, Francois, following Saturday’s presentation of trophies and certificates of appreciation..

Winning high school coach, Spine Road’s Franchkino Booyse says following their appearance at the Port Elizabeth competition in August, they only had a month to prepare for the weekend’s competition - 11 practice sessions of three to four hours each on Fridays and Saturdays - to get the squad to the next level.

Pictured are members of Spine Road High’s championship-winning team.Picture: Fuad Esack

Spine Road High’s Cassidy Jantjies and Gabriella Oliver looking relaxed ahead of their team’s exhibition march. Picture: Fuad Esack

Some practice sessions had to be cancelled due to recent rainy weather but thankfully, they always had a Plan B. Working out formations can be a headache, but it’s all a team effort, he said.

“We take the Mitchell's Plain SAPS competition very seriously,” said Booyse.

“I can gladly say I'm working with a brilliant team, we share ideas and the cadets are involved in the decision-making,” he said.

“The most difficult moves performed are trying to have lines kept to perfection while having to hold a straight head. That's the most difficult, to have those same line walking on angles back into straight lines with a big team can get a handful, but the end result always pays off.”

An adjudicator keeps a close eye on one of the participating schools from Gqeberha, during their turn on the grass. Picture: Fuad Esack

Former SAPS Mitchell’s Plain sports administrator, Captain Cornelia Louw, along with former Mitchell’s Plain SAPS station commander, Major General Jeremy Vearey and long-standing sponsor Kader Miller of Midea Promotions, have been involved with the competition since its inception in 2007. Although no longer with SAPS MItchell’s Plain, Captain Louw still serves as the chairperson of the competition’s local organising committee (LOC).

Wavecrest Primary School drum major, Hope Felix, introduces her squad to the adjudicator. Picture: Fuad Esack

“It’s been 14 years and every year is better than the previous year, we have awesome loyal partners onboard making it possible to host this sport,” she said.

Captain Louw expressed gratitude for the commitment of their partners and participating teams, and called on the Western Cape Education Department and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and others, to join hands with them.

Uitsig Generation Communit Cadets drum major Shumeekah Bosch, centre, and her team mates looking spiffy during their exhibition march. Picture: Fuad Esack

“Thankfully,” she said, “we have the support of the new station commander supporting the programme.”

However, she added, a lack of funding and safety concerns remain a problem.

For Miller, it’s a no-brainer, considering its growth over the years. “The competition has grown from just Mitchell’s Plain schools to Port Elizabeth schools . After attending our competition, they adopted our concept and introduced it to schools in Port Elizabeth.They now have 48 schools,” he said.

“The discipline and the dress code is what impresses me the most. I can relate to the kids that are struggling because I went through the same struggles. Therefore I wanted to make a difference,” he said.

Mitchell’s Plain SAPS volunteers, from left, Jaden Rutgers, Shelby Hempe, Chelaine Schoeman and Tameeka Pick, on standby to make sure things run smoothly. Picture: Fuad Esack

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