The Old Diocesan Issue 13 - Magazine - Page 85
SPORTS NEWS
RECORD SETTERS
Plenty of records, a hockey World Cup, multiple
championships and action around the world – once
again, it’s been a busy few months for our sportsmen
W
e start in the
swimming pool,
where Michael
Houlie (2018B)
set a new Commonwealth Games
and African record of 26.38s in the
men’s 50m breaststroke semifinal
in Glasgow in July. Unfortunately,
Michael was pipped in the closing
metres in the medal race, touching
for silver a little off his record pace
– but that’s no mean feat all the
same. Michael then combined
with some of South Africa’s finest
swimmers for two more medals:
silver in the mixed 4x100m medley
relay (with Pieter Coetze, Erin
Michael Houlie (2018B)
in action at the 2026
Commonwealth Games.
Gallagher and Aimee Canny),
a race in which the team also set
a new African record; and bronze
in the men’s 4x100m medley relay
(alongside Pieter Coetze, Chad le
Clos and Ruard van Renen).
Also in the water, Neil Orpen
(1990W) enjoyed a strong season
at the 2026 European Rowing
Masters, taking silver in the mixed
doubles, before going one better
to win the British Rowing Masters
Championship and adding a second
place at the Henley Masters.
In athletics, Daniel von der
Heyden (2025F) represented South
Africa at the World Athletics U20
Championships in Eugene, Oregon,
where he set a new African U20
record in the decathlon to finish
in an impressive sixth place. Back
home and on the road, Kane Reilly
(2010K) finished 22nd overall in the
2026 Two Oceans Half Marathon.
In hockey, Dayaan (2017W) and
Mustapha Cassiem (2020W) have
been making headlines, as usual.
In June, they represented South
Africa at the 2026 Nations Cup
at Hartleyvale in Cape Town.
Mustapha was injured in the
opening fixture, but Dayaan rallied
the team to a silver medal. Central
Hockey Club team-mates Dayaan
